RT info:eu-repo/semantics/masterThesis
T1 The evolution of host-parasite interactions during a biological invasion
A1 Schlippe Justicia, Lia
A2 Máster Universitario en Biodiversidad Terrestre y Conservación en Islas
AB Hosts and parasites are in a perpetual co-evolutionary “arms race” that might be affected duringa biological invasion, where both host and parasite are exposed to powerful new selectiveforces. The cane toad (Rhinella marina) invasion in Australia provides a unique opportunity tostudy the initial stages by which hosts and parasites adapt to each other in novel environments.To explore this issue, we raised the offspring of cane toads from three regions across its invasionrange under standard conditions, and used reciprocal cross-infection experiments withlungworm nematodes (Rhabdias pseudosphaerocephala) to clarify geographical coevolutionbetween toad fitness measures and parasite infectivity. Our results show rapid shifts in hostparasite interactions during a biological invasion. Whereas parasites evolved higher infectivityclose to the invasion front, hosts seem to develop rapid specific resistance to co-evolvedparasites after separation by a few generations. Indeed, our results suggest a parasite localmaladaptation (i.e., local adaptation of hosts to parasites). Importantly, we found that the mainmechanism of toad resistance to infection is prevention of the worms reaching and establishingin the lungsrather than immune reaction once worms have reached the lungs. No major impactson cane toad fitness measures were found during the lungworms migrations through themetamorphs bodies, though negative impacts could appear once they are established in thelungs.
YR 2021
FD 2021
LK http://riull.ull.es/xmlui/handle/915/23098
UL http://riull.ull.es/xmlui/handle/915/23098
LA en
DS Repositorio institucional de la Universidad de La Laguna
RD 26-may-2024