{"title":"Habitat Features, Coyotes, and Humans Drive Diel Activity Variation Among Sympatric Mammals.","authors":"Nathan J Proudman, Maximilian L Allen","doi":"10.1111/1749-4877.13000","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1749-4877.13000","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The ability of animals to plasticly adjust their diel activity has important implications for their persistence and the structure of food webs. While many studies have examined diel activity in mammals, few have compared multiple abiotic, biotic, and anthropogenic variables to determine what factors have the strongest effects on sympatric species within a system. Understanding the bounds of variation in behavior is vital to accurately determine the effects of environmental stressors on the diel activity of wildlife. We quantified shifts in diel activity (Δ%) among nine sympatric mammal species using camera traps across Illinois and compared the effect of 12 variables using generalized linear mixed modeling. We found habitat type and the presence of coyotes (Canis latrans) to be the most important drivers of mammal diel activity, but other biotic and anthropogenic variables also affected diel activity in several species. Domestic cats (Felis catus; Δ = 25.7%), red foxes (Vulpes vulpes; Δ = 25.2%), bobcats (Lynx rufus; Δ = 20.7%), and striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis; Δ = 19.3%) exhibited the most behavioral plasticity of our focal species. Decreased diurnal activity in more open habitat types by multiple species likely reflects the anthropogenic fear effects in the human-dominated landscape of Illinois, while urban environments may act as spatiotemporal refuges from coyotes for subordinate mesocarnivores. Our study shows that a broad range of factors contribute to variation in mammal diel activity, which can in turn affect the predatory and competitive pressures among sympatric species, with the potential for cascading effects across multiple trophic levels. Our study provides a robust baseline for the diel variation in mammal activity, allowing for more accurate assessments of their behavior.</p>","PeriodicalId":13654,"journal":{"name":"Integrative zoology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144127420","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Cardiovascular Plasticity and Adaptation of High-Altitude Birds and Mammals.","authors":"Huishang She, Yanhua Qu","doi":"10.1111/1749-4877.12996","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1749-4877.12996","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Exposure to a hypoxic environment at high altitudes imposes severe pressure on animals living there, which utilize substantial cardiovascular and respiratory responses to meet the physiological challenge of oxygen requirement. These responses may result from phenotypic plasticity through short-term exposure (i.e., within a generation) to a new environment or shaped by adaptation (i.e., many generations) through long-term evolution. For example, plasticity triggers a sympathetic-mediated adrenergic response, resulting in an elevation of heart rate and hypoxia-induced pulmonary vasoconstriction that eventually contributes to pulmonary hypertension in some animals. Adaptation to high altitudes can drive an increase in muscular capillarization and adaptive cardiac growth, which promote oxygen diffusion and transportation. Exposure to a high-altitude hypoxic environment stimulates excessive erythropoiesis, which has maladaptive effects and contributes to chronic mountain sickness. Maladaptation caused by plasticity at early stages can be reversed during adaptation. Despite extensive research on high-altitude adaptation, the phenotypic changes and genetic variations in cardiovascular systems responding to high-altitude hypoxia remain insufficiently integrated across taxa. While genomic and transcriptomic studies have advanced our understanding, a cross-taxa comparison of cardiovascular adaptations is still incomplete. We here review recent literature on phenotypic plasticity, adaptations, and genetic and transcriptional basis of cardiovascular systems of mammals and birds living in high altitudes with respect to their duration of exposure at high altitudes. By integrating and comparing data across mammalian and avian species, we aim to provide a framework for understanding the plasticity and adaptation of the cardiovascular system in high-altitude environments.</p>","PeriodicalId":13654,"journal":{"name":"Integrative zoology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144119614","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lang Liao, Xifeng Wang, Zeyu Zhu, Wei Yu, Xiaolong Zhao, Weiguo Du, Yuxia Yang, Zhigao Zeng
{"title":"Effects of Climate Warming on Overwintering of Qinghai Toad-Headed Lizards at Two Contrasting Elevations.","authors":"Lang Liao, Xifeng Wang, Zeyu Zhu, Wei Yu, Xiaolong Zhao, Weiguo Du, Yuxia Yang, Zhigao Zeng","doi":"10.1111/1749-4877.12994","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1749-4877.12994","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Increases in temperature associated with global warming have significant implications for organismal fitness. Thermal condition changes of inactive or dormant periods (such as winters) also have important effects on animals, particularly for ectotherms. Neglecting the potential consequences of winter warming can lead to biases in assessing the effect of climate change. The impacts of winter warming on ectotherms may be complex and multifaceted, possibly varying with geographic location including thermal ecological niche, altitude, and latitude. Therefore, we conducted field warming experiments (warmer climate vs. present climate) to investigate the effects of winter warming on the mass loss, body condition, physiological process, and survival capacity of Qinghai toad-headed lizards (Phrynocephalus vlangalii) at two contrasting altitudes (2600 vs. 3600 m) of the northern Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, China. The warming treatment reduced mass loss of the 2600-m-altitude lizard population, enhanced body condition, and increased overwintering survival rate after hibernation, while there was no significant effect on these indicators for the 3600-m-altitude lizard population with warming treatment. The two altitudinal populations showed different regulatory patterns of metabolic pathways in response to warming winters. Under simulated warming, the 2600-m-altitude lizard population mostly downregulated energy metabolism-related pathways (e.g., glycolysis, pyruvate metabolism, fatty acid degradation, TCA cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation) during hibernation. In contrast, under winter warming, the 3600-m-altitude lizard population primarily upregulated amino acid metabolism pathways (including serine and threonine metabolism; alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism; cysteine and methionine metabolism; as well as histidine metabolism), which may be associated with cold stress adaptation. These findings contribute to our understanding of the adaptive effects of winter warming on reptiles and their physiological mechanisms, facilitating a better assessment of vulnerability to climate change.</p>","PeriodicalId":13654,"journal":{"name":"Integrative zoology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144119616","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Genomic Differentiation and Adaptation of Rattus nitidus Across Spatial Scales.","authors":"Mingyu Zhang, Zhiming Li, Ruidong Cao, Le Yang, Chengmin Shi, Yunfeng Zhang, Yaohua Zhang, Jianxu Zhang","doi":"10.1111/1749-4877.13006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1749-4877.13006","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The Himalayan field rat (Rattus nitidus) (HFR) has differentiated into two distinct populations-Xizang population and inland China population. Historical declines in effective population size have led to reduced genetic diversity in the Xizang HFR population, while the inland China HFR population has maintained relative stability.</p>","PeriodicalId":13654,"journal":{"name":"Integrative zoology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144119619","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Anna Šipková, Kristýna Javorská, Lucia Anettová, Divakaran Pandian, Petr Cibulka, Jana Kačmaříková, Ladislav Novotný, David Modrý
{"title":"Hedgehogs and Angiostrongylus cantonensis: Uncovering the Role of Atelerix albiventris in the Parasite Life Cycle.","authors":"Anna Šipková, Kristýna Javorská, Lucia Anettová, Divakaran Pandian, Petr Cibulka, Jana Kačmaříková, Ladislav Novotný, David Modrý","doi":"10.1111/1749-4877.13004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1749-4877.13004","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The ongoing invasion of the zoonotic parasite Angiostrongylus cantonensis threatens humans, other mammals, and birds. In Mallorca, neurological disorders associated with this parasite are increasingly reported in free-living Algerian hedgehogs, Atelerix algirus, raising public health concerns. Experimental infections in the related species Atelerix albiventris were conducted to investigate the role of hedgehogs in the life cycle of the parasite. Captive-born hedgehogs were orally inoculated with 200 and 2000 third-stage larvae and monitored for 50 days by behavioral observations, blood tests (hematology and biochemistry), histopathology, and qPCR analysis. Baermann's larvoscopy was used to examine feces starting from day 39 post-infection (DPI). Neuropathological symptoms were only observed in the high-dose group, with larvae detected in brain tissue at 5, 15, 23, and 44 DPI. In contrast, no clinical symptoms or larvae in tissues were found in the low-dose group. Parasite DNA was present in the organs of both groups, but neurological migration occurred exclusively in the high-dose group. Blood tests showed no specific patterns indicating infection. Hedgehogs are aberrant hosts of A. cantonensis, showing severe neuropathological symptoms at high infection levels (2000 third-stage larvae), while lower doses remain asymptomatic. The parasite cannot complete its life cycle in A. albiventris hedgehogs, which do not contribute to its ecological circulation. However, hedgehogs can serve as sentinels for the spread of A. cantonensis in newly invaded regions like Mallorca. Monitoring neurological disease in wildlife could provide valuable insights into the potential spread of this zoonotic parasite in temperate latitudes.</p>","PeriodicalId":13654,"journal":{"name":"Integrative zoology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144119621","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Wenjie Li, Sipei Liu, Le Zong, Zhengzhong Huang, Lei Jiang, Xiaokun Liu, Pingping Yang, Yitian Zhang, Zhong Du, Weili Fan, Zhuanghui Qin, Xieshuang Wang, Xinying Zhang, Xiaolong Wang, Haodong Yin, Jiandong An, Chaodong Zhu, Michael C Orr, Jiangning Wang, Siqin Ge
{"title":"Potential Correlation Between Bombus lantschouensis Thoracic Morphology and Flight Behavior.","authors":"Wenjie Li, Sipei Liu, Le Zong, Zhengzhong Huang, Lei Jiang, Xiaokun Liu, Pingping Yang, Yitian Zhang, Zhong Du, Weili Fan, Zhuanghui Qin, Xieshuang Wang, Xinying Zhang, Xiaolong Wang, Haodong Yin, Jiandong An, Chaodong Zhu, Michael C Orr, Jiangning Wang, Siqin Ge","doi":"10.1111/1749-4877.12990","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1749-4877.12990","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Remarkably little modern work has investigated the thoracic structures of insects and their relationship to flight locomotion. Most studies focus exclusively on either morphology or flight kinematics. In this study, we explore within-species variation in mesosomal structures (thorax + propodeum) and their correlation with different flight modes of Bombus lantschouensis. The mesosomal structures, including skeletons and muscles, of four categories-pre-mating queen, post-mating queen, drone, and worker-are examined using micro-CT and 3D reconstruction. Their flight behaviors are also captured using high-speed cameras. Three key kinematic parameters are recorded-wingbeat frequency, flapping amplitude, and average speed-across three flight modes: takeoff, hovering, and forward flight. The wingbeat frequencies of the drone and the worker are higher than those of the queens. The relative distance between the mesophragma and propodeum (DMPP) and the toughness of the mesepisternum, part of the indirect flight system, are related to wingbeat frequency. Flapping amplitude is generally inversely proportional to wingbeat frequency, which might also be influenced by wing shape. After mating, additional fat in the body of the queen increased her weight and possibly compressed her muscles and DMPP, thereby reducing her average takeoff speed. Otherwise, the high diversity of the prothoracic muscles and the pronotal changes might be related to visual capabilities. The changes in the metathoracic muscles connecting to the metacoxal might be related to the functions of the hindlegs. This work provides a basis for future comparative work on bumblebee morphology and biomechanics.</p>","PeriodicalId":13654,"journal":{"name":"Integrative zoology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144020899","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Daniele Giannetti, Diego Gil-Tapetado, Enrico Schifani, Elia Nalini, Donato A Grasso, Carlo Polidori
{"title":"Behavioral, Ecological, and Morphological Data Suggest a Close Relationship Between the Ant Colobopsis truncata and the Gall Wasp Aphelonyx cerricola.","authors":"Daniele Giannetti, Diego Gil-Tapetado, Enrico Schifani, Elia Nalini, Donato A Grasso, Carlo Polidori","doi":"10.1111/1749-4877.12989","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1749-4877.12989","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Wasps of the family Cynipidae are known to induce galls of a species-specific morphology, which during senescence provide a refuge for secondary insect fauna, especially ants. Here, we studied for the first time the colonization of galls of Aphelonyx cerricola by two ant species, Colobopsis truncata and Crematogaster scutellaris. Field sampling across one urban and one natural site in Italy showed that 61% of A. cerricola galls were colonized by these ants, though essentially (87%) by Co. truncata. These species exclusively colonized partially empty or completely empty galls, predominantly the larger ones composed of fewer subunits. By inspecting the European distribution of Co. truncata and Cr. scutellaris, we found that Co. truncata tends to be closer to the host plant of A. cerricola, Quercus cerris, than Cr. scutellaris. Climatic niche modeling indicated a greater niche overlap between Co. truncata and the host plant Q. cerris compared to Cr. scutellaris. Additionally, we discovered that Co. truncata queens have mandibles with a morphology likely less optimized for excavating compared to workers, with lower zinc enrichment levels than workers. This suggests that colony founding in Co. truncata may require less excavating activity compared to Cr. scutellaris, possibly explaining Co. truncata preference for empty galls and the higher colonization rate of non-emptying galls of other cynipids by Cr. scutellaris. Altogether, our data point to a close relationship between the ant Co. truncata and A. cerricola, and further investigations may shed light on its possible benefits for both species.</p>","PeriodicalId":13654,"journal":{"name":"Integrative zoology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143982253","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Brayan Andrés Gamboa-Suárez, Angie D González, Miguel Hernán Nova-Chamorro, Claudia Brieva, Nubia E Matta
{"title":"Clinical and Pathological Effects of Filariasis in Tayra (Eira barbara) and Crab-Eating Fox (Cerdocyon thous) From Colombia.","authors":"Brayan Andrés Gamboa-Suárez, Angie D González, Miguel Hernán Nova-Chamorro, Claudia Brieva, Nubia E Matta","doi":"10.1111/1749-4877.12993","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1749-4877.12993","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Various nematodes, including onchocercids, can infect mustelids and canids. However, there are few records concerning pathogenesis in wildlife species. Diagnosis is made through microscopic observation of blood. Nevertheless, a specific onchocercid assignment is difficult to achieve. In this report, through morphological analysis of microfilariae and molecular characterization using the 18S, 12S, and COI genes, two cases of microfilarial infections were confirmed, Acanthocheilonema sp. infecting tayras (Eira barbara) and Dirofilaria sp. infecting crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous). To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of Acanthocheilonema infection in E. barbara. Cross-sections of adult worms (Acanthocheilonema) were associated with necrotic foci and pyogranulomatous inflammation in the lung parenchyma and pancytopenia, and elevated creatine kinase levels were also observed. Chest x-rays revealed a mixed pulmonary pattern. Meanwhile, Dirofilaria infection in C. thous produced severe generalized suppurative, fibrinous, and hemorrhagic bronchopneumonia and glomerulonephritis, with anemia, neutrophilia, monocytosis, decreased creatinine, and elevated creatine kinase observed. Additionally, findings such as hematuria, proteinuria, glucosuria, amorphous urates, and fine granular casts were observed. Rehabilitation centers provide an opportunity to monitor emerging diseases in wildlife from a One Health perspective. Zoonotic parasites in wildlife should be addressed in an integrated and multidisciplinary manner to develop action plans that incorporate ecological, social, conservation, and public health concerns. This report highlights that Acanthocheilonema sp. and Dirofilaria sp. are potential causes of pulmonary, cutaneous, and renal disease in species like tayras and crab-eating foxes. These species should be considered in management plans for filariasis, which has veterinary and public health implications.</p>","PeriodicalId":13654,"journal":{"name":"Integrative zoology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144021774","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Xiaogang Feng, Wei Gao, Wenjie Dong, Yijing Chen, Robert W Murphy, Yaping Zhang, Jing Che
{"title":"Genome-Wide Mining of lncRNAs Reveals Their Potential Regulatory Role in the Evolution of Viviparity.","authors":"Xiaogang Feng, Wei Gao, Wenjie Dong, Yijing Chen, Robert W Murphy, Yaping Zhang, Jing Che","doi":"10.1111/1749-4877.12992","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1749-4877.12992","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Reproduction in vertebrates usually involves egg-laying (oviparity) or live-bearing (viviparity). Oviparity is the ancestral trait from which viviparity has independently evolved more than 100 times in squamate reptiles. This transition involves a series of physiological and structural changes, including the degeneration of eggshell and the evolution of a placenta and differences in the temporal and spatial expression patterns of some functional genes that drive the structural transformation. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play important roles in the regulation of gene expression, yet it remains unclear whether they participate in gene expression shifts during the transition from oviparity to viviparity, and if so how. Therefore, we employ deep mining to identify novel lncRNAs of a closely related oviparous-viviparous pair of lizards (Phrynocephalus przewalskii and P. vlangalii). We construct cis- and trans-regulatory networks between lncRNAs and target genes using the transcriptomic data of oviduct or uteri tissues across reproductive periods. Results show that lncRNAs that regulate eggshell gland developmental genes in the oviparous lizard are lost or less expressed in the viviparous lizard. A number of lncRNAs involved in the regulation of placental development and embryo attachment in viviparous species have no orthologs in oviparous species, and others show little or no expression. Accordingly, lncRNAs may play important regulatory roles in the physiological and structural changes in the transition from oviparity to viviparity. These results open doors to the further elucidation of genetic regulatory networks.</p>","PeriodicalId":13654,"journal":{"name":"Integrative zoology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144007036","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Within-Host \"Infraecology\": Asymmetric Interactions Between Two Co-infecting Eye Parasites.","authors":"Mikhail Gopko, Kseniia Savina, Danila Sotnikov, Ekaterina Mironova","doi":"10.1111/1749-4877.12991","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1749-4877.12991","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Parasites within the host body can occupy similar ecological niches and, therefore, compete for resources. Similarly to macroecological environments, within-host habitats often provide unequal access to resources for different parasitic species. Parasites that live closer to the source of nutrients likely \"intercept\" resources, thus inhibiting the growth of \"downstream\" competitors. The eyes of vertebrates are an example of such asymmetric habitats, as lenses have priority access to nutrients over the vitreous humor. However, parasitic interactions in asymmetric environments have been rarely purposefully examined. We experimentally infected fish with lens- and vitreous-dwelling parasites (Diplostomum pseudospathaceum and Tylodelphys clavata, respectively) to compare their infection success and growth in the presence/absence of each other. We found evidence of antagonistic interactions between parasites during the infection process and their growth within hosts. Each parasite species decreased the infection success of the other to a similar extent. Importantly, in accordance with our initial hypothesis, interactions between the parasites during the growth phase were asymmetric. In the presence of D. pseudospathaceum living closer to the nutrient source (in the lens), vitreous-dwelling T. clavata grew slower than in monoinfections. In contrast, the presence of T. clavata, the \"downstream\" parasite, did not influence the growth of the D. pseudospathaceum. Our results highlight how within-host interactions and spatial heterogeneity affect the infection success of parasites and the size structure of infracommunities. We emphasize that such \"infraecological\" considerations should be considered when studying parasitic communities since within-host ecological interactions can influence infection dynamics and virulence.</p>","PeriodicalId":13654,"journal":{"name":"Integrative zoology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144018660","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}