Dale Clayton et al. studied host parasite coevolution and cospeciation in ectoparasitic feather lice. What did they conclude about the match between body size of the host and body size of the parasite?
A) Body-size matching enabled the lice to remain attached to the feathers of the host.
B) Body-size matching enabled the lice to escape defensive preening behavior of the host species.
C) Body-size matching enabled the lice to feed more efficiently on their host.
D) Body-size matching enabled the lice to fend off other parasitic species on their host.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Clayton et al. concluded that body-size matching between host and parasite allowed the lice to escape defensive preening behavior of the host species. This is because hosts are more likely to remove larger lice during preening, so smaller lice can remain attached to the feathers and continue to feed.

Dale Clayton Et Al