First 3D reconstruction of the rhizocephalan root system using MicroCT

Noever, Christoph; Keiler, Jonas; Glenner, Henrik

doi:10.1016/j.seares.2015.08.002

Cited by 27 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…These parasitic barnacles consist of both an external and internal portion, with the latter akin to a “root system” that extends throughout the host's body (Noever et al . ). CT scans can be used to diagnose parasitic infection in living organisms, suggesting that similar diagnoses could be made of specimens in natural history collections.…”

Section: Imaging Technologymentioning

confidence: 97%

Parasites lost: using natural history collections to track disease change across deep time

Harmon

Littlewood

Wood

2019

Frontiers in Ecol & Environ

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Recent decades have brought countless outbreaks of infectious disease among wildlife. These events appear to be increasing in frequency and magnitude, but to objectively evaluate whether ecosystems are experiencing rising rates of disease, scientists require historical data on disease abundance. Specimens held in natural history collections represent a chronological archive of life on Earth and may, in many cases, be the only available source of data on historical disease patterns. It is possible to extract information on past disease rates by studying trace fossils (indirect fossilized evidence of an organism's presence or activity, including coprolites or feces), sequencing ancient DNA of parasites, and examining sediment samples, mummified remains, study skins (preserved animal skins prepared by taxidermy for research purposes), liquid‐preserved hosts, and hosts preserved in amber. Such use of natural history collections could expand scientific understanding of parasite responses to environmental change across deep time (that is, over the past several centuries), facilitating the development of baselines for managing contemporary wildlife disease.

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Section: Imaging Technologymentioning

confidence: 97%

Parasites lost: using natural history collections to track disease change across deep time

Harmon

Littlewood

Wood

2019

Frontiers in Ecol & Environ

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“…In contrast to the conventional method of examination of the externa, which requires the destruction of the specimens (histological sectioning, dissections), this new method serves as a non-disruptive and fast alternative [7]. Thus, the method described herein can be used for further fast estimation of the life history and investigation of the morphology in other rhizocephalan species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The bigger, the better? Volume measurements of parasites and hosts: Parasitic barnacles (Cirripedia, Rhizocephala) and their decapod hosts

et al. 2017

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Rhizocephala, a group of parasitic castrators of other crustaceans, shows remarkable morphological adaptations to their lifestyle. The adult female parasite consists of a body that can be differentiated into two distinct regions: a sac-like structure containing the reproductive organs (the externa), and a trophic, root like system situated inside the hosts body (the interna). Parasitism results in the castration of their hosts, achieved by absorbing the entire reproductive energy of the host. Thus, the ratio of the host and parasite sizes is crucial for the understanding of the parasite’s energetic cost. Using advanced imaging methods (micro-CT in conjunction with 3D modeling), we measured the volume of parasitic structures (externa, interna, egg mass, egg number, visceral mass) and the volume of the entire host. Our results show positive correlations between the volume of (1) entire rhizocephalan (externa + interna) and host body, (2) rhizocephalan externa and host body, (3) rhizocephalan visceral mass and rhizocephalan body, (4) egg mass and rhizocephalan externa, (5) rhizocephalan egg mass and their egg number. Comparing the rhizocephalan Sylon hippolytes, a parasite of caridean shrimps, and representatives of Peltogaster, parasites of hermit crabs, we could match their different traits on a reconstructed relationship. With this study we add new and significant information to our global understanding of the evolution of parasitic castrators, of interactions between a parasitic castrator and its host and of different parasitic strategies within parasitic castrators exemplified by rhizocephalans.

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“…In their study Iken et al (2001) reported depleted values for both δ 15 N and δ 13 C in this parasite compared to its crustacean host. Rhizocephalan barnacles infiltrate their hosts via an extensive ramifying root system, the interna, which is the only feeding organ present (Noever et al 2015). All other structures, such as the alimentary canal or a mouth are absent, entailing that rhizocephalans exclusively have the host as the nutritional source.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Caught in the act: phenotypic consequences of a recent shift in feeding strategy of the shark barnacle Anelasma squalicola (Lovén, 1844)

2016

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Anelasma squalicola is a barnacle found attached to deep-water lantern sharks of the family Etmopteridae and is the only known cirriped on fish hosts. While A. squalicola is equipped with mouth and thoracic appendages (cirri), which are used for suspension feeding in conventional barnacles, its attachment device (peduncle) appears to have evolved into a feeding device, embedded into the tissue of its host. Here we demonstrate, through comparisons of the feeding apparatuses between A. squalicola and conventional suspension-feeding barnacles, that mouthparts and cirri of A. squalicola are highly reduced, and incapable of suspension-feeding activities. We show that in conventional suspension-feeding barnacles strong symmetries exist within these vital trophic structures. In A. squalicola strong asymmetries are widespread, indicating that those structures have been uncoupled from natural selection. The digestive tract is consistently empty, suggesting that feeding via cirri does not occur in A. squalicola. In addition, comparisons of stable isotope ratios (δ13C and δ15N) between A. squalicola, its shark host, and a conventional suspending feeding barnacle indicate that A. squalicola is taking nutrition directly from its host shark and not from the surrounding water. Our results strongly indicate that this barnacle has abandoned suspension feeding and now solely relies on obtaining nutrition from its host by a de novo evolved feeding mechanism.

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First 3D reconstruction of the rhizocephalan root system using MicroCT

Cited by 27 publications

References 27 publications

Parasites lost: using natural history collections to track disease change across deep time

Parasites lost: using natural history collections to track disease change across deep time

The bigger, the better? Volume measurements of parasites and hosts: Parasitic barnacles (Cirripedia, Rhizocephala) and their decapod hosts

Caught in the act: phenotypic consequences of a recent shift in feeding strategy of the shark barnacle Anelasma squalicola (Lovén, 1844)

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