2 research outputs found
Comparing cestode infections and their consequences for host fitness in two sexual branchiopods: alien Artemia franciscana and native A. salina from syntopic-populations
The American brine shrimp Artemia franciscana is invasive in the Mediterranean
region where it has displaced native species (the sexual A. salina, and the clonal
A. parthenogenetica) from many salt pond complexes. Artemia populations are
parasitized by numerous avian cestodes whose effects have been studied in native
species.We present a study from the Ebro Delta salterns (NE Spain), in a salt pond
where both A. franciscana and native A. salina populations coexist, providing a
unique opportunity to compare the parasite loads of the two sexual species in syntopy.
The native species had consistently higher infection parameters, largely because
the dominant cestode in A. salina adults and juveniles (Flamingolepis liguloides) was
much rarer in A. franciscana. The most abundant cestodes in the alien species were
Eurycestus avoceti (in adults) and Flamingolepis flamingo (in juveniles). The
abundance of E. avoceti and F. liguloides was higher in the A. franciscana population
syntopic with A. salina than in a population sampled at the same time in another
pond where the native brine shrimp was absent, possibly because the native shrimp
provides a better reservoir for parasite circulation. Infection by cestodes caused
red colouration in adult and juvenile A. salina, and also led to castration in a high
proportion of adult females. Both these effects were significantly stronger in the
native host than in A. franciscana with the same parasite loads. However, for the first
time, significant castration effects (for E. avoceti and F. liguloides) and colour change
(for six cestode species) were observed in infected A. franciscana. Avian cestodes
are likely to help A. franciscana outcompete native species. At the same time, they
are likely to reduce the production of A. franciscana cysts in areas where they are
harvested commercially.Peer reviewe