Risk-taking behaviour in African killifish – a case of parasitic manipulation?

0524166 - ÚBO 2021 RIV CZ eng J - Journal Article
Nezhybová, Veronika - Janáč, Michal - Reichard, Martin - Ondračková, Markéta
Risk-taking behaviour in African killifish – a case of parasitic manipulation?
Journal of Vertebrate Biology. Roč. 69, č. 1 (2020), č. článku 20022. E-ISSN 2694-7684
R&D Projects: GA ČR(CZ) GBP505/12/G112
Institutional support: RVO:68081766
Keywords : Nothobranchius furzeri * Apatemon * manipulation hypothesis * anti-predator behaviour * intermediate host * Trematode
OECD category: Zoology
Method of publishing: Open access
https://bioone.org/journalArticle/Download?fullDOI=10.25225%2Fjvb.20022

Parasites commonly manipulate host behaviour to increase transmission success between hosts. While most behavioural changes comprise slight alterations to host activity patterns and habitat use, some represent impressive alterations to routine behaviour which, while having direct positive effects on parasite transmission, compromise host survival. Here, we report conspicuous risky behaviour in an African annual killifish, Nothobranchius furzeri, infected by metacercariae of a strigeid trematode, Apatemon sp., residing in their cranial cavity. We demonstrate a striking contrast in the spatial and temporal behavioural responses of fish from populations naturally infected with Apatemon sp. and fish from two control populations with either a similar baseline parasite fauna but lacking Apatemon, or an overall low-level of infection. During routine activity, fish from Apatemon-infected populations positioned themselves just below the water surface, while other fish spent most of their time near the bottom. During a simulated avian attack, killifish from Apatemon-infected populations jumped above the water surface, moved in an uncoordinated manner, and rotated in the upper water layer, while fish from the control populations rapidly escaped into deeper water and ceased moving. The same self-exposing behaviour (jumping out of the water and lying on floating lily pads for extended periods) was also observed under natural conditions. Such behaviour greatly facilitates location of Apatemon-infected host fish by avian definitive hosts, especially in turbid pools. Moreover, the nothobranchiid killifish host’s own life history, i.e. an extremely short lifespan limited to several months, may represent an important driver in the evolution of behavioural manipulation.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0308530