Differentially susceptible host fishes exhibit similar chemo-attractiveness to a common coral reef Ectoparasite

Vondriska, Clayton; Dixson, Danielle L.; Packard, Amber J.; Sikkel, Paul C.

doi:10.1007/s13199-020-00700-0

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…Gnathiids can swim into the water column to exploit mobile fish, but they may be limited in how far they are able to swim, especially in turbulent conditions. Turbulence may also decrease their ability to use chemical cues, which are also important in host-finding ( Vondriska et al, 2020 ). With the exception of one study of a temperate rocky intertidal gnathiid ( Welicky et al, 2018 ), this study of gnathiid activity is the only one conducted in high wave energy systems.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Habitat associations and impacts on a juvenile fish host by a temperate gnathiid isopod

Spitzer

Anderson

Sikkel

2022

International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife

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The distribution and abundance of organisms is typically shaped by multiple biotic and abiotic processes. Micropredators are parasite-like organisms that are smaller than their hosts and/or prey and feed on multiple hosts during a given life stage. Unlike typical parasites, however, they spend much or most of their time free-living, associating only temporarily with hosts. In the ocean, micropredators can impact multiple fish species, and in particular can have significant lethal and sub-lethal effects on newly settled fish. Although gnathiid isopods are abundant and primary micropredators in coral reef ecosystems, their impacts are relatively unexplored within sub-tidal temperate rocky reefs. We investigated the distribution of juvenile gnathiid isopods along sub-tidal temperate rocky reefs and tested trap methodology. We also quantified both the sub-lethal and lethal impacts of feeding-stage juvenile gnathiid isopods on juvenile, post-settlement reef fish, Heterostichus rostratus (giant kelpfish). We were most interested in determining the relationship between gnathiid infestation level and fish swimming performance, in particular swimming metrics relevant to predator avoidance maneuvers. We found that Gnathia tridens was present in rocky reefs rather than embayments along the Southern California coastline and that within rocky reefs, gnathiids occurred in the highest densities in lighted traps. Surprisingly, we observed almost no influence of fish size or gnathiid sub-lethal infestation level on ambient or burst swimming performance metrics. However, burst duration was reduced by gnathiid infestation, which is important in predator avoidance. There were significant differences in survivorship among small fish compared to large fish as a result of gnathiid infestation. Larger fish survived higher numbers of gnathiids than smaller fish, indicating that parasite-induced mortality is greater for smaller fish. Investigations of the effects of micropredators on subsequent predator-mediated mortality, including the susceptibility of fishes and their individual responses to micropredators, can further contribute to our understanding of processes affecting recruitment in resident reef fish populations. Further research, especially within temperate sub-tidal ecosystems, is needed to understand and highlight the overlooked importance of micropredation in shaping fish populations within a reefscape.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Habitat associations and impacts on a juvenile fish host by a temperate gnathiid isopod

Spitzer

Anderson

Sikkel

2022

International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife

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“…This seems primarily attributable to their size, which makes them more difficult to work with and observe. The small number of studies that have focused on members of the “smaller majority” have included some zooplankton (Lonsdale et al 1998; Bagøien and Kiørboe 2005 a , b ), free‐living stages of parasites (Kearn 1967; Ingvarsdóttir et al 2002; Vondriska et al 2020), and pelagic larval stages of larger benthic organisms (Sweatman 1988; Arvedlund and Takemura 2006). Parasitic gnathiid isopods, for example, can rely on only chemical cues originating from their host when locating them (Nagel et al 2008; Sikkel et al 2011; Vondriska et al 2020).…”

Section: Figmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The small number of studies that have focused on members of the “smaller majority” have included some zooplankton (Lonsdale et al 1998; Bagøien and Kiørboe 2005 a , b ), free‐living stages of parasites (Kearn 1967; Ingvarsdóttir et al 2002; Vondriska et al 2020), and pelagic larval stages of larger benthic organisms (Sweatman 1988; Arvedlund and Takemura 2006). Parasitic gnathiid isopods, for example, can rely on only chemical cues originating from their host when locating them (Nagel et al 2008; Sikkel et al 2011; Vondriska et al 2020). However, many of these small aquatic organisms provide challenges when using traditional instruments to investigate chemical ecology.…”

Section: Figmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of a new olfactometer for study of sensory ecology in small aquatic organisms

Vondriska

Sikkel

2023

Limnology & Ocean Methods

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All aquatic organisms rely on chemical stimuli at some point during their life cycles. These stimuli are typically associated with essential functions such as food-, mate-, or habitat-finding, or predator avoidance. Historically, research on sensory ecology and behavior of aquatic organisms has been conducted using two-channel choice flumes, which have many limitations when utilized on small organisms. Here, we describe functional features and results of pilot tests of an aquatic olfactometer, adapted from olfactometers used in studies on terrestrial arthropods, which eliminates these limitations. The initial implementation of this olfactometer is described. The structural integrity, hydrodynamics, and basic function of the olfactometer were tested and verified. The ability to clearly record the movements of a small organism within was also tested. Our experiments verify that the flow rate of water within the choice arena was accurate, water behaved as theorized in prior modeling, and chemical concentrations within each "zone" were distributed as expected based on computer simulations. We further show that video data could be obtained and analyzed using Ethovision XT to provide large amounts of raw data, including position, velocity, and acceleration, which can be used to investigate many potential questions associated with behavior. This olfactometer has the potential to become the new standard for research on chemotaxis and chemical ecology of small aquatic organisms.

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Vertical limits of host infestation by gnathiid isopods (Isopoda: Gnathiidae) parasitic on Caribbean coral reef fishes

Nicholson

Hendrick

Packard

et al. 2020

Journal of Crustacean Biology

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Parasites play significant roles in the function of ecosystems and can make up a large proportion of overall biomass. Yet, fundamental aspects of their ecology are often understudied relative to other organisms. Gnathiid isopods are the primary ectoparasites of fishes in coral reef ecosystems. While some studies have investigated their host-detection capabilities, the means by which they seek hosts are largely unknown. Gnathiids are benthic and live on the bottom, and all collection efforts involving live hosts have thus far involved traps set at or near the reef substrate. We investigated the distance gnathiids will travel vertically in the water column to attach to a fish host. The majority of gnathiids collected were at or less than 1 m above the reef substrate, and gnathiids were collected in serially diminishing numbers at 2 and 3 m above it. No gnathiids were collected from any fish hosts set more than 3.5 m above the reef substrate. Results suggest that gnathiids will actively seek host fishes in situ and will travel further from their benthic habitat than previously known. By swimming into the water column, gnathiids can exploit larger, highly-mobile fishes, which can serve as a major source of dispersal.

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Differentially susceptible host fishes exhibit similar chemo-attractiveness to a common coral reef Ectoparasite

Cited by 3 publications

References 45 publications

Habitat associations and impacts on a juvenile fish host by a temperate gnathiid isopod

Habitat associations and impacts on a juvenile fish host by a temperate gnathiid isopod

Assessment of a new olfactometer for study of sensory ecology in small aquatic organisms

Vertical limits of host infestation by gnathiid isopods (Isopoda: Gnathiidae) parasitic on Caribbean coral reef fishes

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