Ecological impacts of the microsporidian parasite Pleistophora mulleri on its freshwater amphipod host Gammarus duebeni celticus.

The microsporidian parasite, Pleistophora mulleri, infects the abdominal muscle of the freshwater amphipod Gammarus duebeni celticus. We recently showed that P. mulleri infection was associated with G. d. celticus hosts being more vulnerable to predation by the invasive amphipod Gammarus pulex. Parasitized G. d. celticus also had a reduced ability to prey upon other co-occurring amphipods. We suggested the parasite may have pervasive influences on host ecology and behaviour. Here, we examine the association between P. mulleri parasitism and parameters influencing individual host fitness, behaviour and interspecific interactions. We also investigate the relationship between parasite prevalence and host population structure in the field. In our G. d. celticus study population, P. mulleri prevalence was strongly seasonal, ranging from 8.5% in summer to 44.9% in winter. The relative abundance of hosts with the heaviest parasite burden increased during summer, which coincided with high host mortality, suggesting that parasitism may regulate host abundance to some degree. Females were more likely to be parasitized than males and parasitized males were paired with smaller females than unparasitized males. Parasitism was associated with reduction in the host's activity level and reduced both its predation on the isopod Asellus aquaticus and aggression towards precopula pairs of the invasive G. pulex. We discuss the pervasive influence of this parasite on the ecology of its host.

Field response of the dutch elm disease vectors,Scolytus multistriatus (Marsham) andS. scolytus (F.) (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) to 4-methyl-3-heptanol baits containing α-, ß-,δ-, or δ-multistriatin.

The field responses of English populations of the Dutch elm disease vectors,Scolytus multistriatus andS. scolytus to baits containing 4-methyl-3-heptanol, a host synergist [(-)-α-cubebene or (-)-limonene] and (±)-α-, (+)-ß-, (-)-ß-, (±)-γ-, or (±)-δ-multistriatin were examined. (±)-α-Multistriatin, released at 5-10 µg/day, enhanced the response ofS. multistriatus to baits containing 4-methyl-3-heptanol and either of the host synergists but had no effect on the capture ofS. scolytus. The release of larger amounts (57 or 365 µg/day) of (±)-α-multistriatin interrupted the response of both species to the 4-methyl-3-heptanol baits. It appears that α-multistriatin has multiple functions as a behavior-modifying substance for the two beetles. The (+)-ß-, (-)-ß-, (±)-γ-, and (±)-δ-multistriatins were inactive when released at 5-10 µg/day. The results of these field experiments suggest that one bait can be formulated to capture both species.