Changes in prevalence and intensity of infection of Profilicollis altmani (Perry, 1942) cystacanth (Acanthocephala) parasitizing the mole crab Emerita analoga (Stimpson, 1857): an El Niño cascade effect?

Abstract

Prevalence and intensity changes in cystacanths of the acanthocephalan Profilicollis altmani parasitizing the mole crab Emerita analoga under El Niño (EN) and non-El Niño (non-EN) conditions are analyzed. Both, mean intensity and prevalence of infection by P. altmani differ significantly for the whole size range and for each size class of 10 mm intervals (except prevalence for size classes exceeding 18 mm carapace length) between EN (1998) and non-EN (2002) years, without observed size distribution differences in the intermediate host E. analoga under either condition. Significant difference in infestation rates of the intermediate host E. analoga is discussed as being an EN cascade effect on predators such as sea birds (i.e., Larus spp. and Calidris sp.), acting as definitive hosts of P. altmani, and which are known to decrease significantly in abundance during EN.

The natural history of Echinorhynchus bothniensis Zdzitowiecki and Valtonen, 1987 (Acanthocephala) in a high Arctic lake

“…We also found higher prevalence in larger mysids. An increase in infection with intermediate host size has been observed in other acanthocephalans (Liat and Pike 1980, Wilson and Hubschman 1985, Lagrue et al 2007, Oliva et al 2008, La Sala et al 2012, although peak abundances in medium-sized hosts is perhaps the more common pattern (Hine and Kennedy 1974, Muzzall 1978, 1982, Camp and Huizinga 1980, Brattey 1986, Brown and Pascoe 1989, Lagrue et al 2007, Outreman et al 2007, Rauque and Semenas 2007. A number of processes could result in higher prevalence in bigger mysids.…”

Life on the beach for a sand crab (Emerita rathbunae) (Decapoda, Hippidae): parasite-induced mortality of females in populations of the Pacific sand crab caused by Microphallus nicolli (Microphallidae)

“…Temporal and spatial variations in levels of infection in intermediate hosts are commonly observed patterns in studies of parasite ecology (Latham and Poulin 2002b;Oliva et al 2008;Smith 2007;Studer and Poulin 2012). Spatial variation in the level of infection such as that observed here has been attributed by other authors to differences in abundances It is possible that variation in the abundance of M. nicolli between the four locations is the result of a factor or process related to the size of the crabs that might influence this infection parameter (Poulin 1999).…”

“…However, this tendency also is consistent with the hypothesis that largest crabs (i.e., older) have accumulated parasites for a longer period of time. Individuals of E. analoga can to live up to 3.5 years (Oliva et al 2008), so individuals of that species accumulate large quantities of helminths during their lifetime. In our study, it was not possible to determine the strength of a simple age-infrapopulation size effect because the maximum age/size of E. rathbunae has not been documented, but our results are similar to the mortality seen in studies of E. analoga (Alvitres et al 1999;Iannacone et al 2007;Oliva et al 2008;Oliva et al 1992;Smith 2007) and other shore crabs (Latham and Poulin 2002a;Latham and Poulin 2002b).…”

“…It is a good model for parasitological studies due to its wide geographical distribution, from the southeastern Gulf of California, Mexico, to the southern coast of Ecuador (Tam et al 1996), and its importance in the macrofauna food chain of sandy beaches, where it can be very abundant (Oliva et al 2008). A number of studies on the parasites of E. analoga have been made (Alvitres et al 1999;Iannacone et al 2007;Oliva et al 2008;Oliva et al 1992;Smith 2007), but only one study of the parasites of E. rathbunae (reported as E. analoga) has been made in Mexico (Violante-González et al 2012;Violante-González et al 2015). In that study, the authors (Violante-González et al 2012;Violante-González et al 2015) found that specimens of E. rathbunae inhabiting the coasts of Guerrero were parasitized by four species of larval helminth: one metacercariae [Microphallus nicolli (Cable and Hunninen, 1938)]; one cystacanth (Profilicollis sp.…”

Organismal biology joins climate research: the example of ENSO

“…Changes in oceanographic features such as the variable intensity of upwelling during EN generate changes in the food web that, depending on the intensity of the event, can alter and restructure benthic communities (WolV and Mendo 2000; Hidalgo et al 2008;Moreno et al 2008;Villegas et al 2008) and populations , species diversity and composition, as well as life history traits (Oliva et al 2008), and ultimately lead to the collapse of entire populations. However, on microecological scale, eVects of EN are not necessarily negative, but can foster community biomass of commercial key species (Arntz and Fahrbach 1991) due to decreasing hypoxia within the oxygen minimum zone (Escribano et al 2004).…”