Tissue loss in corals infested by acoelomorph flatworms (Waminoa sp.)

Hoeksema, Bert W.; Farenzena, Z. T.

doi:10.1007/s00338-012-0919-7

Cited by 24 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…In this instance, only Waminoa sp. were observed, supporting a recent study which showed the presence of these species infesting mushroom corals in the same region, the Lembeh strait (Hoeksema & Farenzena, 2012). The effect these flatworms have on corals specifically when high infestations occur remains unknown.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Baseline reef health surveys at Bangka Island (North Sulawesi, Indonesia) reveal new threats

Ponti

Fratangeli²,

Dondi³

et al. 2016

PeerJ

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Worldwide coral reef decline appears to be accompanied by an increase in the spread of hard coral diseases. However, whether this is the result of increased direct and indirect human disturbances and/or an increase in natural stresses remains poorly understood. The provision of baseline surveys for monitoring coral health status lays the foundations to assess the effects of any such anthropogenic and/or natural effects on reefs. Therefore, the objectives of this present study were to provide a coral health baseline in a poorly studied area, and to investigate possible correlations between coral health and the level of anthropogenic and natural disturbances. During the survey period, we recorded 20 different types of coral diseases and other compromised health statuses. The most abundant were cases of coral bleaching, followed by skeletal deformations caused by pyrgomatid barnacles, damage caused by fish bites, general pigmentation response and galls caused by cryptochirid crabs. Instances of colonies affected by skeletal eroding bands, and sedimentation damage increased in correlation to the level of bio-chemical disturbance and/or proximity to villages. Moreover, galls caused by cryptochirid crabs appeared more abundant at sites affected by blast fishing and close to a newly opened metal mine. Interestingly, in the investigated area the percentage of corals showing signs of ‘common’ diseases such as black band disease, brown band disease, white syndrome and skeletal eroding band disease were relatively low. Nevertheless, the relatively high occurrence of less common signs of compromised coral-related reef health, including the aggressive overgrowth by sponges, deserves further investigation. Although diseases appear relatively low at the current time, this area may be at the tipping point and an increase in activities such as mining may irredeemably compromise reef health.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Baseline reef health surveys at Bangka Island (North Sulawesi, Indonesia) reveal new threats

Ponti

Fratangeli²,

Dondi³

et al. 2016

PeerJ

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“…Unlike endolithic molluscs Kleemann and Hoeksema, 2002;Mas-sin, 1989Mas-sin, , 2000Massin and Dupont, 2003;Owada and Hoeksema, 2011) ectoparasitic epitoniids do not inflict serious visible damage to their host corals, as for instance seen in infestations by flatworms (Hoeksema and Farenzena, 2012). The mucus layer secreted by mushroom corals may be a means to protect their soft tissue against damage and is believed to be nutritious for other animals (Krupp, 1982(Krupp, , 1984(Krupp, , 1985Drollet et al, 1993).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Habitat preferences of coral-associated wentletrap snails (Gastropoda: Epitoniidae)

Gittenberger

Hoeksema²

2013

CTOZ

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Examination of about 60,000 scleractinian corals of the families Dendrophylliidae, Euphylliidae and Fungiidae for the presence of associated wentletrap snails (Gastropoda: Epitoniidae) revealed various ectoparasitic life history strategies. Twenty Indo-Pacific wentletrap species were found, which were either host-specific or generalist. Most species were associated with mushroom corals, especially free-living species belonging to the Fungiidae. Snails showed different preferences with regard to their position relative to mushroom corals, the host’s size and its substrate. No preferences for depth were found. Infestation rates of mushroom corals in multi-species assemblages were negatively correlated with coral densities, which indicates that epitoniid veliger larvae may actively look for preferential hosts. Indirect proof was found that burrowing shrimps remove any epitoniid that is on or underneath the mushroom coral under which they have their burrow. Fishes like wrasses and damselfishes were seen to eat the snails the moment their host corals were overturned, which suggests that the host corals may provide the snails with protection against predators.

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“…Recent field evidence suggests that Waminoa spp. indeed cause significant tissue loss in scleractinian corals, possibly through impairment of host respiration, feeding and sediment shedding capacities (Hoeksema and Farenzena, 2012). …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epizoic acoelomorph flatworms impair zooplankton feeding by the scleractinian coral Galaxea fascicularis

et al. 2012

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SummaryMany scleractinian coral species host epizoic acoelomorph flatworms, both in aquaculture and in situ. These symbiotic flatworms may impair coral growth and health through light-shading, mucus removal and disruption of heterotrophic feeding. To quantify the effect of epizoic flatworms on zooplankton feeding, we conducted video analyses of single polyps of Galaxea fascicularis (Linnaeus 1767) grazing on Artemia nauplii in the presence and absence of symbiotic flatworms. 18S DNA analysis revealed that flatworms inhabiting G. fascicularis belonged to the genus Waminoa (Convolutidae), which were hosted at a density of 3.6±0.4 individuals polyp−1. Polyps hosting flatworms exhibited prey capture rates of 2.2±2.5, 3.4±4.5 and 2.7±3.4 nauplii polyp−1 30 min−1 at prey concentrations of 250, 500 and 1,000 nauplii L−1, respectively. Polyps that had their flatworms removed displayed prey capture rates of 2.7±1.6, 4.8±4.1 and 16.9±10.3 nauplii polyp−1 30 min−1. Significant main and interactive effects of flatworm presence and ambient prey concentration were found, reflected by the fact that flatworms significantly impaired host feeding rates at the highest prey density of 1,000 nauplii L−1. In addition, flatworms displayed kleptoparasitism, removing between 0.1±0.3 and 0.6±1.1 nauplii 30 min−1 from the oral disc of their host, or 5.3±3.3 to 50.0±2.1% of prey acquired by the coral. We suggest classifying the coral-associated Waminoa sp. as an epizoic parasite, as its presence may negatively affect growth and health of the host.

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Tissue loss in corals infested by acoelomorph flatworms (Waminoa sp.)

Cited by 24 publications

References 4 publications

Baseline reef health surveys at Bangka Island (North Sulawesi, Indonesia) reveal new threats

Baseline reef health surveys at Bangka Island (North Sulawesi, Indonesia) reveal new threats

Habitat preferences of coral-associated wentletrap snails (Gastropoda: Epitoniidae)

Epizoic acoelomorph flatworms impair zooplankton feeding by the scleractinian coral Galaxea fascicularis

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