Exploring sub-lethal effects of exposure to a nucleopolyhedrovirus in the speckled wood (Pararge aegeria) butterfly

Abstract

Emma; Hails, Rosemary. 2012 Exploring sub-lethal effects of exposure to a nucleopolyhedrovirus in the speckled wood (Pararge aegeria) butterfly. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, 109 (1). 165-168. 10.1016/j.jip.2011.10.013 Contact CEH NORA team at noraceh@ceh.ac.ukThe NERC and CEH trademarks and logos ('the Trademarks') are registered trademarks of NERC in the UK and other countries, and may not be used without the prior written consent of the Trademark owner. This study investigated the sub-lethal effects of larval exposure to baculovirus 23 on host life history and wing morphological traits using a model system, the 24 speckled wood butterfly Pararge aegeria (L.) and the virus Autographa 25 californica nucleopolyhedrovirus. Males and females showed similar 26 responses to the viral infection. Infection significantly reduced larval growth 27 rate, whilst an increase in development time allowed the critical mass for 28 pupation to be attained. There was no direct effect of viral infection on the 29 wing morphological traits examined. There was, however, an indirect effect of 30 resisting infection; larvae that took longer to develop had reduced resource 31 investment in adult flight muscle mass. 32

Fitness Consequences of Infection by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in Northern Leopard Frogs (Lithobates pipiens)

“…While acute infections resulting in death are often viewed as maladaptive for pathogens, sublethal consequences of disease are well-documented in a variety of animal species. Sublethal effects of infection may take the form of reduced developmental rates and body mass (Parris and Cornelius 2004;Latorre-Margarlef et al 2009;Hesketh et al 2012), reduced activity levels (Parris et al 2006), diminished feeding and migratory ability (van Gils et al 2007;Venesky et al 2009), or reduced reproductive output (Grooms 2004). With respect to Bd and amphibians, previous studies on tadpoles have also documented altered interspecific interactions (Parris and Cornelius 2004), predator-prey dynamics (Parris et al 2006), and foraging behavior (Venesky et al 2009).…”

Sub-lethal viral exposure and growth on drought stressed host plants changes resource allocation patterns and life history costs in the Speckled Wood butterfly, Pararge aegeria

“…The concentration of occlusion bodies was estimated by counting three times in an improved Neubauer haemocytometer at magnification 400x (<10% error in counts) (cf. Hesketh et al, 2012). Dilution of the stock suspension was done in sterile distilled water to achieve a final concentration of 1 x 10 6 OBs μl -1 for use in experiments.…”

“…To date most studies have only crudely quantified effects by measuring wing deformities (e.g. Milks, 1997; but see Hesketh et al, 2012).…”

“…This butterfly species has been extensively researched and used as a model system for studies of insect ecology and life history evolution (e.g. Aalberg Haugen and Gotthard, 2014), including single factor studies examining life history trade-offs in response to drought (Gibbs et al, 2012;Vande Velde et al, 2013) and viral infection with AcMNPV (Gibbs et al, 2010a;Hesketh et al, 2012). Little is known about the full range of pathogens P. aegeria encounter in nature, or the impact of known sub-lethal infections with bacteria (e.g.…”

“…Rhabdoviruses, Longdon et al, 2017) on life history traits in natural populations. Previous laboratory studies on P. aegeria have shown that infection with AcMNPV reduces survival (Gibbs et al, 2010a;Hesketh et al, 2012), but has no observable sub-lethal direct effects on larval development time, pupal mass or adult wing morphology when larvae are growing under conditions of good resource availability and quality (Gibbs et al, 2010a;Hesketh et al, 2012).…”