Presentation Details
| Methods for Capturing Parasite Preference and Host Trait Evolution in Multi-host Assemblages Carolyn D.Tett, Robin M.Tinghitella, . University of Denver, Denver, CO, USA |
Abstract
Parasites and their hosts exert strong selection on each other’s traits, but these interactions can be more complex when many host species co-occur. Despite the potential for host-parasite coevolution and species composition to differ in multi-host assemblages, there is a lack of empirical work.
The introduction of the parasitic fly Ormia ochracea to Hawaii offers a unique opportunity to fill this gap. To locate the cricket host Teleogryllus oceanicus gravid flies eavesdrop on male cricket songs. Flies spray their larvae, which burrow into the host and kill them when they emerge. Since the 1990s, novel cricket songs have rapidly evolved to avoid fly detection; yet, in 2022, my lab found three more introduced cricket species that can act as hosts for the fly (alternative hosts). My preliminary data show that some fly populations even prefer alternative host songs over most novel T.oceanicus songs.
My dissertation will use 1) playbacks and video tracking to capture how the presence of alternative hosts alters host-parasite coevolution by way of fly preference, and 2) passive acoustic monitoring to capture potential changes in T. oceanicus song and host community composition.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.
The introduction of the parasitic fly Ormia ochracea to Hawaii offers a unique opportunity to fill this gap. To locate the cricket host Teleogryllus oceanicus gravid flies eavesdrop on male cricket songs. Flies spray their larvae, which burrow into the host and kill them when they emerge. Since the 1990s, novel cricket songs have rapidly evolved to avoid fly detection; yet, in 2022, my lab found three more introduced cricket species that can act as hosts for the fly (alternative hosts). My preliminary data show that some fly populations even prefer alternative host songs over most novel T.oceanicus songs.
My dissertation will use 1) playbacks and video tracking to capture how the presence of alternative hosts alters host-parasite coevolution by way of fly preference, and 2) passive acoustic monitoring to capture potential changes in T. oceanicus song and host community composition.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.
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