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Patterns in metazoan parasite communities of some oyster species

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 April 2024

M.L. Aguirre-Macedo*
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Parasitology, Centre of Investigation and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnical Institute (CINVESTAV-IPN Unidad Merida), Apartado Postal 73 Cordemex, C.P., 97310, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico
C.R. Kennedy
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, Hatherly Laboratories, University of Exeter, Prince of Wales Road, Exeter, EX4 4PS, UK
*
*Fax: (99) 81 29 17 E-mail: leo@kin.cieamer.conacyt.mx

Abstract

Metazoan parasite communities of Crassostrea gigas and Ostrea edulis from Great Britain, Crassostrea virginica from Mexico, and Saccostrea commercialis from Australia are described and summarized in terms of species composition, species richness, total number of individuals and dominance. Metazoan parasite communities in all host species were composed of turbellarians and the metacercarial stage of digeneans, with the exception of S. commercialis where only metacercariae were found. Arthropods, including one copepod and one mite species, were present only in British oyster species. All metazoan parasite communities of oysters had few species and low density of individuals. Richest communities were found in C. virginica at both component and infracommunity level. The least diverse component community occurred in S. commercialis. Infracommunities in O. edulis and S. commercialis never exceeded one species per host. The host response against parasites is suggested as the principal factor responsible for depauperate parasite communities of oysters. Environmental factors characteristic of tropical latitudes are likely to have enhanced both the number of species and the densities of parasites per host in the infracommunities of C. virginica.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1999

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