Why are the prevalence and diversity of helminths in the endemic Pyrenean brook newt <i>Calotriton asper</i> (Amphibia, Salamandridae) so low?

Comas, Mireia; Ribas, Alexis

doi:10.1017/s0022149x13000710

Cited by 7 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…Hence, as mites ascend in elevation, they are exposed to lower temperatures and reduced daily and annual time available to complete their life cycles. Long periods of lizard hibernation likely contribute to increasing winter parasite mortality ( Comas and Ribas 2015 ). Consequently, a reduction of ectoparasite abundance with elevation is consistent with our expectations.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Opposed elevational variation in prevalence and intensity of endoparasites and their vectors in a lizard

et al. 2018

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Studying the causes of parasite geographic distribution is relevant to understand ecological and evolutionary processes that affect host populations as well as for species conservation. Temperature is one of the most important environmental variables affecting parasite distribution, as raising temperatures positively affect development, reproduction, and rate of transmission of both endo- and ectoparasites. In this context, it is generally accepted that, in mountains, parasite abundance decreases with elevation. However, empirical evidence on this topic is limited. In the present study, we analyzed the elevational variation of hemoparasites and ectoparasites of a lizard, Psammodromus algirus, along a 2,200-m elevational gradient in Sierra Nevada (SE Spain). As predicted, ectoparasite (mites, ticks, mosquitoes, and sandflies) abundance decreased with elevation. However, hemoparasite prevalence and intensity in the lizard augmented with altitude, showing a pattern contrary to their vectors (mites). We suggest that tolerance to hemoparasites may increase with elevation as a consequence of lizards at high altitudes taking advantage of increased body condition and food availability, and reduced oxidative stress. Moreover, lizards could have been selected for higher resistance against hemoparasites at lowlands (where higher rates of replication are expected), thus reducing hemoparasite prevalence and load. Our findings imply that, in a scenario of climate warming, populations of lizards at high elevation may face increased abundance of ectoparasites, accompanied with strong negative effects.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Opposed elevational variation in prevalence and intensity of endoparasites and their vectors in a lizard

et al. 2018

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“…The common fire salamander ( Salamandra salamandra ) and alpine newt ( Ichthyosaura alpestris ) favor zones of reduced glacier influence, including alpine woodland rivers below 2500 meters (Kuzmin et al 2009 , Arntzen et al 2009 ). In contrast, the Pyrenean brook newt ( Calotriton asper ) requires fast-flowing, highly oxygenated, cobbled river reaches for larval development (figure 4 ; Comas and Ribas 2015 ). The common frog ( Rana temporaria ) persists within mountain woodlands and meadows below 2300 meters, using rivers and lakes for larval development and overwintering in open water to avoid freezing conditions (Ludwig et al 2015 ).…”

Section: Biotic Responses To Glacier Retreatmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although macroinvertebrate alpha diversity has been shown to peak at intermediate stages of glacier influence (Jacobsen et al 2012 , Brown et al 2015 ), our synthesis suggests this response might not be generalizable to other groups. Vertebrates, for example, provide an exception to these trends, because desman species ( G. pyrenaicus ) and the Pyrenean brook newt ( C. asper ) preferentially occupy high-velocity mountain rivers in the Pyrénées, increasing their density and in turn biomass with reducing glacier influence (Comas and Ribas 2015 , Biffi et al 2016 ). Notably, they appear first at intermediate levels of glacier catchment cover (figure 4 ), in contrast to ubiquitous macroinvertebrates.…”

Section: Freshwater Biodiversity Responses To Glacier Retreat: Model mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many cold-adapted species are recognized as threatened or endangered primarily because of climate-induced habitat contraction, which for fully aquatic taxa is compounded by limited dispersal opportunity when large mountain ranges isolate proglacial-river systems (Wrona et al 2006 , Brown et al 2009 , Giersch et al 2016 ). These species include macroinvertebrates ( Baetis alpinus, Lednia tumana , and Rhyacophila angelieri ) but can be found at multiple trophic levels within diatoms ( D. mesodon and Diatoma hyemalis ), algae (Red List algae species), and vertebrates ( G. pyrenaicus and C. asper ; Ludwig and Schnittler 1996 , Brown et al 2007 , Finn et al 2013 , Comas and Ribas 2015 , Biffi et al 2016 , Giersch et al 2016 ). The extirpation of macroinvertebrate stenotherms drives a reduction in gamma diversity across formally glacierized catchments (Jacobsen et al 2012 ), a trend that will be exacerbated through the loss of cold stenotherms at additional trophic levels (figure 4 ).…”

Section: Freshwater Biodiversity Responses To Glacier Retreat: Model mentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Multitrophic Effects of Climate Change and Glacier Retreat in Mountain Rivers

Fell¹,

Carrivick²,

Brown³

2017

BioScience

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Climate change is driving the thinning and retreat of many glaciers globally. Reductions of ice-melt inputs to mountain rivers are changing their physicochemical characteristics and, in turn, aquatic communities. Glacier-fed rivers can serve as model systems for investigations of climate-change effects on ecosystems because of their strong atmospheric–cryospheric links, high biodiversity of multiple taxonomic groups, and significant conservation interest concerning endemic species. From a synthesis of existing knowledge, we develop a new conceptual understanding of how reducing glacier cover affects organisms spanning multiple trophic groups. Although the response of macroinvertebrates to glacier retreat has been well described, we show that there remains a relative paucity of information for biofilm, microinvertebrate, and vertebrate taxa. Enhanced understanding of whole river food webs will improve the prediction of river-ecosystem responses to deglaciation while offering the potential to identify and protect a wider range of sensitive and threatened species.

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“…This finding could be explained by changes in environmental conditions, such as humidity and temperature that affect ectoparasite survival, and consequently lead to geographic variation of host-ectoparasite relationships (Medlock et al 2013; Poisot et al 2017). Variation in abiotic and biotic conditions in high elevations could also cause longer hibernation durations, resulting in shorter periods of activity for both host and parasite to reproduce and grow (Comas & Ribas 2015). Long periods of lizard hibernation likely contribute to increasing winter ectoparasite mortality (Postawa & Nagy 2016).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

New locality and host records of mites and ticks (Chelicerata: Acari) parasitizing lizards of Morocco

et al. 2023

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The aim of this study was to investigate the parasitic relationships of mites and ticks infesting lizards in Morocco and their determinant factors. A total of 1498 lizards representing 27 species, 8 families and 18 genera were randomly captured and examined in their natural habitats. The overall prevalence of ectoparasite infestation was 22.4%, with a mean intensity of 14.5 (95% CI: 12.2 – 16.8). Four families of Acari (Chelicerata) were identified: Ixodidae, Macronyssidae, Pterygosomatidae, and Trombiculidae, with eleven new host records and new data on geographical distributions. Trombiculid mites were the most prevalent (17.2%), followed by the Pterygosomatidae (4.1%), the Ixodidae (1.5%), and the Macronyssidae (0.4%). Nevertheless, Macronyssids showed the highest mean intensity 31.7 (14.3 – 54.2), followed by the Pterygosomatidae 22.0 (16.2 – 30.5), the Trombiculidae 12.7 (10.9 – 14.8), and the Ixodidae 1.7 (1.3 – 2.2). In total, nine species of parasites were found, and co-infestations were recorded on three lizard species. Ixodid prevalence and intensity were significantly related to altitude and host species, whereas Macronyssid prevalence and intensity were associated with host age and altitude. Ectoparasite intensity was associated with lizard sex for all mite families, with males carrying heavier loads than females, while prevalence was related to sex only for Pterygosomatid and Trombiculid mites. Season was important for Macronyssid and Trombiculid infestation intensity. Finally, host characteristics (species, size, age class), along with altitude, were determinant factors for infestation prevalence and intensities in Pterygosomatid and Trombiculid mites. The Ixodidae and Macronyssidae were mainly attached to the ventral side of hosts, whereas the Trombiculidae and Pterygosomatidae were attached to different parts of the host body with aggregations in skin folds. This updated information should prove useful for modeling biodiversity and predicting zoonotic disease outbreaks.

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Why are the prevalence and diversity of helminths in the endemic Pyrenean brook newt Calotriton asper (Amphibia, Salamandridae) so low?

Cited by 7 publications

References 30 publications

Opposed elevational variation in prevalence and intensity of endoparasites and their vectors in a lizard

Opposed elevational variation in prevalence and intensity of endoparasites and their vectors in a lizard

The Multitrophic Effects of Climate Change and Glacier Retreat in Mountain Rivers

New locality and host records of mites and ticks (Chelicerata: Acari) parasitizing lizards of Morocco

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