I studied the effects of Polymorphus paradoxus Connell and Corner and Polymorphus marilis Van Cleave on colour and carotenoid quantities of their host amphipod Gammarus lacustris G.O. Sars in seven lakes in Alberta, Canada, that differed in productivity. Polymorphus marilis induced pigmentation dystrophy and a higher degree of blueness in both amphipod sexes than did P. paradoxus. Colour shifted toward lighter, bluer and greener tones, denoting less carotenoids, in amphipods parasitized by P. marilis. This is the first study to measure host-colour changes induced by parasites using consistent, repeatable digital analysis. Maximum carotenoid quantities were reached in hypereutrophic lakes where parasite-induced colour changes were also generally minimal. I developed regression models that accurately predict carotenoid quantities in amphipods by their colour, parasite status and water chemistry. This is the first study showing that carotenoid quantities and parasite-induced colour change in crustaceans depend on lake productivity. / Ecology
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:AEU.10048/1575 |
| Date | 11 1900 |
| Creators | Balanean, Leontin |
| Contributors | Heather Proctor (Biological Sciences), Rolf Vinebrooke (Biological Sciences), Heather Proctor (Biological Sciences), Rolf Vinebrooke (Biological Sciences), Allen Shostak (Biological Sciences), Marianne Douglas (Earth and Atmospheric Sciences), David Coltman (Biological Sciences) |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 14234412 bytes, application/pdf |
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