Foraging behavior of parasitized and non-parasitized voles during new moon and full moon events

Abstract

According to trade-off theory, animals weigh the benefits of obtaining resources against the risks of being preyed upon during these activities. One major factor that can influence an animal’s risk assessment is its current body condition, for example animals that are of lower body condition may be more desperate for food and thus more willing to take risks in searching for food. Body condition can be influenced by a variety of factors, including parasite burden, which can reduce it considerably. It has commonly been assumed that besides large epidemics mostly due to micro parasites (e.g. viruses, bacteria), macro parasites (e.g. cestodes, ecto-parasites) do not have much impact on their hosts, which allows them to reproduce and be transmitted to other hosts. However, while parasites might not directly manipulate their hosts’ foraging behavior, they may have indirect effects on hosts’ behavior by influencing their risk assessment during foraging by impacting their hosts’ physiology or condition. In our study we trapped montane voles, Microtus montanus, and collected data and fecal samples from them to analyze for parasites. We trapped voles for five consecutive days during one full moon event and two new moon events to see if there was a significant difference in the parasite burden of the voles we trapped during new moon and riskier full moon conditions when voles are more exposed to predators. Our study is important because it will examine how parasites may indirectly impact host behavior, and has important implications since parasites are common and may influence prey-predator dynamics in other animals. KEY WORDS: Montane voles, parasites, parasitism, host, foraging

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