Overlapping and partitioning of niche among different life stages of the parasitic isopod Cymothoa indica in the host Glossoglobius guiris collected from the Chilika lagoon, India

Mohapatra, Sandeep; Sura, Sameer; Seth, Jaya Kishor

doi:10.1007/s00436-022-07641-1

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…Niche partitioning is an outcome of parasites avoiding competition when they contemporaneously co-occur within one host individual (Bashey, 2015 ). Detailed observations of locations within a host combined with comparative molecular data have revealed several different cases of niche partitioning among parasites occurring within the same host individual (Wakeman et al ., 2014 ; Mohapatra et al ., 2022 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Coinfection of slime feather duster worms (Annelida, Myxicola) by different gregarine apicomplexans (Selenidium) and astome ciliates reflects spatial niche partitioning and host specificity

Park,

Leander

2024

Parasitology

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Individual organisms can host multiple species of parasites (or symbionts), and one species of parasite can infect different host species, creating complex interactions among multiple hosts and parasites. When multiple parasite species coexist in a host, they may compete or use strategies, such as spatial niche partitioning, to reduce competition. Here, we present a host–symbiont system with two species of Selenidium (Apicomplexa, Gregarinida) and one species of astome ciliate co-infecting two different species of slime feather duster worms (Annelida, Sabellidae, Myxicola) living in neighbouring habitats. We examined the morphology of the endosymbionts with light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and inferred their phylogenetic interrelationships using small subunit (SSU) rDNA sequences. In the host ‘Myxicola sp. Quadra’, we found two distinct species of Selenidium; S. cf. mesnili exclusively inhabited the foregut, and S. elongatum n. sp. inhabited the mid to hindgut, reflecting spatial niche partitioning. Selenidium elongatum n. sp. was also present in the host M. aesthetica, which harboured the astome ciliate Pennarella elegantia n. gen. et sp. Selenidium cf. mesnili and P. elegantia n. gen. et sp. were absent in the other host species, indicating host specificity. This system offers an intriguing opportunity to explore diverse aspects of host–endosymbiont interactions and competition among endosymbionts.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%