The Current State of Knowledge on Parasitic Copepods (Siphonostomatoida: Pandaridae) of Elasmobranchs

Parasitic Copepods as Biochemical Tracers of Foraging Patterns and Dietary Shifts in Whale Sharks (Rhincodon typus Smith, 1828)

“…The positive correlations that we observed between δ 15 N values of the parasite and the host concur with research across a range of studies, which have shown that parasites can trace changes in the isotopic values of their host [67,74,75]. Pandarid copepods are frequent ectoparasites of elasmobranchs; however, unlike the hostspecific P. rhincodonicus, most have widespread distributions and limited host specificity, so that multiple species can infest a single species of host [76]. For example, seven species of pandarid copepod parasites have been found on an individual white shark (Carcharodon carcharias Linnaeus, 1758) [77] in New Zealand [78], and five species on a white shark captured in waters off California [79].…”

“…The extent to which the isotopic composition of these other pandarids could mirror that of host sharks will depend on the life cycle and host fidelity after attachment of each species. At present, we know relatively little about these traits of pandarid copepods [76]. It seems unlikely that P. rhincodonicus undergoes major trophic changes after attachment to whale shark hosts, given the close correlation of δ 15 N values between the parasite and host across a range of copepod sizes.…”