Sex and age influence intestinal parasite burden in three boreal grouse species

Abstract

Parasite infections are often more common in male vertebrates than in females. Sexual selection leading to dimorphism can cause sexual differences in immune defence, behaviour or body size. Possible proximate explanations for male bias in parasitism are the immunosuppressive effect of male sex hormones and the large body size of males which increases the likelihood of being parasitized. To evaluate these hypotheses, we studied the prevalence and abundance of intestinal helminth parasites in three boreal grouse species, the capercaillie Tetrao urogallus, the black grouse Tetrao tetrix, and the hazel grouse Bonasa bonasia. The first two are sexually dimorphic polygynous species while the latter species is sexually monomorphic and monogamous. We found a male‐bias in the prevalence and abundance of the nematode Ascaridia compar. The bias was most pronounced in the polygynous black grouse and capercaillie. In the monogamous hazel grouse, there was a slight male‐bias in occurrence of ascarids, but no bias in abundance. In juvenile grouse, the male‐bias was larger than in adult grouse. No sexual bias was found in regard to the cestodes (Skrjabinia cesticillus, Paroniella urogalli and Hymenolepis spp.). However, age was a factor in cestode prevalence: juvenile grouse were more commonly infected than adults. Differences in growth rates and body size are potential factors that may lead to male‐biased parasitism in these grouse species, and their impact requires further studies.