Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

The Evidence for Evolution02:55

The Evidence for Evolution

47.7K
Genetic variations accumulating within populations over generations give rise to biological evolution. Evolutionary changes can result in the formation of novel varieties and entire new species. These changes are responsible for the diverse forms of life inhabiting the planet. The evidence for evolution suggests that all living organisms descended from common ancestors.
47.7K
Convergent Evolution01:54

Convergent Evolution

31.7K
Evolution shapes the features of organisms over time, ensuring that they are suited for the environments in which they live. Sometimes, selection pressure leads to the rise of similar but unrelated adaptations in organisms with no recent common ancestors, a process known as convergent evolution.
31.7K
Eukaryotic Evolution01:24

Eukaryotic Evolution

40.4K
The endosymbiont theory is the most widely accepted theory of eukaryotic evolution; however, its progression is still somewhat debated. According to the nucleus-first hypothesis, the ancestral prokaryote first evolved a membrane to enclose DNA and form the nucleus. Conversely, the mitochondria-first hypothesis suggests that the nucleus was formed after endosymbiosis of mitochondria.
Contrary to the endosymbiont theory, the eukaryote-first hypothesis proposes that the simpler prokaryotic and...
40.4K
Synteny and Evolution02:31

Synteny and Evolution

3.8K
John H. Renwick first coined the term “synteny” in 1971, which refers to the genes present on the same chromosomes, even if they are not genetically linked. The species with common ancestry tend to show conserved syntenic regions. Therefore, the concept of synteny is nowadays used to describe the evolutionary relationship between species.
Around 80 million years ago, the human and mice lineages diverged from the common ancestor. During the course of evolution, the ancestral...
3.8K
Epiphytes, Parasites, and Carnivores02:40

Epiphytes, Parasites, and Carnivores

16.6K
Plants often form mutualistic relationships with soil-dwelling fungi or bacteria to enhance their roots’ nutrient uptake ability. Root-colonizing fungi (e.g., mycorrhizae) increase a plant’s root surface area, which promotes nutrient absorption. While root-colonizing, nitrogen-fixing bacteria (e.g., rhizobia) convert atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into ammonia (NH3), making nitrogen available to plants for various biological functions. For example, nitrogen is essential for the...
16.6K
Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?02:05

Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?

3.5K
3.5K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

The Evolution and Ecology of Host Manipulation in Helminth Parasites: A Phylogenetic Meta-Analysis.

Ecology letters·2026
Same author

A Parasitoid of Aphids Manipulates Host Mummification Site, With Effects on Survival but Not Hyperparasitism.

Ecology and evolution·2026
Same author

Parasitoid species diversity has no effect on protective symbiont diversity in experimental host-parasitoid populations.

Ecology and evolution·2024
Same author

Bottom-up effect of host protective symbionts on parasitoid diversity: Limited evidence from two field experiments.

The Journal of animal ecology·2021
Same author

Parasitoids as drivers of symbiont diversity in an insect host.

Ecology letters·2020
Same author

Genomics of host-pathogen interactions: challenges and opportunities across ecological and spatiotemporal scales.

PeerJ·2019

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 26, 2026

Experimental Infection of Mice with the Parasitic Nematode Strongyloides ratti ratti Infection
10:12

Experimental Infection of Mice with the Parasitic Nematode Strongyloides ratti ratti Infection

Published on: January 17, 2025

952

Experimental evolution of parasitic host manipulation.

Nina Hafer-Hahmann1,2

  • 11 Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology , August-Thienemann-Str. 2, 24306 Plön , Germany.

Proceedings. Biological Sciences
|April 10, 2019
PubMed
Summary

Host manipulation by parasites, like the cestode Schistocephalus solidus, is heritable and evolves under selection. This study found no evidence of energetic costs restricting the evolution of parasite-driven host behavior changes.

Keywords:
Schistocephalus solidusenergetic costsexperimental selectionextended phenotypehost manipulationresponse to selection

More Related Videos

In vivo Imaging of Transgenic Leishmania Parasites in a Live Host
09:53

In vivo Imaging of Transgenic Leishmania Parasites in a Live Host

Published on: July 27, 2010

16.6K
Leveraging Micro-CT Scanning to Analyze Parasitic Plant-Host Interactions
06:23

Leveraging Micro-CT Scanning to Analyze Parasitic Plant-Host Interactions

Published on: January 12, 2022

2.4K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jan 26, 2026

Experimental Infection of Mice with the Parasitic Nematode Strongyloides ratti ratti Infection
10:12

Experimental Infection of Mice with the Parasitic Nematode Strongyloides ratti ratti Infection

Published on: January 17, 2025

952
In vivo Imaging of Transgenic Leishmania Parasites in a Live Host
09:53

In vivo Imaging of Transgenic Leishmania Parasites in a Live Host

Published on: July 27, 2010

16.6K
Leveraging Micro-CT Scanning to Analyze Parasitic Plant-Host Interactions
06:23

Leveraging Micro-CT Scanning to Analyze Parasitic Plant-Host Interactions

Published on: January 12, 2022

2.4K

Area of Science:

  • Parasitology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Behavioral Ecology

Background:

  • Host manipulation, a parasite-induced change in host phenotype, increases parasite fitness.
  • Such traits, if genetically encoded in the parasite, are subject to evolutionary selection.
  • The energetic costs of host manipulation are often assumed but rarely demonstrated, potentially limiting its evolutionary scope.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the evolvability of host manipulation in the cestode Schistocephalus solidus.
  • To determine if host manipulation is heritable and under selection within the parasite.
  • To identify potential energetic trade-offs associated with host manipulation.

Main Methods:

  • Artificial selection was applied to Schistocephalus solidus populations for or against host manipulation over three generations.
  • The study focused on the manipulation of copepod intermediate hosts' activity levels.
  • Parasite fitness and behavioral changes in manipulated hosts were assessed across generations.

Main Results:

  • Host manipulation in Schistocephalus solidus responded significantly to artificial selection, confirming its heritability.
  • The trait functions as an extended phenotype of the parasite.
  • No obvious energetic costs were found to constrain the evolution of host manipulation.

Conclusions:

  • Host manipulation is an evolvable trait in parasites, subject to natural and artificial selection.
  • The absence of apparent costs suggests that host manipulation can evolve without significant energetic trade-offs.
  • These findings challenge the assumption that energetic costs inherently limit the evolution of parasite-mediated host manipulation.