| Title: | Parasite-induced alteration of odour responses in an amphipod-acanthocephalan system |
| Address: | "Colorado State University, Department of Biology, Building 1878, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA. Electronic address: cfstone@rams.colostate.edu. Colorado State University, Department of Biology, Building 1878, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA" |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.ijpara.2014.06.012 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1879-0135 (Electronic) 0020-7519 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Odour-related behaviours in aquatic invertebrates are important and effective anti-predator behaviours. Parasites often alter invertebrate host behaviours to increase transmission to hosts. This study investigated the responses of the amphipod Hyalella azteca when presented with two predator chemical cues: (i) alarm pheromones produced by conspecifics and (ii) kairomones produced by a predatory Green Sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus). We compared the responses of amphipods uninfected and infected with the acanthocepalan parasite Leptorhynchiodes thecatus. Uninfected amphipods reduced activity and increased refuge use after detecting both the alarm pheromones and predator kairomones. Infected amphipods spent significantly more time being active and less time on the refuge than uninfected amphipods, and behaved as if they had not detected the chemical stimulus. Therefore, L. thecatus infections disrupt the amphipods' anti-predator behaviours and likely make their hosts more susceptible to predation" |
| Keywords: | "Acanthocephala/*physiology Amphipoda/*parasitology/*physiology Animals Aquatic Organisms/parasitology Behavior, Animal Cues Host-Parasite Interactions/physiology *Odorants Pheromones/*pharmacology Predatory Behavior Alarm pheromones Leptorhynchoides theca;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineStone, Charles F Moore, Janice eng England 2014/09/10 Int J Parasitol. 2014 Nov; 44(13):969-75. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2014.06.012. Epub 2014 Sep 6" |
