Fine-scale genetic analysis of Daphnia host populations infected by two virulent parasites – strong fluctuations in clonal structure at small temporal and spatial scales

Numerous theoretical studies suggest that parasites impose a strong selection pressure on their host, driving genetic changes within host populations. Yet evidence of this process in the wild is scarce. In the present study we surveyed, using high resolution microsatellite markers, the genetic structure of cyclically parthenogenetic Daphnia hosts within two different Daphnia communities belonging to the Daphnia longispina hybrid complex. One community, consisting of a single host species, was infected with the protozoan parasite Caullerya mesnili. The second community consisted of two parental Daphnia spp. and their hybrids, and was infected with the yeast parasite Metschnikowia. Significant differences in the clonal composition between random and infected sub-samples of Daphnia were detected on several occasions within both communities, indicating that host genotypes differ in resistance to both parasites. In addition, one parental species in the multi-taxon community was consistently under-infected, compared with the other taxa. Overall, our field data confirm that infection patterns are strongly affected by host genetic composition in various Daphnia–microparasite systems. Thus, parasite-driven selection operates in natural Daphnia populations and microparasites influence the clonal structure of host populations.

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► Genetic structures of two Daphnia communities infected by microparasites were surveyed.
► Clonal composition significantly differed between random (infected and uninfected) and infected sub-samples.
► In a multi-taxon community, one of the host species was consistently under-infected.
► Parasite-driven selection is a strong factor affecting natural Daphnia populations.