Parasite removal improves reproductive success of female North American red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)

In order to evaluate potential reproductive costs associated with parasitism, we experimentally removed ectoparasites from reproductive female North American red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus). Body mass and overwinter survival of mothers, days to juvenile emergence, juvenile survival from birt...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:PloS one 2013-02, Vol.8 (2), p.e55779-e55779
Main Authors: Patterson, Jesse E H, Neuhaus, Peter, Kutz, Susan J, Ruckstuhl, Kathreen E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abies balsamea
Animal behavior
Animal reproduction
Animals
Biology
Birth
Body mass
Body Weight
Breeding success
Costs
Ecology
Ectoparasites
Emergence
Female
Females
Food
Insecticides
Juveniles
Lactation
Male
Males
Offspring
Parasites
Parasitism
Parasitology
Pinus contorta
Reproduction
Sciuridae - parasitology
Siphonaptera
Squirrels
Success
Survival
Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
Veterinary Science
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Summary:In order to evaluate potential reproductive costs associated with parasitism, we experimentally removed ectoparasites from reproductive female North American red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus). Body mass and overwinter survival of mothers, days to juvenile emergence, juvenile survival from birth to emergence, and body mass of juveniles at emergence were all compared to those of untreated (control) animals. Ectoparasite removal did not affect the body mass of mothers throughout the lactation period and overwinter survival of mothers did not differ between treatments and controls. Likewise, there was no effect of treatment on the number of days to juvenile emergence. However, treated mothers raised offspring that were significantly heavier (11%) than controls at emergence. Juveniles from treated mothers were also 24% more likely to survive from birth to emergence. Our results indicate that ectoparasites impose costs on the reproductive success of female red squirrels and that ectoparasites have the potential to influence red squirrel life-histories and population dynamics.
ISSN:1932-6203
1932-6203
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0055779