Higher gregarine parasitism often in sibling species of host damselflies with smaller geographical distributions

<p>1. This study investigated inter-specific variation in parasitism by gregarines (Eugregarinorida: Actinocephalidae), among sibling species of damselflies (Odonata: Zygoptera), in relation to relative size of geographical ranges of host species.</p> <p>2. Gregarines are considered generalist parasites, particularly for taxonomically related host species collected at the same sites or area. Prevalence and median intensity of gregarine parasitism was obtained for 1338 adult damselflies, representing 14 species (7 sibling species pairs) across 3 families within the suborder Zygoptera. Damselflies were collected at three local sites in Southeastern Ontario, during the same periods over the season.</p> <p>3. Five out of seven species pairs had significant differences in parasitism between sibling species. The less widespread host species was the more parasitised for three species pairs with significant differences in gregarine prevalence, and for two species pairs with differences in median intensity. The more widespread host had a higher intensity of infection as expected, in two species pairs.</p> <p>4. Future studies on ecological determinants of parasitism among related species should examine robust measures of abundance of species and representation of species regionally.</p

dataDryadPCR

Data with information on the carrier status of Pasteurella multocida labelled "PCR CARRIER STATUS" and several immune traits of Common eider

dataDryad15052014

Dataset used to test for directional selection on immune traits. Body size and mass measurements are provided as well as data for the 8 immune traits. The LIVEDEAD column provides information on the fate of individuals (1 is dead, 0 alive). BLEEDING.TIME is in min

dataDryadIF

Data on measured immune traits of Common eiders during the pre-breeding and incubation stage