Effects of bot fly, Cuterebra fontinella, parasitism on male aggression and female choice in Peromyscus leucopus

摘要: Parasites can often impose a cost on their hosts by interfering with traits affected sexual selection. We studied the effects of bot fly, common parasite white-footed mouse, Peromyscus leucopus, host social behaviour using field-based experiments. Assuming parasite-induced costs behaviour, we expected that males uninfested fly larvae would be more aggressive than infested males, and reproductively active females show preference for over males. Uninfested were not based two measures aggression (principal component scores number behaviours). Contrary to our expectations, results suggested may but this result was analysis both submissive behaviours. In addition, spent time Thus, infestation increase body size which could alter outcome female choice. Additional experimentation is necessary tease apart increased