Alpine Newts (Ichthyosaura alpestris) Avoid Habitats Previously Used by Parasite-Exposed Conspecifics

Many organisms avoid habitats posing risks of parasitism. Parasites are not generally conspicuous, however, which raises the question what cues individuals use to detect parasitism risk. Here, we provide evidence in alpine newts ( Ichthyosaura alpestris ) that non-visual from parasite-exposed conspecifics inform habitat avoidance. Alpine breed aquatic and occasionally move among adjacent terrestrial during breeding seasons. We completed experiments with whereby had access both habitats, varied prior occupancy by different histories exposure parasitic skin fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis Bd ). Continuous filming newt activity for 2 days provided little conspecifics, regardless their history, immediately influenced use. However, encountered used specifically -exposed on day 1 spent less time 2, whereas other did alter Responses could have been elicited generated stages or, perhaps more likely, emitted themselves. In either case, these observations suggest sourced exposed risk those cause habitats. may therefore influence host behavior early phases interactions, possibly before any contact infectious is made, creating potential non-consumptive effects.