Host specificity and the structure of helminth parasite communities of fishes in a Neotropical river in Mexico
Por:
Salgado-Maldonado, Guillermo, Novelo-Turcotte, Maria Teresa, Caspeta-Mandujano, Juan Manuel, Vazquez-Hurtado, Gabriela, Quiroz-Martinez, Benjamin, Mercado-Silva, Norman, Favila, Mario
Publicada:
22 dic 2016
Resumen:
In a tropical locality of Rio La Antigua, Veracruz, Mexico, 11 fish
species, represented by 244 individual fish from six freshwater fish
families living sympatrically and synchronically, were examined for
helminth parasites. A total of 36 taxa of helminths were recorded, 24
autogenic and 12 allogenic forms, including 6 monogeneans, 14
trematodes, 1 cestode, and 15 nematodes. Most helminth taxa were
recovered for 10/11 of the component communities we analyzed. The
results contribute empirical evidence that host specificity is an
important force in the development of helminth communities of freshwater
fishes. Each fish family has their own set of parasites, host species
belonging to the same taxon share parasite species. High component
community similarity among related host species was recorded,
demonstrated by high prevalence and abundance, as well as dominance, of
autogenic specialist species in each component community. Most autogenic
helminth species are numerically and reproductively successful in
relatively few host species. Autogenic helminths common in one host
species are not common in others. Our findings give empirical support to
the idea that low levels of sharing of parasites favor animal
coexistence and high species richness, because large phylogenetic
differences allow potentially competing animals to consume the same
resources without being sensitive of another's parasites.
Filiaciones:
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Inst Biol, Dept Zool, Lab Helmintol, Apartado Postal 70-153, Mexico City 04510, DF, Mexico
Univ Autonoma Estado Morelos, Fac Ciencias Biol, Ave Univ Numero 1001, Cuernavaca 62209, Morelos, Mexico
Ctr Invest Biol, Lab Parasitol Anim Silvestres, Ave Univ Numero 1001, Cuernavaca 62209, Morelos, Mexico
Inst Ecol AC, Carretera Antigua Coatepec 351, Xalapa 91070, Veracruz, Mexico
Univ Autonoma Estado Morelos, Ctr Invest Biodiversidad & Conservac, Ave Univ 1001, Cuernavaca 62209, Morelos, Mexico
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