Publication Abstract

Variation in the reproductive potential of Schistocephalus infected male sticklebacks is associated with 11-ketotestosterone titre

Variation in the reproductive potential of Schistocephalus infected male sticklebacks is associated with 11-ketotestosterone titre

V. Macnab, A.P. Scott*, I. Katsiadaki*, I. Barber

Parasites can impact host reproduction by interfering with host endocrine systems, but the adaptive nature of such effects is disputed. Gasterosteus aculeatus behavior and physiology to levels of the androgen 11-ketotestosterone (11KT) in naturally infected and noninfected male sticklebacks from two UK populations. In one population infected males harbored heavy infections and showed uniformly reduced 11KT titres and kidney spiggin (nesting glue protein) content compared to non-infected with smaller infections recorded 11KT and spiggin titres that overlapped those of non-infected infected males from this population 11KT and kidney spiggin also both correlated negatively with infection severity. Male reproductive behavior correlated closely with 11KT titre in both populations, and infected males with high 11KT levels exhibited normal reproductive behavior. Our results suggest that infection may have the ability to breed whilst infected. Our results are not consistent with the hypothesis that Schistocephalus that reproductive disruption is a side effect of the energetic costs of infection.

Reference: 

V. Macnab, A.P. Scott*, I. Katsiadaki*, I. Barber (2011) Variation in the reproductive potential of Schistocephalus infected male sticklebacks is associated with 11-ketotestosterone titre. Hormones and Behaviour 60; 371-379

V. Macnab, A.P. Scott*, I. Katsiadaki*, I. Barber

Hormones and Behaviour 60; 371-379