Ponton Fleur, Biron David, Moore J., Moller A.P., Thomas F. (2006). Facultative virulence : a strategy to manipulate host behaviour?. Behavioural Processes, 72 (1), p. 1-5. ISSN 0376-6357.
Titre du document
Facultative virulence : a strategy to manipulate host behaviour?
Ponton Fleur, Biron David, Moore J., Moller A.P., Thomas F.
Source
Behavioural Processes, 2006,
72 (1), p. 1-5 ISSN 0376-6357
Examples of behavioural manipulation by parasites are numerous, but the processes underlying these changes are not well characterized. From an evolutionary point of view, behavioural changes in infected hosts have often been interpreted as illustrations of the extended phenotype concept, in which genes in one organism (the parasite) have phenotypic effects on another organism (the host). Here, we approach the problem differently, suggesting that hosts, by cooperating with manipulative parasites rather than resisting them, might mitigate fitness costs associated with manipulation. By imposing extra fitness costs on their hosts in the absence of compliance, parasites theoretically have the potential to select for cooperative behaviour by their hosts. Although this 'mafia-like' strategy remains poorly documented, we believe that it has substantial potential to resolve issues specific to the evolution of behavioural alterations induced by parasites. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Plan de classement
Sciences fondamentales / Techniques d'analyse et de recherche [020]
