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SUMMARY:Parasite-induced swarming behaviour in Artemia spp. - Nicolas Rode
 \, Center for Evolutionary and Functional Ecology\, Montpellier\, France
DTSTART:20121004T120000Z
DTEND:20121004T130000Z
UID:TALK39654@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Jessica C. Walsh
DESCRIPTION:Grouping behaviours (e.g. schooling\, shoaling and swarming) a
 re commonly explicated through adaptive hypotheses such as protection agai
 nst predation\, access to mates or improved foraging. However\, the hypoth
 esis that aggregation can result from manipulation by parasites to increas
 e their transmission has never been demonstrated. We tested this hypothesi
 s using natural populations of two crustacean hosts (_Artemia franciscana_
  and _Artemia parthenogenetica_) infected with one cestode and two microsp
 oridian parasites. We found that the cestode parasite modified both the sw
 arming behaviour and the red colour of its host\, which likely results in 
 increased parasite transmission to its final avian host. Furthermore\, we 
 found that the microsporidian parasites modified both the swarming and the
  surfacing behaviours of its host. We demonstrated with experimental infec
 tions in the laboratory\, that these concurrent manipulations result in in
 creased spore transmission to new hosts. Hence\, this study suggests that 
 parasites might play a prominent role in host grouping behaviours.
LOCATION:Part II Lecture Theatre\, Department of Zoology\, Downing Street\
 , Cambridge CB2 3EJ
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