DOCSLIB.ORG

Elucidation of the First Definitively Identified Life Cycle for a Marine Turtle Blood Fluke (Trematoda: Spirorchiidae) Enables Informed Control

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Elucidation of the First Definitively Identified Life Cycle for a Marine Turtle Blood Fluke (Trematoda: Spirorchiidae) Enables Informed Control Accepted Manuscript Elucidation of the first definitively identified life cycle for a marine turtle blood fluke (Trematoda: Spirorchiidae) enables informed control Thomas H. Cribb, Jose L. Crespo-Picazo, Scott C. Cutmore, Brian A. Stacy, Phoebe A. Chapman, Daniel García-Párraga PII: S0020-7519(16)30272-7 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpara.2016.11.002 Reference: PARA 3918 To appear in: International Journal for Parasitology Received Date: 29 August 2016 Revised Date: 30 October 2016 Accepted Date: 3 November 2016 Please cite this article as: Cribb, T.H., Crespo-Picazo, J.L., Cutmore, S.C., Stacy, B.A., Chapman, P.A., García- Párraga, D., Elucidation of the first definitively identified life cycle for a marine turtle blood fluke (Trematoda: Spirorchiidae) enables informed control, International Journal for Parasitology (2016), doi: http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1016/j.ijpara.2016.11.002 This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain. 1 Elucidation of the first definitively identified life cycle for a marine 2 turtle blood fluke (Trematoda: Spirorchiidae) enables informed 3 control 4 5 Thomas H. Cribba,*, Jose L. Crespo-Picazob, Scott C. Cutmorea, Brian A. Stacyc , Phoebe A. d b 6 Chapman , Daniel García-Párraga 7 8 aThe University of Queensland, School of Biological Sciences, St Lucia, Queensland, 4072, 9 Australia 10 bFundación Oceanogràfic, Veterinary Services & Research Department, Avanqua 11 Oceanogràfic-Ágora, C/ Eduardo Primo Yúfera 1B, 46013 Valencia, Spain 12 cNational Marine Fisheries Service, Office of Protected Resources and University of Florida, 13 College of Veterinary Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA 14 dThe University of Queensland, Veterinary Marine Animal Research, Teaching and 15 Investigation Unit, School of Veterinary Science, Gatton, Queensland, 4343, Australia 16 17 * Corresponding author. Tel.: +61 7 3365 2581; fax: +61 7 3365 4699. 18 E-mail address: [email protected] (T.H. Cribb) 19 20 Nucleotide sequence data reported in this paper are available in GenBank under the 21 accession numbers: KX987107-KX987112. 22 1 23 Abstract 24 Blood flukes of the family Spirorchiidae are significant pathogens of both free- 25 ranging and captive marine turtles. Despite a significant proportion of marine turtle mortality 26 being attributable to spirorchiid infections, details of their life cycles remain almost entirely 27 unknown. Here we report on the molecular elucidation of the complete life cycle of a marine 28 spirorchiid, identified as Amphiorchis sp., infecting vermetid gastropods and captive bred 29 neonate Caretta caretta in the Oceanogràfic Aquarium, in Valencia, Spain. Specimens of a 30 vermetid gastropod, Thylaeodus cf. rugulosus (Monterosato, 1878), collected from the 31 aquarium filtration system housing diseased C. caretta, were infected with sporocysts and 32 cercariae consistent with the family Spirorchiidae. We generated rDNA sequence data 33 (internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) and partial 28S rDNA) from infections from the 34 vermetid which were identical to sequences generated from eggs from the serosa of the 35 intestine of neonate C. caretta, and an adult spirorchiid from the liver of a C. caretta from 36 Florida, USA. Given the reliability of these markers in the delineation of trematode species, 37 we consider all three stages to represent the same species and tentatively identify it as a 38 species of Amphiorchis Price, 1934. The source of infection at the Oceanogràfic Foundation 39 Rehabilitation Centre, Valencia, Spain, is inferred to be an adult C. caretta from the western 40 Mediterranean being rehabilitated in the same facility. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that 41 this Amphiorchis sp. is closely related to other spirorchiids of marine turtles (species of 42 Carettacola Manter & Larson, 1950, Hapalotrema Looss, 1899 and Learedius Price, 1934). 43 We discuss implications of the present findings for the control of spirorchiidiasis in captivity, 44 for the better understanding of epidemiology in wild individuals, and the elucidation of 45 further life cycles. 46 Keywords: Trematoda; Spirorchiidae; Life cycle; Vermetidae; Conservation; Sea turtles, 47 Transmission 2 48 1. Introduction 49 The Spirorchiidae Stunkard, 1921 is an assemblage of 20 genera of blood flukes 50 which parasitise the circulatory system of freshwater and marine turtles globally (Platt, 2002; 51 Roberts et al., 2016). Spirorchiids have recently come to prominence as they have been 52 widely shown to cause extensive tissue injury and mortality in marine turtles (Glazebrook et 53 al., 1981; Gordon et al., 1998; Flint et al., 2010; Stacy et al., 2010a). As with blood fluke 54 infections in other taxa, disease in turtles results from both inflammation and vascular injury 55 caused by the trematodes and embolized ova, which affect a variety of tissues (Gordon et al., 56 1998; Stacy et al., 2010a). 57 Despite their significance as a frequent cause of disease in some marine turtles, lack 58 of knowledge of their life cycles hampers progress in our understanding of the epidemiology 59 of marine spirorchiids. Life cycles are known for five freshwater spirorchiid species, all of 60 which infect pulmonate (heterobranch) gastropods as first intermediate hosts (Wall, 1941a, b, 61 1951; Pieper, 1953; Holliman and Fisher, 1968; Turner and Corkum, 1977). Numerous other 62 putative but unidentified freshwater spirorchiid cercariae are known from both pulmonate and 63 caenogastropod gastropods. In stark contrast, there exists just a single report of a marine 64 turtle spirorchiid life cycle, that of Stacy et al. (2010b) who reported a spirorchiid in a 65 fissurellid (vetigastropod) limpet from Florida, USA. However, this infection was detected by 66 molecular analysis alone; the parasite stages were not observed by microscopy. 67 Caretta caretta (the loggerhead turtle) is considered conservation-dependent globally, 68 including the Mediterranean population (Ullmann and Stachowitsch, 2015). In support of the 69 population, the Oceanogràfic Foundation in Valencia, Spain runs a head-starting program in 70 which cohorts of juvenile C. caretta are incubated and reared from eggs translocated from 71 nearby Mediterranean beaches. The facility also rehabilitates sick, bycaught and injured 3 72 juvenile and adult specimens of C. caretta from the nearby Mediterranean coast for eventual 73 reintroduction. Adult and juvenile turtles are always held in separate tanks, but the water 74 passing through the tanks is shared and recirculated. From January 2015 many captive- 75 hatched juvenile turtles began exhibiting debilitation and wasting disease that was 76 characterised by weight loss, malabsorption, anorexia, gastrointestinal stasis and occasionally 77 neurological signs of incoordination or swirling behaviour. Upon necropsy and subsequent 78 histopathology, spirorchiid eggs were found in several tissues and organs, and were 79 especially evident, even macroscopically, within the serosa of the intestine. Individual C. 80 caretta that survived longest in the facility harboured the greatest numbers of eggs. Given 81 that the water supply of the aquarium facility is semi-closed and pretreated, that pre-hatching 82 transmission of spirorchiids is unknown, and the evidence of increasing egg loads in tissues 83 with age despite consecutive deworming treatment (Jacobson et al., 2003), it was concluded 84 that transmission was occurring within the facility. These circumstances created an 85 opportunity to identify the intermediate host within the filtration system. Here we report the 86 elucidation of the intermediate host of the spirorchiid parasite using novel ribosomal data and 87 detail the morphology of the stages associated with it. 88 89 2. Materials and methods 90 2.1. Morphological specimens 91 Examination of the aquarium system for potential intermediate hosts in September 92 2015 revealed the presence of just one gastropod species, a sessile form that was attached to 93 piping delivering and draining water from the turtle holding tanks. We dissected specimens of 94 this gastropod species under a stereomicroscope in a solution of 0.85% saline. When 95 observed, asexual stages and cercariae of trematodes were fixed either in near boiling saline 4 96 and then transferred immediately to 80% alcohol, or directly in cold alcohol for samples for 97 molecular analysis. 98 Specimens for morphological analysis were subsequently washed in fresh water, 99 stained with Mayer’s haematoxylin, destained in a solution of 1.0% HCl and neutralised in 100 0.5% ammonium hydroxide solution. Specimens were then dehydrated through a graded 101 ethanol series, cleared in methyl salicylate and mounted in Canada balsam. Measurements 102 were made using an Olympus SC50 digital camera mounted on an Olympus BX-53 103 compound microscope using cellSens Standard imaging software. Measurements are given in 104 µm and, where length is followed by breadth, the two measurements are separated by ‘×’. 105 106 2.2. Molecular sequencing 107 Total genomic DNA was extracted using phenol/chloroform extraction techniques 108 (Sambrook and Russell, 2001). We amplified the partial D1-D3 fragment of the 28S nuclear 109 rDNA region using the primers LSU5 (5'-TAG GTC GAC CCG CTG AAY TTA AGC A-3'; 110 Littlewood, 1994) and 1500R (5'-GCT ATC CTG AGG GAA ACT TCG-3'; Snyder and 111 Tkach, 2001) and the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) region using the primers 3S (3S: 5'- 112 GGT ACC GGT GGA TCA CGT GGC TAG TG-3'; Morgan and Blair, 1995) and ITS2.2 (5'- 113 CCT GGT TAG TTT CTT TTC CTC CGC-3'; Cribb et al., 1998). The 28S rDNA region has 114 proven informative in phylogenetic analysis of blood flukes and the ITS2 rDNA region has 115 proven effective in species discrimination (Blasco-Costa et al., 2016).
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Research Note Quantifying Spirorchiid Eggs in Splenic Histological
    ©2019 Institute of Parasitology, SAS, Košice DOI 10.2478/helm-2019-0020 HELMINTHOLOGIA, 56, 3: 269 – 272, 2019 Research Note Quantifying spirorchiid eggs in splenic histological samples from green turtles F. D´AZEREDO¹*, M. MEIRA-FILHO¹, T. M. WORK² 1Econserv Diagnóstico e Consultoria, Pontal do Paraná – PR, 83255-000, Brazil, *E-mail: [email protected]; 2US Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center, Honolulu Field Station, PO Box 50167, Honolulu, HI 96850, USA Article info Summary Received January 12, 2019 The present study proposes a new methodology for the quantifi cation of parasite eggs in animal tis- Accepted May 9, 2019 sue. Quantifi cation of parasites are important to understand epidemiology of spirorchiid infections in sea turtles, however different methodologies for quantifying Spirorchiidae eggs in turtle tissues have been used. The most representative way to quantify Spirorchiidae burdens in tissues is counting eggs / g of tissue, however, this method is very laborious. As an alternative, we propose quantifying number of Spirorchiidae eggs/ area of tissue on a microscope slide. We compared this method to number of eggs / slide, a common metric of egg burden in turtle tissues. Both methods correlated well with eggs / g with eggs/mm2 of tissue having better correlation. Keywords: Chelonia mydas; helminth; pathology Introduction as vessels of various internal organs and mesenteries. There, they copulate and oviposit, causing vasculitis, parasitic granulomas and The green turtle, Chelonia mydas, is distributed worldwide, oc- thromboses (Aguirre et al., 1998). Commonly affected tissues are curring from tropical regions to temperate zones. The green turtle the gastrointestinal tract, liver, spleen, lung and central nervous forages in coastal habitats (Hirth, 1997) and according to Seminoff system (Glazebrook & Campbell, 1981); however, Goodchild and (2004), is listed as endangered or near-threatened in portions of Dennis (1967) found that the spleen is the organ of Chrysemys its range.
    [Show full text]
  • Biogeographical Homogeneity in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. II
    Vol. 19: 75–84, 2013 AQUATIC BIOLOGY Published online September 4 doi: 10.3354/ab00521 Aquat Biol Biogeographical homogeneity in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. II. Temporal variation in Lebanese bivalve biota Fabio Crocetta1,*, Ghazi Bitar2, Helmut Zibrowius3, Marco Oliverio4 1Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121, Napoli, Italy 2Department of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Lebanese University, Hadath, Lebanon 3Le Corbusier 644, 280 Boulevard Michelet, 13008 Marseille, France 4Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie ‘Charles Darwin’, University of Rome ‘La Sapienza’, Viale dell’Università 32, 00185 Roma, Italy ABSTRACT: Lebanon (eastern Mediterranean Sea) is an area of particular biogeographic signifi- cance for studying the structure of eastern Mediterranean marine biodiversity and its recent changes. Based on literature records and original samples, we review here the knowledge of the Lebanese marine bivalve biota, tracing its changes during the last 170 yr. The updated checklist of bivalves of Lebanon yielded a total of 114 species (96 native and 18 alien taxa), accounting for ca. 26.5% of the known Mediterranean Bivalvia and thus representing a particularly poor fauna. Analysis of the 21 taxa historically described on Lebanese material only yielded 2 available names. Records of 24 species are new for the Lebanese fauna, and Lioberus ligneus is also a new record for the Mediterranean Sea. Comparisons between molluscan records by past (before 1950) and modern (after 1950) authors revealed temporal variations and qualitative modifications of the Lebanese bivalve fauna, mostly affected by the introduction of Erythraean species. The rate of recording of new alien species (evaluated in decades) revealed later first local arrivals (after 1900) than those observed for other eastern Mediterranean shores, while the peak in records in conjunc- tion with our samplings (1991 to 2010) emphasizes the need for increased field work to monitor their arrival and establishment.
    [Show full text]
  • DEEP SEA LEBANON RESULTS of the 2016 EXPEDITION EXPLORING SUBMARINE CANYONS Towards Deep-Sea Conservation in Lebanon Project
    DEEP SEA LEBANON RESULTS OF THE 2016 EXPEDITION EXPLORING SUBMARINE CANYONS Towards Deep-Sea Conservation in Lebanon Project March 2018 DEEP SEA LEBANON RESULTS OF THE 2016 EXPEDITION EXPLORING SUBMARINE CANYONS Towards Deep-Sea Conservation in Lebanon Project Citation: Aguilar, R., García, S., Perry, A.L., Alvarez, H., Blanco, J., Bitar, G. 2018. 2016 Deep-sea Lebanon Expedition: Exploring Submarine Canyons. Oceana, Madrid. 94 p. DOI: 10.31230/osf.io/34cb9 Based on an official request from Lebanon’s Ministry of Environment back in 2013, Oceana has planned and carried out an expedition to survey Lebanese deep-sea canyons and escarpments. Cover: Cerianthus membranaceus © OCEANA All photos are © OCEANA Index 06 Introduction 11 Methods 16 Results 44 Areas 12 Rov surveys 16 Habitat types 44 Tarablus/Batroun 14 Infaunal surveys 16 Coralligenous habitat 44 Jounieh 14 Oceanographic and rhodolith/maërl 45 St. George beds measurements 46 Beirut 19 Sandy bottoms 15 Data analyses 46 Sayniq 15 Collaborations 20 Sandy-muddy bottoms 20 Rocky bottoms 22 Canyon heads 22 Bathyal muds 24 Species 27 Fishes 29 Crustaceans 30 Echinoderms 31 Cnidarians 36 Sponges 38 Molluscs 40 Bryozoans 40 Brachiopods 42 Tunicates 42 Annelids 42 Foraminifera 42 Algae | Deep sea Lebanon OCEANA 47 Human 50 Discussion and 68 Annex 1 85 Annex 2 impacts conclusions 68 Table A1. List of 85 Methodology for 47 Marine litter 51 Main expedition species identified assesing relative 49 Fisheries findings 84 Table A2. List conservation interest of 49 Other observations 52 Key community of threatened types and their species identified survey areas ecological importanc 84 Figure A1.
    [Show full text]
  • Reef Building Mediterranean Vermetid Gastropods: Disentangling the Dendropoma Petraeum Species Complex J
    Research Article Mediterranean Marine Science Indexed in WoS (Web of Science, ISI Thomson) and SCOPUS The journal is available on line at http://www.medit-mar-sc.net DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.12681/mms.1333 Zoobank: http://zoobank.org/25FF6F44-EC43-4386-A149-621BA494DBB2 Reef building Mediterranean vermetid gastropods: disentangling the Dendropoma petraeum species complex J. TEMPLADO1, A. RICHTER2 and M. CALVO1 1 Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC), José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain 2 Oviedo University, Faculty of Biology, Dep. Biology of Organisms and Systems (Zoology), Catedrático Rodrigo Uría s/n, 33071 Oviedo, Spain Corresponding author: [email protected] Handling Editor: Marco Oliverio Received: 21 April 2014; Accepted: 3 July 2015; Published on line: 20 January 2016 Abstract A previous molecular study has revealed that the Mediterranean reef-building vermetid gastropod Dendropoma petraeum comprises a complex of at least four cryptic species with non-overlapping ranges. Once specific genetic differences were de- tected, ‘a posteriori’ searching for phenotypic characters has been undertaken to differentiate cryptic species and to formally describe and name them. The name D. petraeum (Monterosato, 1884) should be restricted to the species of this complex dis- tributed around the central Mediterranean (type locality in Sicily). In the present work this taxon is redescribed under the oldest valid name D. cristatum (Biondi, 1857), and a new species belonging to this complex is described, distributed in the western Mediterranean. These descriptions are based on a comparative study focusing on the protoconch, teleoconch, and external and internal anatomy. Morphologically, the two species can be only distinguished on the basis of non-easily visible anatomical features, and by differences in protoconch size and sculpture.
    [Show full text]
  • Helminth Parasites (Trematoda, Cestoda, Nematoda, Acanthocephala) of Herpetofauna from Southeastern Oklahoma: New Host and Geographic Records
    125 Helminth Parasites (Trematoda, Cestoda, Nematoda, Acanthocephala) of Herpetofauna from Southeastern Oklahoma: New Host and Geographic Records Chris T. McAllister Science and Mathematics Division, Eastern Oklahoma State College, Idabel, OK 74745 Charles R. Bursey Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University-Shenango, Sharon, PA 16146 Matthew B. Connior Life Sciences, Northwest Arkansas Community College, Bentonville, AR 72712 Abstract: Between May 2013 and September 2015, two amphibian and eight reptilian species/ subspecies were collected from Atoka (n = 1) and McCurtain (n = 31) counties, Oklahoma, and examined for helminth parasites. Twelve helminths, including a monogenean, six digeneans, a cestode, three nematodes and two acanthocephalans was found to be infecting these hosts. We document nine new host and three new distributional records for these helminths. Although we provide new records, additional surveys are needed for some of the 257 species of amphibians and reptiles of the state, particularly those in the western and panhandle regions who remain to be examined for helminths. ©2015 Oklahoma Academy of Science Introduction Methods In the last two decades, several papers from Between May 2013 and September 2015, our laboratories have appeared in the literature 11 Sequoyah slimy salamander (Plethodon that has helped increase our knowledge of sequoyah), nine Blanchard’s cricket frog the helminth parasites of Oklahoma’s diverse (Acris blanchardii), two eastern cooter herpetofauna (McAllister and Bursey 2004, (Pseudemys concinna concinna), two common 2007, 2012; McAllister et al. 1995, 2002, snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina), two 2005, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014a, b, c; Bonett Mississippi mud turtle (Kinosternon subrubrum et al. 2011). However, there still remains a hippocrepis), two western cottonmouth lack of information on helminths of some of (Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma), one the 257 species of amphibians and reptiles southern black racer (Coluber constrictor of the state (Sievert and Sievert 2011).
    [Show full text]
  • Planorbidae) from New Mexico
    FRONT COVER—See Fig. 2B, p. 7. Circular 194 New Mexico Bureau of Mines & Mineral Resources A DIVISION OF NEW MEXICO INSTITUTE OF MINING & TECHNOLOGY Pecosorbis, a new genus of fresh-water snails (Planorbidae) from New Mexico Dwight W. Taylor 98 Main St., #308, Tiburon, California 94920 SOCORRO 1985 iii Contents ABSTRACT 5 INTRODUCTION 5 MATERIALS AND METHODS 5 DESCRIPTION OF PECOSORBIS 5 PECOSORBIS. NEW GENUS 5 PECOSORBIS KANSASENSIS (Berry) 6 LOCALITIES AND MATERIAL EXAMINED 9 Habitat 12 CLASSIFICATION AND RELATIONSHIPS 12 DESCRIPTION OF MENETUS 14 GENUS MENETUS H. AND A. ADAMS 14 DESCRIPTION OF MENETUS CALLIOGLYPTUS 14 REFERENCES 17 Figures 1—Pecosorbis kansasensis, shell 6 2—Pecosorbis kansasensis, shell removed 7 3—Pecosorbis kansasensis, penial complex 8 4—Pecosorbis kansasensis, reproductive system 8 5—Pecosorbis kansasensis, penial complex 9 6—Pecosorbis kansasensis, ovotestis and seminal vesicle 10 7—Pecosorbis kansasensis, prostate 10 8—Pecosorbis kansasensis, penial complex 10 9—Pecosorbis kansaensis, composite diagram of penial complex 10 10—Pecosorbis kansasensis, distribution map 11 11—Menetus callioglyptus, reproductive system 15 12—Menetus callioglyptus, penial complex 15 13—Menetus callioglyptus, penial complex 16 14—Planorbella trivolvis lenta, reproductive system 16 Tables 1—Comparison of Menetus and Pecosorbis 13 5 Abstract Pecosorbis, new genus of Planorbidae, subfamily Planorbulinae, is established for Biomphalaria kansasensis Berry. The species has previously been known only as a Pliocene fossil, but now is recognized in the Quaternary of the southwest United States, and living in the Pecos Valley of New Mexico. Pecosorbis is unusual because of its restricted distribution and habitat in seasonal rock pools. Most similar to Menetus, it differs in having a preputial organ with an external duct, no spermatheca, and a penial sac that is mostly eversible.
    [Show full text]
  • Chelonia Mydas) in Hawaii
    J. Parasitol., 91(4), 2005, pp. 871±876 q American Society of Parasitologists 2005 EPIZOOTIOLOGY OF SPIRORCHIID INFECTION IN GREEN TURTLES (CHELONIA MYDAS) IN HAWAII Thierry M. Work, George H. Balazs*, Jody L. Schumacher, and Amarisa Marie² U.S. Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center, Hawaii Field Station, 300 Ala Moana Blvd., Room 5-231, Honolulu, Hawaii 96850. e-mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT: We describe the epizootiology of spirorchiid trematode infections in Hawaiian green turtles (Chelonia mydas)by quantifying tissue egg burdens in turtles submitted for necropsy and by assessing antibody response to crude adult worm and egg antigens among a variety of age groups. Hapalotrema sp. and Laeredius sp. predominated in turtles infected with spirorchiids. Tissue egg burdens decreased with increasing size and increased with deteriorating body condition of turtles. No relationship was found between tissue egg burdens and sex or ®bropapillomatosis status. Tissue egg burdens increased in turtles from southeast to northwest in the main Hawaiian Islands (Hawaii to Kauai). Hatchling and captive-reared turtles had signi®cantly lower levels of antibodies against crude worm and egg antigens. Based on tissue egg burdens and antibody status, we hypothesize that immature turtles become infected with spirorchiids shortly after recruiting into coastal foraging pastures from the pelagic envi- ronment, that infection levels decrease with age, and that spirorchiids detrimentally affect the body condition of sea turtles independent of tumor burden. The low intensity of infection in turtles with the endemic trematode Carettacola hawaiiensis suggests either that turtles are less susceptible to infection with this parasite or that the parasite is outcompeted by species of Hapalotrema and Laeredius.
    [Show full text]
  • Differential Algal Consumption by Three Species of <I>Fissurella</I
    BULLETIN OF MARINE SCIENCE. 46(3): 735-748.1990 DIFFERENTIAL ALGAL CONSUMPTION BY THREE SPECIES OF FISSURELLA(MOLLUSCA:GASTROPODA)AT ISLA DE MARGARITA, VENEZUELA Craig J. Franz ABSTRACT Visual observations and gut analyses were used to determine types of food ingested by Fissurella nimbosa (Linnaeus, 1758), F. nodosa (Born, 1778), and F. barbadensis (Gmelin, 1791) at Isla de Margarita, Venezuela. Although these animals have a wide variety of algal sources from which to select and on which they appear to feed in an opportunistic fashion, specific food preferences exist. Fissurella nodosa prefers encrusting microalgae and diatoms; F. nimbosa ingests laminar sheets of predominantly brown algae; F. barbadensis feeds on a wide variety of algae but often selects coralline algae of which it ingests entire branches. In zones of overlap, it is hypothesized that competition for food among Fissurella species is minimal due to resource allocation through food preference. Laboratory experiments indicate that all three congeners can ingest a greater variety of algal types than they normally consume in the field. Differential food consumption indicates significantly more elaborate niche par- titioning among tropical intertidal Fissure/la than was previously known. Studies of comparative feeding among congeneric predators may provide insight into the manner by which organisms partition their environment. This partitioning may be achieved through spatial segregation, temporal allocation, or dietary pref- erence. In situations of spatial overlap and temporal feeding similarity, a unique opportunity exists to evaluate the way in which food preferences may help establish an individual's niche. In these circumstances, dietary studies of co-occurring congeners provides information concerning the partitioning of community food resources.
    [Show full text]
  • Spirorchiid Trematodes of Sea Turtles in Florida: Associated Disease, Diversity, and Life Cycle Studies
    SPIRORCHIID TREMATODES OF SEA TURTLES IN FLORIDA: ASSOCIATED DISEASE, DIVERSITY, AND LIFE CYCLE STUDIES By BRIAN ADAMS STACY A DISSERTATION PRESENTED TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA 2008 1 © 2008 Brian Stacy 2 To my family 3 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This project would not have been possible without the substantial contributions and support of many agencies and individuals. I am grateful for the encouragement and assistance provided by my committee members: Elliott Jacobson, Ellis Greiner, Alan Bolten, John Dame, Larry Herbst, Rick Alleman, and Paul Klein. The sea turtle community, both government agencies and private, were essential contributors to the various aspects of this work. I greatly appreciate the contributions of my colleagues in the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), both present and past, including Allen Foley, Karrie Minch, Rhonda Bailey, Susan Shaf, Kim Sonderman, Nashika Brewer, and Ed DeMaye. Furthermore, I thank the many participants in the Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network. I also am grateful to members of the turtle rehabilitation community, including the faculty and staff of The Turtle Hospital, Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, Marinelife Center at Juno Beach, the Marine Science Center, Clearwater Marine Aquarium, and the Georgia Sea Turtle Center. Specifically, I would like to thank Richie Moretti, Michelle Bauer, Corrine Rose, Sandy Fournies, Nancy Mettee, Charles Manire, Terry Norton, Ryan Butts, Janine Cianciolo, Douglas Mader, and their invaluable support staff. Essential to the life cycle aspects of this project were the critical input and collaboration of the members and volunteers of the In-water Research Group, including Michael Bressette, Blair Witherington, Shigatomo Hirama, Dean Bagley, Steve Traxler, Richard Herren, and Carrie Crady.
    [Show full text]
  • ABSTRACT Title of Dissertation: PATTERNS IN
    ABSTRACT Title of Dissertation: PATTERNS IN DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTION OF BENTHIC MOLLUSCS ALONG A DEPTH GRADIENT IN THE BAHAMAS Michael Joseph Dowgiallo, Doctor of Philosophy, 2004 Dissertation directed by: Professor Marjorie L. Reaka-Kudla Department of Biology, UMCP Species richness and abundance of benthic bivalve and gastropod molluscs was determined over a depth gradient of 5 - 244 m at Lee Stocking Island, Bahamas by deploying replicate benthic collectors at five sites at 5 m, 14 m, 46 m, 153 m, and 244 m for six months beginning in December 1993. A total of 773 individual molluscs comprising at least 72 taxa were retrieved from the collectors. Analysis of the molluscan fauna that colonized the collectors showed overwhelmingly higher abundance and diversity at the 5 m, 14 m, and 46 m sites as compared to the deeper sites at 153 m and 244 m. Irradiance, temperature, and habitat heterogeneity all declined with depth, coincident with declines in the abundance and diversity of the molluscs. Herbivorous modes of feeding predominated (52%) and carnivorous modes of feeding were common (44%) over the range of depths studied at Lee Stocking Island, but mode of feeding did not change significantly over depth. One bivalve and one gastropod species showed a significant decline in body size with increasing depth. Analysis of data for 960 species of gastropod molluscs from the Western Atlantic Gastropod Database of the Academy of Natural Sciences (ANS) that have ranges including the Bahamas showed a positive correlation between body size of species of gastropods and their geographic ranges. There was also a positive correlation between depth range and the size of the geographic range.
    [Show full text]
  • The Freshwater Snails (Mollusca: Gastropoda) of Mexico: Updated Checklist, Endemicity Hotspots, Threats and Conservation Status
    Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad 91 (2020): e912909 Taxonomy and systematics The freshwater snails (Mollusca: Gastropoda) of Mexico: updated checklist, endemicity hotspots, threats and conservation status Los caracoles dulceacuícolas (Mollusca: Gastropoda) de México: listado actualizado, hotspots de endemicidad, amenazas y estado de conservación Alexander Czaja a, *, Iris Gabriela Meza-Sánchez a, José Luis Estrada-Rodríguez a, Ulises Romero-Méndez a, Jorge Sáenz-Mata a, Verónica Ávila-Rodríguez a, Jorge Luis Becerra-López a, Josué Raymundo Estrada-Arellano a, Gabriel Fernando Cardoza-Martínez a, David Ramiro Aguillón-Gutiérrez a, Diana Gabriela Cordero-Torres a, Alan P. Covich b a Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Av.Universidad s/n, Fraccionamiento Filadelfia, 35010 Gómez Palacio, Durango, Mexico b Institute of Ecology, Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, 140 East Green Street, Athens, GA 30602-2202, USA *Corresponding author: [email protected] (A. Czaja) Received: 14 April 2019; accepted: 6 November 2019 Abstract We present an updated checklist of native Mexican freshwater gastropods with data on their general distribution, hotspots of endemicity, threats, and for the first time, their estimated conservation status. The list contains 193 species, representing 13 families and 61 genera. Of these, 103 species (53.4%) and 12 genera are endemic to Mexico, and 75 species are considered local endemics because of their restricted distribution to very small areas. Using NatureServe Ranking, 9 species (4.7%) are considered possibly or presumably extinct, 40 (20.7%) are critically imperiled, 30 (15.5%) are imperiled, 15 (7.8%) are vulnerable and only 64 (33.2%) are currently stable.
    [Show full text]
  • Aquatic Snails of the Snake and Green River Basins of Wyoming
    Aquatic snails of the Snake and Green River Basins of Wyoming Lusha Tronstad Invertebrate Zoologist Wyoming Natural Diversity Database University of Wyoming 307-766-3115 [email protected] Mark Andersen Information Systems and Services Coordinator Wyoming Natural Diversity Database University of Wyoming 307-766-3036 [email protected] Suggested citation: Tronstad, L.M. and M. D. Andersen. 2018. Aquatic snails of the Snake and Green River Basins of Wyoming. Report prepared by the Wyoming Natural Diversity Database for the Wyoming Fish and Wildlife Department. 1 Abstract Freshwater snails are a diverse group of mollusks that live in a variety of aquatic ecosystems. Many snail species are of conservation concern around the globe. About 37-39 species of aquatic snails likely live in Wyoming. The current study surveyed the Snake and Green River basins in Wyoming and identified 22 species and possibly discovered a new operculate snail. We surveyed streams, wetlands, lakes and springs throughout the basins at randomly selected locations. We measured habitat characteristics and basic water quality at each site. Snails were usually most abundant in ecosystems with higher standing stocks of algae, on solid substrate (e.g., wood or aquatic vegetation) and in habitats with slower water velocity (e.g., backwater and margins of streams). We created an aquatic snail key for identifying species in Wyoming. The key is a work in progress that will be continually updated to reflect changes in taxonomy and new knowledge. We hope the snail key will be used throughout the state to unify snail identification and create better data on Wyoming snails.
    [Show full text]