Jessica Stephenson

1 INTRODUCTION Infection may change the quantity and quality of the offspring parents produce, both because of the energetic constraints (Tizard, 2008) or pathology (Khan et al., 2017) associated with infection, and because the optimal investment in defence (Boots & Bowers, 2004; Graham, 2013; Tschirren & Richner, 2006; Viney et al., 2005) and reproductive strategy may differ under the threat of infection (Schmid-Hempel, 2003; Sheldon & Verhulst, 1996).

Abstract 1. Infection imposes energetic costs on hosts. Hosts typically respond by shifting resources, potentially affecting the quantity and quality of offspring they produce. As the sexes differ in their optimal reproductive strategies, infection of mothers versus fathers may affect offspring quantity and quality in different ways. 2.

Abstract Infection imposes energetic costs on hosts. Hosts typically respond by shifting resources, potentially affecting the quantity and quality of offspring they produce. As the sexes differ in their optimal reproductive strategies, infection of mothers versus fathers may affect offspring quantity and quality in different ways.