Correspondence: When Human Understanding of Fish Invasion is Blurred

Leprieur et al.’s observation that fish invasions are blurred by human activity (Leprieur et al. 2008 doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.0060028) correctly reflected the well established understanding that fish invasion is human mediated (1-4). However, shortcomings in Leprieur et al’s (2008) article stem from confusion between introduction and invasion, a crude analysis of human activity which has lead to a misrepresentation of introduction hotspots and lastly, a misunderstanding of ecological impacts associated with non-native fish introduction

Current ecological understanding of fungal-like pathogens of fish: what lies beneath?

Despite increasingly sophisticated microbiological techniques, and long after the first discovery of microbes, basic knowledge is still lacking to fully appreciate the ecological importance of microbial parasites in fish. This is likely due to the nature of their habitats as many species of fish suffer from living beneath turbid water away from easy recording. However, fishes represent key ecosystem services for millions of people around the world and the absence of a functional ecological understanding of viruses, prokaryotes, and small eukaryotes in the maintenance of fish populations and of their diversity represents an inherent barrier to aquatic conservation and food security. Among recent emerging infectious diseases responsible for severe population declines in plant and animal taxa, fungal and fungal-like microbes have emerged as significant contributors. Here, we review the current knowledge gaps of fungal and fungal-like parasites and pathogens in fish and put them into an ecological perspective with direct implications for the monitoring of fungal fish pathogens in the wild, their phylogeography as well as their associated ecological impact on fish populations. With increasing fish movement around the world for farming, releases into the wild for sport fishing and human-driven habitat changes, it is expected along with improved environmental monitoring of fungal and fungal-like infections, that the full extent of the impact of these pathogens on wild fish populations will soon emerge as a major threat to freshwater biodiversity

Biometric Data and Bone Identification of Topmouth Gudgeon Pseudorasbora Parva and Sunbleak Leucaspius Delineatus

Identification and analysis of the size and composition of prey taken by piscivorous predators assists in the further understanding of ecology of piscivorous fauna (Mann & Beaumont 1980, Hansel et al. 1988, Copp & Roche 2003). Comprehensive evaluation of the digested prey is central to the assessment of predation impacts and is equally important for sustainable fisheries management. Two non-native fish species in England that may be potential prey for native species are sunbleak Leucaspius delineatus (Heckel) and topmouth gudgeon Pseudorasbora parva (Temminck et Schlegel). These species were introduced to English waters in the mid 1980’s (Farr - Cox 1996, Gozlan et al. 2002) where they have since developed extensive populations (Gozlan et al. 2003, Hickley & Chare 2004). Recent studies associate sunbleak and topmouth gudgeon with novel non-native parasites (Beyer et al. 2005, Gozlan et al. 2005). Results such as these have emphasized the need to be able to identify these two species as part of the native predators’ diet. The aim of the study was to provide a tool for species identification and to elaborate the biometric relationships between bone dimensions and body size of sunbleak and topmouth gudgeon. Head bones of fish are particularly useful for identifying the size and composition of prey species from the food remains of predators, as they withstand digestion and are taxonomically valuable (Copp & Kováč 2003)

Associated disease risk from the introduced generalist pathogen Sphaerothecum destruens: Management and policy implications

The rosette agent Sphaerothecum destruens is a novel pathogen, which is currently believed to have been introduced into Europe along with the introduction of the invasive fish topmouth gudgeon Pseudorasbora parva (Temminck & Schlegel, 1846). Its close association with P. parva and its wide host species range and associated host mortalities, highlight this parasite as a potential source of disease emergence in European fish species. Here, using a meta-analysis of the reported S. destruens prevalence across all reported susceptible hosts species; we calculated host-specificity providing support that S. destruens is a true generalist. We have applied all the available information on S. destruens and host-range to an established framework for risk-assessing non-native parasites to evaluate the risks posed by S. destruens and discuss the next steps to manage and prevent disease emergence of this generalist parasite

The alternate role of direct and environmental transmission in fungal infectious disease in wildlife: threats for biodiversity conservation.

Emerging fungal pathogens have substantial consequences for infected hosts, as revealed by the global decline of amphibian species from the chytrid fungus. According to the "curse of the Pharaoh" hypothesis, free-living infectious stages typical of fungal pathogens lengthen the timespan of transmission. Free-living infectious stages whose lifespan exceeds the infection time of their hosts are not constrained by virulence, enabling them to persist at high levels and continue transmitting to further sensitive hosts. Using the only Mesomycetozoea fungal species that can be cultured, Sphaerothecum destruens, we obtained tractable data on infectivity and pathogen life cycle for the first time. Here, based on the outcomes of a set of infectious trials and combined with an epidemiological model, we show a high level of dependence on direct transmission in crowded, confined environments and establish that incubation rate and length of infection dictate the epidemic dynamics of fungal disease. The spread of Mesomycetozoea in the wild raise ecological concerns for a range of susceptible species including birds, amphibians and mammals. Our results shed light on the risks associated with farming conditions and highlight the additional risk posed by invasive species that are highly abundant and can act as infectious reservoir hosts

Origin and invasion of the emerging infectious pathogen Sphaerothecum destruens

Non-native species are often linked with the introduction of novel pathogens with detrimental effects to native biodiversity. Since the first discovery of Sphaerothecum destruens as a fish pathogen in the UK, it has been identified as a potential threat to European fish biodiversity. Despite this parasite’s emergence and associated disease risk there is still a poor understanding of its origin in Europe. Here, we provide the first evidence supporting the hypothesis that S. destruens has been accidentally introduced to Europe from China along with its reservoir host Pseudorasbora parva via the aquaculture trade. This is the first study to confirm the presence of S. destruens in China and has expanded the confirmed range of S. destruens to more locations in Europe. The demographic analysis of S. destruens and its host P. parva in their native and invasive range further supported the close association of both species. The work has direct significance and management implications for S. destruens in Europe as a non-native parasite

Dispersal strategies of juvenile pike (Esox lucius L.): influences and consequences for body size, somatic growth and trophic position

Individual variability in dispersal strategies, where some individuals disperse and others remain resident, is a common phenomenon across many species. Despite its important ecological consequences, however, the mechanisms and individual advantages of dispersal remain poorly understood. Here, riverine Northern pike (Esox lucius) juveniles (young-of-the-year and age 1+ year) were used to investigate the influence of body size and trophic position (at capture) on the dispersal from off-channel natal habitats, and the subsequent consequences for body sizes, specific growth rate and trophic position (at recapture). Individuals that dispersed into the river (‘dispersers’) were not significantly different in body size or trophic position than those remaining on nursery grounds (‘stayers’). Once in the river, however, the dispersers grew significantly faster than stayers and, on recapture, were significantly larger, but with no significant differences in their trophic positions. Early dispersal into the river was therefore not facilitated by dietary shifts to piscivory and the attainment of larger body sizes of individuals whilst in their natal habitats. These results suggest that there are long-term benefits for individuals dispersing early from natal areas via elevated growth rates and, potentially, higher fitness, with the underlying mechanisms potentially relating to competitive displacement

Deforestation-driven food-web collapse linked to emerging tropical infectious disease, Mycobacterium ulcerans.

Generalist microorganisms are the agents of many emerging infectious diseases (EIDs), but their natural life cycles are difficult to predict due to the multiplicity of potential hosts and environmental reservoirs. Among 250 known human EIDs, many have been traced to tropical rain forests and specifically freshwater aquatic systems, which act as an interface between microbe-rich sediments or substrates and terrestrial habitats. Along with the rapid urbanization of developing countries, population encroachment, deforestation, and land-use modifications are expected to increase the risk of EID outbreaks. We show that the freshwater food-web collapse driven by land-use change has a nonlinear effect on the abundance of preferential hosts of a generalist bacterial pathogen, Mycobacterium ulcerans. This leads to an increase of the pathogen within systems at certain levels of environmental disturbance. The complex link between aquatic, terrestrial, and EID processes highlights the potential importance of species community composition and structure and species life history traits in disease risk estimation and mapping. Mechanisms such as the one shown here are also central in predicting how human-induced environmental change, for example, deforestation and changes in land use, may drive emergence