Resistance, sociality and sex: assessing the evolution of defence against parasites in the wild.

Dr. Felipe Dargent, McGill University

Friday, April 11th – 3:30PM – CTTC 4440Q

Faculty Host: Mark Forbes

Evolution • Parasitology • Trinidadian guppies

Through a series of field and laboratory assays I assess the nature and rate of adaptive responses to parasite infection in populations that have evolved under different selective pressures, such as presence or absence of parasites, predation levels and competitive interactions. As a model system I use Trinidadian guppies (Poecilia reticulata) and their Gyrodactylus spp. ectoparasites. I present evidence that runs counter to mainstream theory, empirically explore alternative explanations and present broader implications of defence evolution for guppy speciation.