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Almeida D, Alcaraz-Hernández JD, Cruz A, Lantero E, Fletcher DH, García-Berthou E. Seasonal Effects on Health Status and Parasitological Traits of an Invasive Minnow in Iberian Waters. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1502. [PMID: 38791719 PMCID: PMC11117210 DOI: 10.3390/ani14101502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Biological invasions are of special conservation concern in the Iberian Peninsula and other regions with high levels of endemism. Environmental variability, such as the seasonal fluctuations of Mediterranean streams, is a key factor that affects the spread of aquatic species in novel habitats. Fish parasites have a great potential to reflect such changes in the habitat features of freshwater ecosystems. The aim of this study consisted of seasonally analysing the health status and parasitological traits of non-native fish in Iberian waters. In particular, a strongly invasive population of Languedoc minnow Phoxinus septimaniae (leuciscid species native to south-east France) was assessed in Tordera Stream (north-eastern Iberian Peninsula, Mediterranean conditions). Fish were sampled in April, July, and October 2023 by electrofishing. Health status (external/internal organs) was significantly better in autumn (HAI = 28.8) than spring (HAI = 35.6). Life-cycle complexity was higher in spring (LCI = 1.98), whereas parasite abundance and Shannon diversity were significantly lower in autumn (TA = 19.6 and H' = 2.15, respectively). In October (more 'benign' environmental conditions in Iberian streams), minnows could display elevated foraging activity, with fish increasing their health condition and level of parasite resistance/tolerance. Overall results showed a particular seasonal profile of health and parasite infra-communities that allow this minnow species to thrive under highly fluctuating habitat conditions. This information could help environmental managers to control non-native fish in Mediterranean streams.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Almeida
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad San Pablo-CEU, CEU Universities, Urbanización Montepríncipe, 28660 Boadilla del Monte, Spain; (A.C.); (E.L.)
- GRECO, Institute of Aquatic Ecology, University of Girona, M. Aurèlia Capmany 69, 17003 Girona, Spain; (J.D.A.-H.); (E.G.-B.)
| | - Juan Diego Alcaraz-Hernández
- GRECO, Institute of Aquatic Ecology, University of Girona, M. Aurèlia Capmany 69, 17003 Girona, Spain; (J.D.A.-H.); (E.G.-B.)
- TRAGSATEC Group, 28037 Madrid, Spain
| | - Alejandra Cruz
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad San Pablo-CEU, CEU Universities, Urbanización Montepríncipe, 28660 Boadilla del Monte, Spain; (A.C.); (E.L.)
| | - Esther Lantero
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad San Pablo-CEU, CEU Universities, Urbanización Montepríncipe, 28660 Boadilla del Monte, Spain; (A.C.); (E.L.)
| | - David H. Fletcher
- UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Environment Centre Wales, Bangor LL57 2UW, UK;
| | - Emili García-Berthou
- GRECO, Institute of Aquatic Ecology, University of Girona, M. Aurèlia Capmany 69, 17003 Girona, Spain; (J.D.A.-H.); (E.G.-B.)
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Arriola A, Al Saify I, Warner NA, Herzke D, Harju M, Amundsen PA, Evenset A, Möckel C, Krogseth IS. Dechloranes and chlorinated paraffins in sediments and biota of two subarctic lakes. FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY 2024; 6:1298231. [PMID: 38817305 PMCID: PMC11137240 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2024.1298231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Our understanding of the environmental behavior, bioaccumulation and concentrations of chlorinated paraffins (CPs) and Dechloranes (Dec) in the Arctic environment is still limited, particularly in freshwater ecosystems. In this descriptive study, short chain (SCCPs) and medium chain (MCCPs) CPs, Dechlorane Plus (DP) and analogues, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were measured in sediments, benthic organisms, three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus), Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) and brown trout (Salmo trutta) in two Sub-Arctic lakes in Northern Norway. Takvannet (TA) is a remote lake, with no known local sources for organic contaminants, while Storvannet (ST) is situated in a populated area. SCCPs and MCCPs were detected in all sediment samples from ST with concentration of 42.26-115.29 ng/g dw and 66.18-136.69 ng/g dw for SCCPs and MCCPs, respectively. Only SCCPs were detected in TA sediments (0.4-5.28 ng/g dw). In biota samples, sticklebacks and benthic organisms showed the highest concentrations of CPs, while concentrations were low or below detection limits in both char and trout. The congener group patterns observed in both lakes showed SCCP profiles dominated by higher chlorinated congener groups while the MCCPs showed consistency in their profiles, with C14 being the most prevalent carbon chain length. Anti- and syn-DP isomers were detected in all sediment, benthic and stickleback samples with higher concentrations in ST than in TA. However, they were only present in a few char and trout samples from ST. Dec 601 and 604 were below detection limits in all samples in both lakes. Dec 603 was detected only in ST sediments, sticklebacks and 2 trout samples, while Dec 602 was the only DP analogue found in all samples from both lakes. While there were clear differences in sediment concentrations of DP and Dec 602 between ST and TA, differences between lakes decreased with increasing δ15N. This pattern was similar to the PCB behavior, suggesting the lake characteristics in ST are playing an important role in the lack of biomagnification of pollutants in this lake. Our results suggest that ST receives pollutants from local sources in addition to atmospheric transport.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Insam Al Saify
- Waternet Institute for the Urban Water Cycle, Department of Technology, Research and Engineering, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Nicholas A. Warner
- Thermo Fisher Scientific, Bremen, Germany
- NILU (Norsk Institutt for Luftforskning), Fram Centre, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Dorte Herzke
- NILU (Norsk Institutt for Luftforskning), Fram Centre, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Mikael Harju
- NILU (Norsk Institutt for Luftforskning), Fram Centre, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Per-Arne Amundsen
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | | | - Claudia Möckel
- Department of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ingjerd S. Krogseth
- NILU (Norsk Institutt for Luftforskning), Fram Centre, Tromsø, Norway
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
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3
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Orlandi Neto A, Franceschini L, Dias JHP, Ribeiro CDS, Ramos IP. Endoparasitic helminth fauna and diet of Geophagus sveni (Pisces) in Upper Paraná River basin. Parasitol Res 2024; 123:208. [PMID: 38724709 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08222-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
In freshwater ecosystems, parasite infection patterns are influenced by factors including spatial-temporal variations, host diet, and habitat. Fish often change diets, affecting their parasite communities. This study focused on non-native host fish Geophagus sveni, aiming to characterize diet and endoparasitic helminth fauna patterns in the invaded area, investigating spatial and seasonal possible differences of endoparasite infections and correlating with host diet, in São José dos Dourados River and Tietê River areas. The host fish were collected in these areas during the dry and rainy season using gillnets. The endoparasites were collected and preserved in alcohol and identified using taxonomic methods, and stomach contents were examined for diet analysis. Parasitism descriptors were calculated and evaluated spatially and seasonally by ANOVA and the Kruskal-Wallis tests. PERMANOVA assessed G. sveni diet differences, and RDA correlated the endohelminth abundance with the host diet. Two endoparasites were recorded: metacercariae of Austrodiplostomum compactum (Trematoda) and larvae and adults of Raphidascaris (Sprentascaris) lanfrediae (Nematoda). Spatial differences were observed for the mean abundance and prevalence of R. (S.) lanfrediae and A. compactum prevalence. Seasonal variations of parasitic descriptors occurred for the nematode in the Tietê River area. The detritus and aquatic insects were the most consumed items by G. sveni. Detritus consumption positively correlates with nematode abundance. The findings indicate that factors such as artificial channels and rainfall, which can influence resource availability, may affect the fish's diet and potentially influence the structure of its endoparasite community. The study emphasizes the importance of understanding trophic chain-transmitted parasites and calls for further research in Neotropical environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aymar Orlandi Neto
- Institute of Biosciences of Botucatu, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil.
| | - Lidiane Franceschini
- Institute of Biosciences, Humanities and Exact Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São José Do Rio Preto, Brazil
| | | | | | - Igor Paiva Ramos
- School of Engineering, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Ilha Solteira, Brazil
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Moore SE, Siwertsson A, Lafferty KD, Kuris AM, Soldánová M, Morton D, Primicerio R, Amundsen PA. Parasites alter food-web topology of a subarctic lake food web and its pelagic and benthic compartments. Oecologia 2024; 204:257-277. [PMID: 38326516 PMCID: PMC10907417 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-023-05503-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
We compared three sets of highly resolved food webs with and without parasites for a subarctic lake system corresponding to its pelagic and benthic compartments and the whole-lake food web. Key topological food-web metrics were calculated for each set of compartments to explore the role parasites play in food-web topology in these highly contrasting webs. After controlling for effects from differences in web size, we observed similar responses to the addition of parasites in both the pelagic and benthic compartments demonstrated by increases in trophic levels, linkage density, connectance, generality, and vulnerability despite the contrasting composition of free-living and parasitic species between the two compartments. Similar effects on food-web topology can be expected with the inclusion of parasites, regardless of the physical characteristics and taxonomic community compositions of contrasting environments. Additionally, similar increases in key topological metrics were found in the whole-lake food web that combines the pelagic and benthic webs, effects that are comparable to parasite food-web analyses from other systems. These changes in topological metrics are a result of the unique properties of parasites as infectious agents and the links they participate in. Trematodes were key contributors to these results, as these parasites have distinct characteristics in aquatic systems that introduce new link types and increase the food web's generality and vulnerability disproportionate to other parasites. Our analysis highlights the importance of incorporating parasites, especially trophically transmitted parasites, into food webs as they significantly alter key topological metrics and are thus essential for understanding an ecosystem's structure and functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon E Moore
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway.
| | - Anna Siwertsson
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Kevin D Lafferty
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, at Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Armand M Kuris
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Miroslava Soldánová
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, 370 05, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Dana Morton
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Raul Primicerio
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Per-Arne Amundsen
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
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Pravdová M, Ondračková M, Palíková M, Papežíková I, Kvach Y, Jurajda P, Bartáková V, Seidlová V, Němcová M, Mareš J. Low-level pathogen transmission from wild to farmed salmonids in a flow-through fish farm. Acta Vet Hung 2021; 69:338-346. [PMID: 34766922 DOI: 10.1556/004.2021.00041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
While the potential effects of pathogens spread from farmed fish to wild populations have frequently been studied, evidence for the transmission of parasites from wild to farmed fish is scarce. In the present study, we evaluated natural bacterial and parasitic infections in brown trout (Salmo trutta m. fario) collected from the Černá Opava river (Czech Republic) as a potential source of infections for rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) reared in a flow-through farm system fed by the same river. The prevalence of bacterial and protozoan infections in farmed fish was comparable, or higher, than for riverine fish. Despite this, none of the infected farmed fish showed any signs of severe diseases. Substantial differences in metazoan parasite infections were observed between wild and farmed fish regarding monogeneans, adult trematodes, nematodes, the myxozoan Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae found in riverine fish only, and larval eye-fluke trematodes sporadically found in farmed fish. The different distribution of metazoan parasites between brown and rainbow trout most probably reflects the availability of infected intermediate hosts in the two habitats. Despite the river being the main water source for the farm, there was no significant threat of parasite infection to the farmed fish from naturally infected riverine fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markéta Pravdová
- 1 Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Květná 8, 603 65 Brno, Czech Republic
- 2 Faculty of Agronomy, Mendel University, Brno, Czech Republic
- 3 Faculty of Science, Masaryk University Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Markéta Ondračková
- 1 Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Květná 8, 603 65 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Miroslava Palíková
- 4 Department of Ecology and Diseases of Zoo Animals, Game, Fish and Bees, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
- 5 Department of Zoology, Fisheries, Hydrobiology and Apiculture, Faculty of Agronomy, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Ivana Papežíková
- 4 Department of Ecology and Diseases of Zoo Animals, Game, Fish and Bees, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
- 5 Department of Zoology, Fisheries, Hydrobiology and Apiculture, Faculty of Agronomy, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Yuriy Kvach
- 1 Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Květná 8, 603 65 Brno, Czech Republic
- 6 Institute of Marine Biology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Odessa, Ukraine
| | - Pavel Jurajda
- 1 Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Květná 8, 603 65 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Veronika Bartáková
- 1 Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Květná 8, 603 65 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Veronika Seidlová
- 4 Department of Ecology and Diseases of Zoo Animals, Game, Fish and Bees, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
- 5 Department of Zoology, Fisheries, Hydrobiology and Apiculture, Faculty of Agronomy, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Monika Němcová
- 4 Department of Ecology and Diseases of Zoo Animals, Game, Fish and Bees, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
- 5 Department of Zoology, Fisheries, Hydrobiology and Apiculture, Faculty of Agronomy, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Mareš
- 5 Department of Zoology, Fisheries, Hydrobiology and Apiculture, Faculty of Agronomy, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
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Abstract
Parasites are important components of biodiversity and contributors to ecosystem functioning, but are often neglected in ecological studies. Most studies examine model parasite systems or single taxa, thus our understanding of community composition is lacking. Here, the seasonal and annual dynamics of parasites was quantified using a 5-year metabarcoding time-series of freshwater plankton, collected weekly. We first identified parasites in the dataset using literature searches of the taxonomic match and using sequence metadata from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) nucleotide database. In total, 441 amplicon sequence variants (belonging to 18 phyla/clades) were classified as parasites. The four phyla/clades with the highest relative read abundance and richness were Chytridiomycota, Dinoflagellata, Oomycota and Perkinsozoa. Relative read abundance of total parasite taxa, Dinoflagellata and Perkinsozoa significantly varied with season and was highest in summer. Parasite richness varied significantly with season and year, and was generally lowest in spring. Each season had distinct parasite communities, and the difference between summer and winter communities was most pronounced. Combining DNA metabarcoding with searches of the literature and NCBI metadata allowed us to characterize parasite diversity and community dynamics and revealed the extent to which parasites contribute to the diversity of freshwater plankton communities.
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Finlay RW, Poole R, Rogan G, Dillane E, Cotter D, Reed TE. Hyper- and Hypo-Osmoregulatory Performance of Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) Smolts Infected With Pomphorhynchus tereticollis (Acanthocephala). Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.689233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Migratory species must cope with different parasite communities in different environments, but little is known about the ecophysiological effects of parasites on migratory performance. Some species/strains of acanthocephalan parasites in the genus Pomphorhynchus use anadromous salmonids as preferred definitive hosts, perforating the intestines, destroying mucosa and inducing inflammation–all of which might affect osmoregulatory function during transition between freshwater and marine environments. We used genetic barcoding to identify acanthocephalans in the intestines of wild Irish Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) smolts as being the recently taxonomically resurrected species Pomphorhynchus tereticollis. We then investigated whether natural infection intensities of this parasite were associated with reduced osmoregulatory performance, as measured by plasma chloride concentrations, or potentially elevated stress, as measured by blood glucose, of hosts in freshwater or saltwater environments (24 or 72 h in ∼26PPT salt water, reflecting salinities of coastal waters through which smolts migrate). Although infection prevalence was high amongst sampled smolts, no associations were found within or across treatment groups between parasite abundance and plasma chloride concentrations or blood glucose levels. We found no intestinal perforations that would indicate P. tereticollis had recently vacated the intestines of smolts in either of the saltwater groups. Exploratory sampling in the 2 years preceding the experiment indicated that parasite prevalence and abundance are consistently high and comparable to the experimental individuals. Collectively, these results indicate that naturally occurring abundances of P. tereticollis do not reduce osmoregulatory function or affect blood glucose content in fresh water or within 72 h of entering coastal waters, although delayed pathologies affecting marine survival may occur. Future consideration of ecophysiological interactions between anadromous fish hosts and their parasites across different osmotic environments should provide general insights into coevolution between migratory hosts and their parasites.
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Villalobos-Segura MDC, García-Prieto L, Rico-Chávez O. Effects of latitude, host body size, and host trophic guild on patterns of diversity of helminths associated with humans, wild and domestic mammals of Mexico. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-PARASITES AND WILDLIFE 2020; 13:221-230. [PMID: 33224727 PMCID: PMC7666364 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2020.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Parasites are strictly associated with their hosts and present a great diversity of life histories, often resulting in different diversity patterns than those observed in free-living species. However, ecological approaches have detected that, in some cases, mammal-associated helminths respond similarly to non-parasitic species in terms of diversity patterns. Using 2200 recorded interactions, we analysed the diversity patterns of helminths (Acanthocephala, Nematoda and Platyhelminthes) harbored by humans, wild and domestic mammals of Mexico, depending on latitude, host body mass and trophic guild (carnivore, herbivore, insectivore, omnivore), considering helminth richness and average taxonomic distinctness, and host phylogenetic diversity and phylogenetic clustering. Latitude was positively correlated with the average taxonomic distinctness encompassing the three parasite phyla and nematodes. Northern latitudes had less taxonomically related parasite assemblages. Host body mass had a significant negative relationship with the average taxonomic distinctness of acanthocephalans and the richness of helminths associated to wild hosts. The omnivore hosts had greater parasite richness, while insectivores had a less taxonomically related parasite assemblage and herbivores had a more heterogeneous parasite assemblage. Our results highlight the importance of incorporating different dimensions of diversity, such as average taxonomic distinctness and to consider the composition of parasite assemblages to better understand their diversity patterns. Four diversity measures were used to describe diversity patterns of helminths. Latitude was positively correlated with helminth average taxonomic distinctness. Host body mass was negatively related with the helminth richness of wildlife hosts. Helminth sets of omnivore hosts were richer in parasite species. Helminth sets of insectivore hosts had a wider taxonomic breadth.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Del Carmen Villalobos-Segura
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Enfermedades y Una Salud, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510, México City, Mexico
| | - Luis García-Prieto
- Laboratorio de Helmintología, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 70-153, 04510, México City, Mexico
| | - Oscar Rico-Chávez
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Enfermedades y Una Salud, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510, México City, Mexico
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Shaw JC, Henriksen EH, Knudsen R, Kuhn JA, Kuris AM, Lafferty KD, Siwertsson A, Soldánová M, Amundsen P. High parasite diversity in the amphipod Gammarus lacustris in a subarctic lake. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:12385-12394. [PMID: 33209296 PMCID: PMC7663964 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Amphipods are often key species in aquatic food webs due to their functional roles in the ecosystem and as intermediate hosts for trophically transmitted parasites. Amphipods can also host many parasite species, yet few studies address the entire parasite community of a gammarid population, precluding a more dynamic understanding of the food web. We set out to identify and quantify the parasite community of Gammarus lacustris to understand the contributions of the amphipod and its parasites to the Takvatn food web. We identified seven parasite taxa: a direct life cycle gregarine, Rotundula sp., and larval stages of two digenean trematode genera, two cestodes, one nematode, and one acanthocephalan. The larval parasites use either birds or fishes as final hosts. Bird parasites predominated, with trematode Plagiorchis sp. having the highest prevalence (69%) and mean abundance (2.7). Fish parasites were also common, including trematodes Crepidostomum spp., nematode Cystidicola farionis, and cestode Cyathocephalus truncatus (prevalences 13, 6, and 3%, respectively). Five parasites depend entirely on G. lacustris to complete their life cycle. At least 11.4% of the overall parasite diversity in the lake was dependent on G. lacustris, and 16% of the helminth diversity required or used the amphipod in their life cycles. These dependencies reveal that in addition to being a key prey item in subarctic lakes, G. lacustris is also an important host for maintaining parasite diversity in such ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny C. Shaw
- Marine Science InstituteUniversity of California Santa BarbaraSanta BarbaraCAUSA
| | - Eirik H. Henriksen
- Department of Arctic and Marine BiologyFaculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and EconomicsUiT The Arctic University of NorwayTromsøNorway
| | - Rune Knudsen
- Department of Arctic and Marine BiologyFaculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and EconomicsUiT The Arctic University of NorwayTromsøNorway
| | - Jesper A. Kuhn
- Department of Arctic and Marine BiologyFaculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and EconomicsUiT The Arctic University of NorwayTromsøNorway
| | - Armand M. Kuris
- Marine Science InstituteUniversity of California Santa BarbaraSanta BarbaraCAUSA
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine BiologyUniversity of CaliforniaSanta BarbaraCAUSA
| | - Kevin D. Lafferty
- Marine Science InstituteUniversity of California Santa BarbaraSanta BarbaraCAUSA
- Western Ecological ResearchU.S. Geological SurveySanta BarbaraCAUSA
| | - Anna Siwertsson
- Department of Arctic and Marine BiologyFaculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and EconomicsUiT The Arctic University of NorwayTromsøNorway
- Institute of Marine ResearchEcosystem Processes Research GroupTromsøNorway
| | - Miroslava Soldánová
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology CentreCzech Academy of SciencesČeské BudějoviceCzech Republic
| | - Per‐Arne Amundsen
- Department of Arctic and Marine BiologyFaculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and EconomicsUiT The Arctic University of NorwayTromsøNorway
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10
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Prati S, Henriksen EH, Knudsen R, Amundsen PA. Impacts of ontogenetic dietary shifts on the food-transmitted intestinal parasite communities of two lake salmonids. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-PARASITES AND WILDLIFE 2020; 12:155-164. [PMID: 32577375 PMCID: PMC7300134 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2020.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Revised: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Ontogenetic dietary shifts are common in fish and often impact trophically transmitted parasite communities. How parasite species composition and relative abundances change among size classes, and at what rate these changes occur, is rarely examined. Hosts with a broad trophic niche are potentially exposed to a large variety of parasite species. The degree of ontogenetic changes in parasite species composition versus changes in parasite abundance should suggestively differ between thropically generalist and specialist host species. In the present study, we explore ontogenetic dietary shifts and their impact on species composition and relative abundance of intestinal parasites in two sympatric salmonid fish species, Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) and brown trout (Salmo trutta) caught in the littoral habitat of a subarctic lake. Our results highlight a close interplay between ontogenetic dietary niche shifts and alterations in the acquisition of trophically transmitted parasites, leading to host-specific differences in the component community of parasites. Ontogenetic changes in the intestinal parasite community related to dietary niche shifts were distinct but less pronounced in Arctic charr than in brown trout due to a broader and more consistent dietary niche of the former and an ontogenetic shift toward piscivory in the latter. At the component community level, changes in parasite assemblages of both host species were driven by a faster increase in the heterogeneity of parasite relative abundance than in the compositional heterogeneity, a pattern that partly may be related to a rather species-poor parasite community of this subarctic study system. Separating compositional heterogeneity from heterogeneity in relative parasite abundance is important to understand how size-dependent variability shapes parasite communities of host populations. Ontogenetic dietary niche shifts generated host-specific differences in the component community of parasites. Ontogenetic changes in the intestinal parasite community were less pronounced in Arctic charr than in brown trout. Heterogeneity of parasite relative abundance increased faster than the compositional heterogeneity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Prati
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Muninbakken 21, 9019, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Eirik Haugstvedt Henriksen
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Muninbakken 21, 9019, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Rune Knudsen
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Muninbakken 21, 9019, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Per-Arne Amundsen
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Muninbakken 21, 9019, Tromsø, Norway
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