Nematode Paper Flashcards
Which nematode species does this paper look at?
Skrjabiniloclava morrisoni
What is the intermediate host of this parasite?
Amphipod (Corophium volutator)
What is the final host of the parasite?
Semipalmated sandpiper
What does the parasite do?
Manipulates the behaviour of the intermediate host (amphipod) to increase its likelihood of transmission to its final host
How was the behaviour manipulated?
By increasing their activity in surface waters in the daytime (but not during nighttime hours). This increases the susceptibility of predation by the sandpipers, which feed visually in the day (but not at night)
Only …-… (…) larvae of nematodes were associated with behavioural changes of amphipods
Late-stage (infective)
- saves energy that would be wasted if consumed at unfit stage of life
No evidence of other amphipod behaviour that…
would be expected if parasitised hosts altered their own behaviour in response to being parasitised (e.g. trail complexity or distance travelled)
… of amphipods was also unaffected by parasitism, which may favour parasite …
Survivorship, transmission
What does the study suggest may explain the nematode manipulation behaviour?
Maturation times of nematodes in relation to migration schedules of sandpipers provide a narrow window of opportunity for infection
Where was this study carried out?
Canada (mudflat in)
When the amphipods are found in the open water rather than in the substrate they are …
Crawling
