Parasite infracommunities of a specializedmarine fish species in a compound community dominated by generalist parasites

LANFRANCHI ANA LAURA; ROSSIN M. ALEJANDRA; TIMI JUAN TOMÁS

JOURNAL OF HELMINTHOLOGY

Cambridge University Press

Lugar: Cambridge UK; Año: 2009

0022-149X

The structure and composition of parasite communities of Mullus argentinaeMullus argentinae 13 were analysed under two alternative hypotheses in a sample of 75 specimenswere analysed under two alternative hypotheses in a sample of 75 specimens 14 caught off Mar del Plata, Argentina (388270S, 578900W). The first, based on thecaught off Mar del Plata, Argentina (388270S, 578900W). The first, based on the 15 dominance of trophically transmitted larval parasites of low host-specificitydominance of trophically transmitted larval parasites of low host-specificity 16 among fish species in the region, predicts that infracommunities will be randomamong fish species in the region, predicts that infracommunities will be random 17 subsets of regionally available species. The second, based on previous studies onsubsets of regionally available species. The second, based on previous studies on 18 other mullids, predicts that infracommunities will be dominated by adultother mullids, predicts that infracommunities will be dominated by adult 19 digeneans. The parasite fauna of goatfishes was mainly composed ofdigeneans. The parasite fauna of goatfishes was mainly composed of 20 endoparasites, with metacercariae of Prosorhynchus australis accounting forendoparasites, with metacercariae of Prosorhynchus australis accounting for 21 most individual parasites and greatly affecting infracommunity descriptors. Itsmost individual parasites and greatly affecting infracommunity descriptors. Its 22 importance was reinforced by the low number of trophically transmitted larvalimportance was reinforced by the low number of trophically transmitted larval 23 parasites. Both hypotheses were refuted; parasite communities were notparasites. Both hypotheses were refuted; parasite communities were not 24 dominated either by trophically transmitted larval parasites of low host-dominated either by trophically transmitted larval parasites of low host- 25 specificity or by adult digeneans. Prosorhynchus australis was the only speciesspecificity or by adult digeneans. Prosorhynchus australis was the only species 26 displaying any degree of phylogenetic specificity. Therefore, the influence ofdisplaying any degree of phylogenetic specificity. Therefore, the influence of 27 phylogenetic factors seems to exceed that of ecological ones in determining thephylogenetic factors seems to exceed that of ecological ones in determining the 28 observed structure of infracommunities. However, it is precisely host ecologyobserved structure of infracommunities. However, it is precisely host ecology 29 that allows P. australis to become the determinant of infracommunity structure bythat allows P. australis to become the determinant of infracommunity structure by 30 constraining the acquisition of other parasites. Studies aiming to determine theconstraining the acquisition of other parasites. Studies aiming to determine the 31 relative importance of evolutionary and ecological processes as structuringrelative importance of evolutionary and ecological processes as structuring 32 forces of parasite communities should take into account not only the identity andforces of parasite communities should take into account not only the identity and 33 specificity of their component parasites, but their availability in the compoundspecificity of their component parasites, but their availability in the compound 34 community.community.