Heteroxenous coccidia increase the predation risk of parasitized rodents.
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.
Vorísek
P
P
Czech Society for Ornithology, Prague, Czech Republic.
Votýpka
J
J
Zvára
K
K
Svobodová
M
M
D000818:Animals; D003411:Arvicolinae / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000502:physiology; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011235:Predatory Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D020304:Raptors / Q000502:physiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012522:Sarcocystis / Q000502:physiology*; D020305:Strigiformes / Q000502:physiology