Anticipating infection: How parasitism risk changes animal physiology

Uninfected animals can attempt to prevent parasitism in many ways. Behavioural avoidance of parasitized conspecifics, for instance, is documented several species. Interactions with conspecifics also, however, lead physiological changes uninfected animals, an effect that much less well studied, and consequently, understood. The way which exposure risk the physiology impacts those on animal fitness remain a significant gap knowledge. Determining how disease environment experienced by their physiology, survival reproduction has major implications our knowledge parasites affect populations beyond consumptive effects. If triggered help reduce burden or speed up recovery from disease, they have cascading effects dynamics; therefore, are important study understand. In this perspective, I highlight studies vertebrates invertebrates demonstrate existence these responses. also consider responses may be adaptive instances when should occur. Finally, briefly discuss importance studying relation welfare, human health, dynamics experimental design. Read free Plain Language Summary article Journal blog.