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Lizard malaria: cost to vertebrate host's reproductive success

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 April 2009

J. J. Schall
J. J. Schall
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont 05405, USA
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Summary

Plasmodium mexicanum is a common malarial parasite of the western fence lizard, Sceloporus occidentalis, in northern California, USA. Infected female lizards store substantially less fat during the summer activity season and produce smaller clutches of eggs than do non-infected animals. Stored fat is utilized in the production of eggs; the energy content of the decrement in stored fat is approximately equal to the energy content of the average reduction in number of eggs. Thus, there is ongoing strong selective pressure on the host to evolve appropriate anti-parasite measures.

Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 87 , Issue 1 , August 1983 , pp. 1 - 6
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1983

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