EFFECTS OF ENDOPHYTE CONSUMPTION ON FOOD-INTAKE, GROWTH, AND REPRODUCTION IN PRAIRIE VOLES

Grasses infected with fungal endophytes are known to deter herbivores. Although ingestion of infected plant tissues has detrimental effects on insects, birds, domestic livestock, and laboratory rodents, little is known about the consequences of endophyte consumption for wild rode nt consumers. This multigenerational study investigated how consumptio n of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) seeds infected with the endophy tic fungus Acremonium coenophialum affects prairie voles (Microtus och rogaster). Breeding pairs were fed one of three base diets: laboratory rodent chow (C; control diet), 50% uninfected tall fescue seeds plus 50% chow (E-), or 50% endophyte-infected seeds plus 50% chow (E+). In the first generation, the E+ diet suppressed food and water intake, gr owth rates, and reproductive success, so no voles fed on the E+ diet c ould be followed in the second generation. In general, voles of the tw o generations performed similarly on the C and E- diets. Our findings show that prairie voles are sensitive to the presence of endophytes, o r associated alkaloids, in their diets, and suggest that free-ranging voles avoid consuming endophyte-infected plant tissues if other foods are available.