Effects of parasites on host energy expenditure: the resting metabolic rate stalemate

Robar, Nicholas; Murray, Dennis L.; Burness, Gary

doi:10.1139/z11-084

Cited by 52 publications

(58 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…Previous investigations in P. leucopus and P. maniculatus have found reductions in haematocrit levels of ~20% and haemoglobin concentrations of ~25%, but no effect on RMR resulting from botfly infections (Dunaway et al, ; Robar, Murray, & Burness, ; Sealander, ). These are similar to the reductions in haematocrit (~23%) and haemoglobin (~27%), but minimal effects on RMR, that we observed in actively infected individuals compared to uninfected individuals.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 90%

Botfly infections impair the aerobic performance and survival of montane populations of deer mice, Peromyscus maniculatus rufinus

et al. 2019

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Elevations >2,000 m represent consistently harsh environments for small endotherms because of abiotic stressors such as cold temperatures and hypoxia. These environmental stressors may limit the ability of populations living at these elevations to respond to biotic selection pressures—such as parasites or pathogens—that in other environmental contexts would impose only minimal energetic‐ and fitness‐related costs. We studied deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus rufinus) living along two elevational transects (2,300–4,400 m) in the Colorado Rockies and found that infection prevalence by botfly larvae (Cuterebridae) declined at higher elevations. We found no evidence of infections at elevations >2,400 m, but that 33.6% of all deer mice, and 52.2% of adults, were infected at elevations <2,400 m. Botfly infections were associated with reductions in haematocrit levels of 23%, haemoglobin concentrations of 27% and cold‐induced VO2max measures of 19% compared to uninfected individuals. In turn, these reductions in aerobic performance appeared to influence fitness, as infected individuals exhibited 19‐34% lower daily survival rates. In contrast to studies at lower elevations, we found evidence indicating that botfly infections influence the aerobic capabilities and fitness of deer mice living at elevations between 2,000 and 2,400 m. Our results therefore suggest that the interaction between botflies and small rodents is likely highly context‐dependent and that, more generally, high‐elevation populations may be susceptible to additional biotic selection pressures. A plain language summary is available for this article.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 90%

Botfly infections impair the aerobic performance and survival of montane populations of deer mice, Peromyscus maniculatus rufinus

et al. 2019

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“…; Robar et al. ). For instance, females of C. garthi could inhibit host reproduction, as observed in a congeneric pea crab (Chaparro et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Effect of the endosymbiotic pea crabCalyptraeotheres garthion the metabolic rate and oxidative status of the slipper limpetCrepidula cachimilla

Ocampo

Menone

Iturburu

et al. 2014

Invertebrate Biology

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Parasites may induce metabolic changes and imbalances in the redox status of hosts. This study tested the effect of parasites on the O2 consumption rate (O2‐CR) of hosts, and explored the link between O2‐CR and oxidative stress in parasitized hosts. We used the symbiotic pea crab Calyptraeotheres garthi and its slipper limpet host Crepidula cachimilla as models. The O2‐CR of long‐term (3 months) infested limpets was 2.5 times greater than that of long‐term uninfested limpets. Also, the O2‐CR of limpets stripped of crabs 24 h before measurements was intermediate between that of long‐term infested and uninfested limpets. These results indicate a parasitic relationship between C. garthi and Cr. cachimilla, and suggest that the effect of the parasite on the metabolic rate of limpets is reversible. Lastly, the activity of two antioxidant enzymes (CAT and GST) as well as lipid peroxidation did not vary between infested and uninfested limpets. Thus, increased O2‐CR is not necessarily coupled with oxidative stress in pea crab‐parasitized slipper limpets.

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“…Parasite infections commonly cause increased metabolic costs as increased respiration rates (Robar, Murray & Burness, ). However, we did not find evidence of parasite‐induced increased metabolism via respiration, which could contribute to enriched δ 13 C values in parasite‐exposed animals.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Parasite infection alters host stable‐isotope composition under controlled feeding

2016

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Summary Stable isotopes are widely used for studying trophic relationships, but variation driven by environmental conditions or food availability complicates the interpretation of trophic dynamics. Parasites are ubiquitous and known to affect physiological functions of their hosts, but only few studies have assessed the effects of parasites on isotope composition of hosts. We measured the changes in two of the most commonly used stable isotopes in food‐web studies, nitrogen (i.e. 15N:14N ratio; denoted as δ15N) and carbon (13C:12C; δ13C) in Daphnia hosts exposed to infection by a parasitic micosporidian in the laboratory. Isotopic signatures of hosts fed a standardised controlled diet were compared with uninfected animals under conditions of high food availability and under food limitation. Parasite infection led to enriched δ15N and δ13C values that were associated with decreased growth and decreased lipid content, indicating energy limitation comparable to that in food‐limited animals. However, enrichment in 13C values was apparent sooner in infected well‐fed animals than in the food‐limited animals, suggesting strong parasite‐induced effects on host C‐metabolism. By using experimental exposure to parasite infection and a standardised diet, our study excluded the effects of changes in food sources via parasite‐induced altered habitat or feeding behaviour on host isotope composition and demonstrated for the first time that parasite infection directly alters the isotopic values of the host. Our study demonstrates that parasite‐induced changes in isotope values may add to the variability in the estimates of the contribution of each food type assimilated by consumers, and thus should be taken into account during investigations of trophic relationships and food webs.

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Effects of parasites on host energy expenditure: the resting metabolic rate stalemate

Cited by 52 publications

References 53 publications

Botfly infections impair the aerobic performance and survival of montane populations of deer mice, Peromyscus maniculatus rufinus

Botfly infections impair the aerobic performance and survival of montane populations of deer mice, Peromyscus maniculatus rufinus

Effect of the endosymbiotic pea crabCalyptraeotheres garthion the metabolic rate and oxidative status of the slipper limpetCrepidula cachimilla

Parasite infection alters host stable‐isotope composition under controlled feeding

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