Parasite communities in three sympatric flounder species (Pleuronectiformes: Paralichthyidae)

Abstract

The relative role of host phylogeny and ecology on parasite community structure is analyzed in three sympatric paralichthyids from Argentine waters: the carcinophagous Xystreurys rasile and the piscivorous Paralichthys isosceles and P. patagonicus. Their relatedness, inherited ecological and physiological traits and shared past histories should result in certain similarities in their parasite assemblages. With this as our null hypothesis, we focused on the effects of measurable traits (size, age and diet) across fish species, with departures from a general pattern being interpreted as a consequence of ecological filters preventing homogeneous infections. The percentage of individuals/species that host-specific parasites contributed to each component community, as well as their effect on similarity of assemblages within/across host species, showed that they were not important contributors to abundance, richness and similarity, being irrelevant for the repeatability within component communities and across fish species as a phylogenetically related group. To minimize the effect of variables other than diet or trophic level only trophically transmitted nonspecific parasites were included in further analyses. After controlling for fish size, the congeneric host species harboured assemblages significantly different from those found in X. rasile, but were similar to each other because of their shared high trophic levels. Assemblages of equivalent structure harboured by fish with different age-size relationships showed that these variables seem to act at dissimilar rates on different features of the parasites assemblages. Indeed, age affected mainly the parasite abundance, whereas body size influenced mostly species richness. In conclusion, similar ecological filters produce analogous infections across host species driving towards homogeneous parasite communities.

Are similar the parasite communities structure ofTrachelyopterus coriaceus and Trachelyopterus galeatus (Siluriformes: Auchenipteridae) in the Amazon basin?

“…However, the parasite communities that T. galeatus and T. coriaceus harbor are still unknown and there are also no studies on their structure. In addition, given that these congeneric hosts present similar biological and behavioral characteristics and are phylogenetically close, this may favor the presence of similar parasite communities (GONZÁLEZ & OLIVA, 2006;ALARCOS & TIMI, 2012). Thus, the present study compared the parasite communities, prevalence, intensity, abundance and parasite-host interactions of T. galeatus and T. coriaceus living in sympatry in a tributary of the Amazon River system, northern Brazil.…”

Parasite communities of the predatory fish, Acestrorhynchus falcatus and Acestrorhynchus falcirostris, living in sympatry in Brazilian Amazon

“…Thus, explaining the drivers of species diversity is a major matter within ecological and evolutionary research. Host fish species that are phylogenetically close tend to present parasite diversity and species richness of greater similarity than those of unrelated host species (MUÑOZ et al, 2006;ALARCOS & TIMI, 2012;PANTOJA et al, 2016). Congeneric hosts mostly have similar ecology, and thus can overlap in space and time.…”

“…The parasites can be found in host communities and coexists in the same individual of a single host fish species, or in different host fish species (MUÑOZ et al, 2006;TAVARES & LUQUE, 2008;ALARCOS & TIMI, 2012). Thus, explaining the drivers of species diversity is a major matter within ecological and evolutionary research.…”

“…Congeneric hosts mostly have similar ecology, and thus can overlap in space and time. The biggest problem is to determine where and how this overlapping occurs (TAVARES & LUQUE, 2008;ALARCOS & TIMI, 2012;PANTOJA et al, 2016). For host fish populations living in sympatry the similarity in parasite assemblages has been investigated (MUÑOZ et al, 2006;ALARCOS & TIMI, 2012;PANTOJA et al, 2016).…”

Metazoan fauna parasitizing Peckoltia braueri and Pterygoplichthys pardalis (Loricariidae) catfishes from the northeastern Brazilian Amazon

“…Thus, parasitic infections may be one of many factors that may lead to a decrease in the quality and quantity of the fishery. The diversity and richness of parasites may vary among host species, and also as a function of age, size, diet composition, environment quality, and seasonality (Guidelli et al 2006;Alarcos and Timi 2012;Neves et al 2013;TavaresDias et al 2014). Thus, the analysis of parasite communities and diversity parameters provides relevant information about host fish populations, expanding the knowledge of parasitehost-environment interactions.…”