Warble Flies

14,000,000 Leading Edge Experts on the ideXlab platform

Scan Science and Technology

Contact Leading Edge Experts & Companies

Scan Science and Technology

Contact Leading Edge Experts & Companies

The Experts below are selected from a list of 42 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform

Yanming Zhang - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

Yong Fu - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

Wei Li - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

Ying Li - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

Torkild Tveraa - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • the effect of Warble Flies on reindeer fitness a parasite removal experiment
    Journal of Zoology, 2012
    Co-Authors: M Ballesteros, Bardjorgen Bardsen, Knut Langeland, Per Fauchald, Audun Stien, Torkild Tveraa
    Abstract:

    Parasites extract part or all their resources from their host depriving them of energy that could be normally used for growth, self-maintenance or reproduction. Thus, parasites are playing a major role in the evolution of life-history traits of their host through direct or indirect fitness costs. The current experiment investigated the effect of parasitic Warble Flies (Hypoderma tarandi), on the life-history traits of reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus). In autumn-winter 2005, 52 free-ranging female reindeer were administrated with an anti-parasite drug (treatment group), whereas 56 females remained untreated (control group). Subsequently, body mass, reproductive success and calf body mass were recorded in summer and winter the following year for all individuals. Reproductive success, measured as the probability of producing an offspring, was not affected by the treatment. However, the manipulation positively affected female body mass in the summer but not in the winter and a positive trend was observed for the calves during the same season. Overall, our findings indicate that Warble Flies have a negative impact on reindeer through their effect on body mass and consequently, are likely to affect reindeer life history and population dynamics.