scholarly journals What doesn’t kill you doesn’t make you stronger: Parasites modify interference competition between two invasive amphipods

NeoBiota ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 69 ◽  
pp. 51-74
Author(s):  
Jarosław Kobak ◽  
Michał Rachalewski ◽  
Karolina Bącela-Spychalska
Keyword(s):  
Biological Invasions ◽  
Interspecific Interactions ◽  
Interference Competition ◽  
Dikerogammarus Villosus ◽  
Heterospecific Male ◽  
Invasive Amphipods ◽  
Cucumispora Dikerogammari ◽  
Dikerogammarus Haemobaphes

We used a freshwater amphipod-microsporidian model (Ponto-Caspian hosts: Dikerogammarus villosus and D. haemobaphes, parasite: Cucumispora dikerogammari) to check whether parasites affect biological invasions by modulating behaviour and intra- and interspecific interactions between the invaders. We tested competition for shelter in conspecific and heterospecific male pairs (one or both individuals infected or non-infected). In general, amphipods of both species increased their shelter occupancy time when accompanied by infected rather than non-infected conspecifics and heterospecifics. Infected amphipods faced lower aggression from non-infected conspecifics. Moreover, D. villosus was more aggressive than D. haemobaphes and more aggressive towards conspecifics vs. heterospecifics. In summary, infection reduced the intra- and interspecific competitivity of amphipods, which became less capable of defending their shelters, despite their unchanged need for shelter occupancy. Dikerogammarus haemobaphes, commonly considered as a weaker competitor, displaced by D. villosus from co-occupied locations, was able to compete efficiently for the shelter with D. villosus when microsporidian infections appeared on the scene. This suggests that parasites may be important mediators of biological invasions, facilitating the existence of large intra- and interspecific assemblages of invasive alien amphipods.

A co-invasive microsporidian parasite that reduces the predatory behaviour of its host Dikerogammarus villosus (Crustacea, Amphipoda)

Parasitology ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 141 (2) ◽  
pp. 254-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. BACELA-SPYCHALSKA ◽  
T. RIGAUD ◽  
R. A. WATTIER
Keyword(s):  
Biological Invasions ◽  
Host Population ◽  
Intracellular Parasite ◽  
Healthy Individuals ◽  
Microsporidian Parasite ◽  
Predatory Behaviour ◽  
Dikerogammarus Villosus ◽  
High Position ◽  
Cucumispora Dikerogammari ◽  
Predatory Pressure

SUMMARYParasites are known to affect the predatory behaviour or diet of their hosts. In relation to biological invasions, parasites may significantly influence the invasiveness of the host population and/or mediate the relationships between the invader and the invaded community. Dikerogammarus villosus, a recently introduced species, has had a major impact in European rivers. Notably, its high position in trophic web and high predatory behaviour, have both facilitated its invasive success, and affected other macroinvertebrate taxa in colonized habitats. The intracellular parasite Cucumispora dikerogammari, specific to D. villosus, has successfully dispersed together with this amphipod. Data presented here have shown that D. villosus infected by this parasite have a reduced predatory behaviour compared with healthy individuals, and are much more active suggesting that the co-invasive parasite may diminish the predatory pressure of D. villosus on newly colonized communities.

scholarly journals Mechanisms Involved in Interspecific Communication between Wine Yeasts

Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1734
Author(s):  
Ana Mencher ◽  
Pilar Morales ◽  
Jordi Tronchoni ◽  
Ramon Gonzalez
Keyword(s):  
Alcoholic Fermentation ◽  
Yeast Species ◽  
Interspecific Interactions ◽  
Interference Competition ◽  
Weighted Average ◽  
Starter Cultures ◽  
Simple Consequence ◽  
Wine Yeasts ◽  
Exploitation Competition ◽  
Metabolic Intermediates

In parallel with the development of non-Saccharomyces starter cultures in oenology, a growing interest has developed around the interactions between the microorganisms involved in the transformation of grape must into wine. Nowadays, it is widely accepted that the outcome of a fermentation process involving two or more inoculated yeast species will be different from the weighted average of the corresponding individual cultures. Interspecific interactions between wine yeasts take place on several levels, including interference competition, exploitation competition, exchange of metabolic intermediates, and others. Some interactions could be a simple consequence of each yeast running its own metabolic programme in a context where metabolic intermediates and end products from other yeasts are present. However, there are clear indications, in some cases, of specific recognition between interacting yeasts. In this article we discuss the mechanisms that may be involved in the communication between wine yeasts during alcoholic fermentation.

Foraging behaviour in East Asian desert rodents and its implications on coexistence

2016 ◽  
Vol 62 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 171-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ling-Ying Shuai ◽  
Yan-Ling Song ◽  
Burt P. Kotler ◽  
Keren Embar ◽  
Zhi-Gao Zeng
Keyword(s):  
Foraging Behaviour ◽  
Species Coexistence ◽  
Interspecific Interactions ◽  
Interference Competition ◽  
Foraging Efficiency ◽  
Gobi Desert ◽  
Patch Use ◽  
Desert Rodents ◽  
Daily Scale

We studied the foraging behaviour of two sympatric rodents (Meriones meridianus and Dipus sagitta) in the Gobi Desert, Northwestern China. The role of the foraging behaviour in promoting species coexistence was also examined. We used giving-up densities (GUDs) in artificial food patches to measure the patch use of rodents and video trapping to directly record the foraging behaviour, vigilance, and interspecific interactions. Three potential mechanisms of coexistence were evaluated (1) microhabitat partitioning; (2) spatial heterogeneity of resource abundance with a tradeoff in foraging efficiency vs. locomotion; and (3) temporal partitioning on a daily scale. Compared to M. meridianus, D. sagitta generally possessed lower GUDs, spent more time on patches, and conducted more visits per tray per capita, regardless of microhabitat. However, M. meridianus possessed advantages in average harvesting rates and direct interference against D. sagitta. Our results only partly support the third mechanism listed above. We propose another potential mechanism of coexistence: a tradeoff between interference competition and safety, with M. meridianus better at interference competition and D. sagitta better at avoiding predation risk. This mechanism is uncommon in previously studied desert rodent systems.

scholarly journals Lethal effects of habitat degradation on fishes through changing competitive advantage

2012 ◽  
Vol 279 (1744) ◽  
pp. 3899-3904 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark I. McCormick
Keyword(s):  
Community Dynamics ◽  
Habitat Degradation ◽  
Interspecific Interactions ◽  
Interference Competition ◽  
Live Coral ◽  
Dead Coral ◽  
Thermal Bleaching ◽  
Coral Reef Ecosystems ◽  
Pomacentrus Amboinensis ◽  
Habitat Generalist

Coral bleaching has caused catastrophic changes to coral reef ecosystems around the world with profound ecological, social and economic repercussions. While its occurrence is predicted to increase in the future, we have little understanding of mechanisms that underlie changes in the fish community associated with coral degradation. The present study uses a field-based experiment to examine how the intensity of interference competition between juveniles of two species of damselfish changes as healthy corals degrade through thermal bleaching. The mortality of a damselfish that is a live coral specialist ( Pomacentrus moluccensis ) increased on bleached and dead coral in the presence of the habitat generalist ( Pomacentrus amboinensis ). Increased mortality of the specialist was indirectly owing to enhanced aggression by the generalist forcing the specialist higher up and further away from shelter on bleached and dead coral. Evidence from this study stresses the importance of changing interspecific interactions to community dynamics as habitats change.

scholarly journals Pronounced and prevalent intersexuality does not impede the ‘Demon Shrimp’ invasion

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amaia Green Etxabe ◽  
Stephen Short ◽  
Tim Flood ◽  
Tim Johns ◽  
Alex T Ford
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Dysfunction ◽  
Biological Invasions ◽  
Gammarus Pulex ◽  
Field Observations ◽  
Invasive Population ◽  
Molecular Screening ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Native Populations ◽  
Male Intersexuality ◽  
Dikerogammarus Haemobaphes

Crustacean intersexuality is widespread and often linked to infection by sex-distorting parasites. However, unlike vertebrate intersexuality, its association with sexual dysfunction is unclear and remains a matter of debate. The ‘Demon Shrimp’, Dikerogammarus haemobaphes, an amphipod that has invaded continental waterways, has recently become widespread in Britain. Intersexuality has been noted in D. haemobaphes but not investigated further. We hypothesise that a successful invasive population should not display a high prevalence of intersexuality if this condition represents a truly dysfunctional phenotype. In addition, experiments have indicated that particular parasite burdens in amphipods may facilitate invasions. The rapid and ongoing invasion of British waterways represents an opportunity to determine whether these hypotheses are consistent with field observations. This study investigates the parasites and sexual phenotypes of D. haemobaphes in British waterways, characterising parasite burdens using molecular screening, and make comparisons with the threatened Gammarus pulex natives. We reveal that invasive and native populations have distinct parasitic profiles, suggesting the loss of G. pulex may have parasite-mediated eco-system impacts. Furthermore, the parasite burdens are consistent with those previously proposed to facilitate biological invasions. Our study also indicates that while no intersexuality occurs in the native G. pulex, approximately 50% of D. haemobaphes males present pronounced intersexuality associated with infection by the microsporidian Dictyocoela berillonum. This unambiguously successful invasive population presents, to our knowledge, the highest reported prevalence of male intersexuality. This is the clearest evidence to date that such intersexuality does not represent a form of debilitating sexual dysfunction that negatively impacts amphipod populations.

scholarly journals Pronounced and prevalent intersexuality does not impede the ‘Demon Shrimp’ invasion

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amaia Green Etxabe ◽  
Stephen Short ◽  
Tim Flood ◽  
Tim Johns ◽  
Alex T Ford
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Dysfunction ◽  
Biological Invasions ◽  
Gammarus Pulex ◽  
Field Observations ◽  
Invasive Population ◽  
Molecular Screening ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Native Populations ◽  
Male Intersexuality ◽  
Dikerogammarus Haemobaphes

Crustacean intersexuality is widespread and often linked to infection by sex-distorting parasites. However, unlike vertebrate intersexuality, its association with sexual dysfunction is unclear and remains a matter of debate. The ‘Demon Shrimp’, Dikerogammarus haemobaphes, an amphipod that has invaded continental waterways, has recently become widespread in Britain. Intersexuality has been noted in D. haemobaphes but not investigated further. We hypothesise that a successful invasive population should not display a high prevalence of intersexuality if this condition represents a truly dysfunctional phenotype. Experiments have indicated that particular parasite burdens in amphipods may facilitate invasions. The rapid and ongoing invasion of British waterways represents an opportunity to determine whether these hypotheses are consistent with field observations. This study investigates the parasites and sexual phenotypes of D. haemobaphes in British waterways, characterising parasite burdens using molecular screening, and make comparisons with the threatened Gammarus pulex natives. We reveal that invasive and native populations have distinct parasitic profiles, suggesting the loss of G. pulex may have parasite-mediated eco-system impacts. Furthermore, the parasite burdens are consistent with those previously proposed to facilitate biological invasions. Our study also indicates that while no intersexuality occurs in the native G. pulex, approximately 50% of D. haemobaphes males present pronounced intersexuality associated with infection by the microsporidian Dictyocoela berillonum. This unambiguously successful invasive population presents, to our knowledge, the highest reported prevalence of male intersexuality. This is the clearest evidence to date that such intersexuality does not represent a form of debilitating sexual dysfunction that negatively impacts amphipod populations.

scholarly journals Pronounced and prevalent intersexuality does not impede the ‘Demon Shrimp’ invasion

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amaia Green Etxabe ◽  
Stephen Short ◽  
Tim Flood ◽  
Tim Johns ◽  
Alex T Ford
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Dysfunction ◽  
Biological Invasions ◽  
Gammarus Pulex ◽  
Field Observations ◽  
Invasive Population ◽  
Molecular Screening ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Native Populations ◽  
Male Intersexuality ◽  
Dikerogammarus Haemobaphes

Crustacean intersexuality is widespread and often linked to infection by sex-distorting parasites. However, unlike vertebrate intersexuality, its association with sexual dysfunction is unclear and remains a matter of debate. The ‘Demon Shrimp’, Dikerogammarus haemobaphes, an amphipod that has invaded continental waterways, has recently become widespread in Britain. Intersexuality has been noted in D. haemobaphes but not investigated further. We hypothesise that a successful invasive population should not display a high prevalence of intersexuality if this condition represents a truly dysfunctional phenotype. In addition, experiments have indicated that particular parasite burdens in amphipods may facilitate invasions. The rapid and ongoing invasion of British waterways represents an opportunity to determine whether these hypotheses are consistent with field observations. This study investigates the parasites and sexual phenotypes of D. haemobaphes in British waterways, characterising parasite burdens using molecular screening, and make comparisons with the threatened Gammarus pulex natives. We reveal that invasive and native populations have distinct parasitic profiles, suggesting the loss of G. pulex may have parasite-mediated eco-system impacts. Furthermore, the parasite burdens are consistent with those previously proposed to facilitate biological invasions. Our study also indicates that while no intersexuality occurs in the native G. pulex, approximately 50% of D. haemobaphes males present pronounced intersexuality associated with infection by the microsporidian Dictyocoela berillonum. This unambiguously successful invasive population presents, to our knowledge, the highest reported prevalence of male intersexuality. This is the clearest evidence to date that such intersexuality does not represent a form of debilitating sexual dysfunction that negatively impacts amphipod populations.

Tadpole bullies: examining mechanisms of competition in a community of larval anurans

1998 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
pp. 144-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Grimké Faragher ◽  
Robert G Jaeger
Keyword(s):  
Laboratory Experiments ◽  
Feeding Rate ◽  
Interspecific Interactions ◽  
Interference Competition ◽  
Leopard Frog ◽  
Hyla Cinerea ◽  
Chemical Interference ◽  
Larval Anurans ◽  
Green Treefrog ◽  
Rana Utricularia

We examined interference competition during interspecific interactions of larval anurans to determine its importance. We conducted laboratory experiments to examine behavioral and chemical interference competition between tadpoles of the southern leopard frog (Rana utricularia) and those of the green treefrog (Hyla cinerea). Water preconditioned byR. utricularia tadpoles significantly decreased the growth and increased the mortality of H. cinerea tadpoles compared with control treatments. In addition, R. utricularia tadpoles inhibited the feeding rate ofH. cinerea tadpolesby harassing them, and these interactions significantly decreased the growth and increased the mortality of theH. cinerea tadpoles. Rana utricularia tadpoles apparently use both chemical interference and aggressive behavior in securing a competitive advantage over H. cinerea tadpoles, and the H. cinerea tadpoles suffer from these interactions. Intraspecific chemical and behavioral interference competition also significantly decreased the growth of larval H. cinerea. In natural ponds, R. utricularia tadpoles that inhibit the growth and increase the mortality of H. cinerea tadpoles may increase their own chances of survival and metamorphosis, while H. cinerea tadpoles that avoid interactions with conspecifics and with R. utricularia tadpoles may increase their own chances of survival and metamorphosis.

Competitive interactions between the mountain pine beetle and the pine engraver in lodgepole pine

1991 ◽  
Vol 21 (7) ◽  
pp. 1029-1036 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. J. Rankin ◽  
J. H. Borden
Keyword(s):  
Mountain Pine Beetle ◽  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
Interspecific Interactions ◽  
Interference Competition ◽  
Competitive Interactions ◽  
Progeny Production ◽  
Exploitation Competition ◽  
Pine Engraver ◽  
Mountain Pine ◽  
Pine Beetle

The pine engraver (PE), Ipspini (Say), often coexists with the mountain pine beetle (MPB), Dendroctonusponderosae Hopk., in lodgepole pine, Pinuscontorta var. latifolia Engelm. The PE colonizes the upper bole, while the MPB infests the lower bole. We investigated the hypothesis that interspecific interactions between the PE and the MPB within trees can adversely affect MPB progeny production or survival. In lodgepole pine bark attacked by both species, PE and MPB emergence holes had a strong negative interrelationship, suggesting that high numbers of one species resulted in lower numbers of the other. In the laboratory, attacks by PEs on lodgepole pine logs resulted in significantly decreased numbers of MPB progeny, particularly when MPBs and PEs were allowed to attack logs simultaneously. Reductions in MPB progeny were 92.8 and 96.2% when the ratios of attacking beetles were 100 PE: 50 MPB per square metre and 200 PE: 50 MPB per square metre, respectively, compared with that in control logs with 50 MPB per square metre. In an August field experiment, pheromone-induced attack by the PE on trees just attacked by the MPB resulted in a 72.5% reduction in mean MPB progeny production compared with that in MPB-attacked control trees. Possible reasons for the reduced success of MPB when it and the PE coinhabit the same host may be exploitation competition, interference competition, or introduction of fungal competitors deleterious to the MPB. Induced infestation by PEs of MPB-infested trees may have the potential to reduce or control MPB populations.

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