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Identifying energy constraints to parasite resistance
1Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK. desiree.allen@ed.ac.uk
Journal of Evolutionary Biology
|January 7, 2011
Summary
Accelerating development in Daphnia increased parasite infection, indicating that parasite resistance is energetically costly. This suggests a trade-off between growth rate and immune defense in aquatic invertebrates.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Life-history theory posits that energetically demanding traits incur costs, potentially trading off against each other.
- Parasite resistance is an energetically expensive trait that may impose costs on other fitness-related aspects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate energetic constraints on parasite resistance in Daphnia.
- To test if stimulating rapid development reveals trade-offs with resistance to the parasite Pasteuria ramosa.
Main Methods:
- Juvenile Daphnia were induced to increase their development rate.
- Subsequent exposure to the parasite Pasteuria ramosa was used to assess infection rates.
Main Results:
- Daphnia with an increased development rate exhibited higher infection rates by Pasteuria ramosa.
- This suggests that rapid development comes at the expense of parasite resistance.
Conclusions:
- Parasite resistance is energetically costly, requiring resource allocation from a limited pool.
- There is an apparent trade-off between rapid development and the ability to resist parasitic infection in Daphnia.
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