Parasitology

  • Parasitology (1998), 117 : pp 521-524
  • 1998 Cambridge University Press
  • DOI: (About DOI)
  • Published online: 08 September 2000

Table of Contents - 1998 - Volume 117, Issue 06  


Heteroxenous coccidia increase the predation risk of parasitized rodents

P. VORÍŠEK a1, J. VOTÝPKA a2c1, K. ZVÁRA a3 and M. SVOBODOVÁ a2
a1 Czech Society for Ornithology, Hornomecholupská 34, 102 00 Prague, 10, Czech Republic
a2 Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Vinicná 7, 128 44 Prague 2, Czech Republic
a3 Department of Probability and Statistics, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University, Sokolovská 83, 186 00 Prague 8, Czech Republic

Abstract

We have investigated the influence of heteroxenous coccidia (Apicomplexa: Eimeriorina) on the predation risk of intermediate hosts. Voles infected with Frenkelia spp. were found more frequently in buzzards' (Buteo buteo) prey than among snap-trapped rodents. To eliminate the possibility of traps selecting for uninfected rodents, a laboratory experiment was performed. Mice experimentally infected with Sarcocystis dispersa seemed to be more likely caught by the final host, the long-eared owl (Asio otus); this result was confirmed by a mathematical model. Field data confirmed the adaptive value of parasite-induced changes. The increase of predation is directed towards the specific final host only or is non-specific. In the populations studied the probability of predation of parasitized individuals by the specific predator was increased.

(Received January 22 1998)
(Revised May 11 1998)
(Accepted May 11 1998)


Key Words: Frenkelia; Sarcocystis dispersa; coccidia; predation; manipulation hypothesis; birds of prey.

Correspondence:
c1 Corresponding author: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Vinicná 7, 128 44 Prague 2, Czech Republic. Tel: +420 2 21 95 31 95. Fax: +420 2 29 97 13. E-mail: vapid@prfdec.natur.cuni.cz

Metrics
--