Do three-spined sticklebacks avoid consuming copepods, the first intermediate host of Schistocephalus solidus ? — an experimental analysis of behavioural resistance

摘要: Many parasites that use intermediate hosts are transmitted to the next host through predation. If host's fitness is strongly reduced by parasite, it under selection either recognize and avoid infected or exclude prey species from its diet when alternative available. We investigated predator-prey interaction between laboratory bred three-spined sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus), second of cestode Schistocephalus solidus, 2 parasitized 1 unparasitized population, different types: uninfected copepods size-matched Daphnia as prey. Copepods with infective procercoids were more active, had a lower swimming ability easier catch than controls. The preferred moving copepods. Therefore preferentially attacked consumed. There was no effect sticklebacks' parent population being not. switched (uninfected) in course hunting sequence; this switch occurred earlier smaller fish. With strategy fish maximized their feeding rate: but increasingly difficult swallow stomach filling up especially for However, there indication populations consumed rather later sequence consuming an population. Thus, did not although S. solidus usually has high prevalence causes strong reduction stickleback host.