Body condition reveals hidden correlations between co-infection and behavior in sunfish

The role of parasites in maintaining consistent inter-individual differences in behavior (i.e., personality) is the subject of increasing study and debate. While behavioral differences may expose individuals differently to parasites, parasite infection can itself change host behavior, sometimes favoring the parasite’s own transmission. Furthermore, parasites can alter the functioning of energetically costly organs like the brain, thus affecting cognitive performance. However, relationships among infection, cognition, and behavior can be complex and difficult to interpret, especially in wild populations where individual health status is unknown. The inclusion of body condition as a fitness proxy may help reveal relationships between parasites and host traits that are otherwise masked. We examined relationships among host body condition, personality (i.e., exploration, boldness), cognition (i.e., aversive learning), and parasite density in wild-caught pumpkinseed sunfish (Lepomis gibbosus..., , # Data from: Body condition reveals hidden correlations between co-infection and behavior in sunfish

Dataset DOI: [10.5061/dryad.s4mw6m9j8](10.5061/dryad.s4mw6m9j8)

## Description of the data and file structure

We measured exploration (i.e. surface explored in cm for 10 minutes using an open-field test), boldness (i.e. latency to emergence from the shelter in seconds for a maximum of 300 seconds) and cognitive performance (i.e. difference between trial 1 and 2 in the latency to enter the black side) in wild pumpkinseed sunfish (*Lepomis gibbosus,* n = 65). We selected individuals from Lake Cromwell (Saint-Hippolyte, Canada) with a range of infection (i.e. blackspots, cestodes, yellow grub). We tested exploration and boldness for two trials and measured repeatability of these traits. We tested cognition using one learning trial, then two test trials. We measured body condition using the Fulton index (K) using the adjusted fish mass (i.e. fish mass - parasite mass) (mass/standard lengt...,