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Community Matters: The Impact of Environmental Factors on Host-Parasite Interactions in Aquatic Systems

Strasburg, Miranda Lynn
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9709-7595
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1636711042101642

Abstract Details

2021, Doctor of Philosophy, Miami University, Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology.
Biotic interactions within ecological communities, including host-parasite interactions, are affected by environmental conditions. Shifts in environmental factors have led to rises in parasitic infections across wildlife taxa. Given the significance of parasites on population and community regulation and to wildlife and human diseases, understanding how the influence of parasites change across environmental gradients is of upmost importance. The objective of my dissertation was to evaluate which environmental factors are important for host-parasite interactions in an anuran-trematode system. Many trematodes use amphibians as hosts and their effects on host survival depend largely on infection load and can be regulated by abiotic and biotic environmental conditions. I hypothesized that abiotic and biotic environmental factors determine the probability and intensity of trematode infections in anuran hosts and the importance of trematodes in the community. To test my hypothesis, I conducted laboratory and mesocosm experiments to examine the interactive effects of trematode parasites and pesticides (i.e., abiotic factors), predators, or competitors (i.e., biotic factors) on host behavior, body condition, and survival. Pesticide and predator exposure did not substantially impact behavior in tadpoles, but the behavioral responses of tadpoles to trematodes varied depending on environmental context. In the laboratory, trematode exposure did not significantly influence tadpole behavior, while in mesocosms, trematode presence reduced tadpole activity. In addition, the laboratory experiment confirmed that tadpole activity influenced trematode transmission; there was a negative relationship between transmission and individual tadpole activity. Trematodes, generally, had negative effects on their hosts, but the extent of their effects was impacted by food web structure. In communities with abundant food resources resulting from reductions in the abundance of tadpole competitors, the negative effects of parasites on amphibian hosts were reduced leading to increases in host body condition and survival. Increases in body condition may offset the effects of parasites on survival as larger individuals may have an advantage in the terrestrial environment and increase population viability. This dissertation highlights that the effects of trematode parasites on amphibian hosts depend largely on the community surrounding those interactions and that short-term studies may overestimate the negative effects of trematodes on amphibians. The complexity of this system increases the uncertainty associated with environmental change and emphasizes the need to investigate food web wide effects that may moderate the impacts of parasite infections on hosts, thereby ensuring the stability of ecological communities.
Michelle Boone (Advisor)
María González (Committee Member)
Jing Zhang (Committee Member)
Ann Rypstra (Committee Member)
Pieter Johnson (Committee Member)
161 p.
Ecology
Community Ecology, Host-Parasite Interactions, Amphibians, Trematodes, Animal Behavior

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Strasburg, M. L. (2021). Community Matters: The Impact of Environmental Factors on Host-Parasite Interactions in Aquatic Systems [Doctoral dissertation, Miami University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1636711042101642

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Strasburg, Miranda. Community Matters: The Impact of Environmental Factors on Host-Parasite Interactions in Aquatic Systems . 2021. Miami University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1636711042101642.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Strasburg, Miranda. "Community Matters: The Impact of Environmental Factors on Host-Parasite Interactions in Aquatic Systems ." Doctoral dissertation, Miami University, 2021. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1636711042101642

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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This open access ETD is published by Miami University and OhioLINK.