[Campbell Biology P.747] Acanthocephalans infecting New Zealand mud crabs cause the crabs to... | Practice Question

Acanthocephalans infecting New Zealand mud crabs cause the crabs to move to more visible areas on the beach. What is the most likely reason for this manipulation of host behavior?

  • A: To increase the crabs' exposure to sunlight, facilitating parasite development.
  • B: To allow the acanthocephalans to absorb more nutrients directly from the environment.
  • C: To make the crabs more susceptible to predation by birds, which are the parasites' final hosts.
  • D: To encourage the crabs to lay eggs in exposed areas, ensuring the parasite's offspring dispersal.

Explanation

The text explicitly states: 'For example, acanthocephalans that infect New Zealand mud crabs cause their hosts to move to more visible areas on the beach, where the crabs are more likely to be eaten by birds, the worms' final hosts.' This manipulation serves to facilitate the transfer of the parasite to its final host.