DOCSLIB.ORG

Parasites of the Spotted Sucker, Minytrema Melanops (Cypriniformes: Catostomidae) from Arkansas and Oklahoma Chris T

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Parasites of the Spotted Sucker, Minytrema Melanops (Cypriniformes: Catostomidae) from Arkansas and Oklahoma Chris T Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science Volume 72 Article 16 2018 Parasites of the Spotted Sucker, Minytrema melanops (Cypriniformes: Catostomidae) from Arkansas and Oklahoma Chris T. McAllister Eastern Oklahoma St. College, [email protected] Donald G. Cloutman retired, [email protected] Anindo Choudhury St. Norbert College, [email protected] Tomas Scholz Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, [email protected] Stanley E. Trauth Arkansas State University, [email protected] See next page for additional authors Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.uark.edu/jaas Part of the Aquaculture and Fisheries Commons, Biology Commons, and the Zoology Commons Recommended Citation McAllister, Chris T.; Cloutman, Donald G.; Choudhury, Anindo; Scholz, Tomas; Trauth, Stanley E.; Fayton, Thomas J.; and Robison, Henry W. (2018) "Parasites of the Spotted Sucker, Minytrema melanops (Cypriniformes: Catostomidae) from Arkansas and Oklahoma," Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science: Vol. 72 , Article 16. Available at: https://scholarworks.uark.edu/jaas/vol72/iss1/16 This article is available for use under the Creative Commons license: Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-ND 4.0). Users are able to read, download, copy, print, distribute, search, link to the full texts of these articles, or use them for any other lawful purpose, without asking prior permission from the publisher or the author. This Article is brought to you for free and open access by ScholarWorks@UARK. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science by an authorized editor of ScholarWorks@UARK. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. Parasites of the Spotted Sucker, Minytrema melanops (Cypriniformes: Catostomidae) from Arkansas and Oklahoma Cover Page Footnote We thank Drs. Scott L. Gardner and Gabor Racz (HWML) and Renn Tumlison (HSU) for expert curatorial assistance. Appreciation to members of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC), especially Matt kS oog and Trevor Starks, and Dr. David Neely (Tennessee Aquarium, Chattanooga, TN) and Uland Thomas (Chicago, IL) for assistance with collecting in Oklahoma and Arkansas, respectively. Thanks also to Dr. Michael A. Barger (Peru St. College NE) for identification of the acanthocephalan. The Arkansas Game & Fish Commission and ODWC provided Scientific oC llecting Permits to CTM. Authors Chris T. McAllister, Donald G. Cloutman, Anindo Choudhury, Tomas Scholz, Stanley E. Trauth, Thomas J. Fayton, and Henry W. Robison This article is available in Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science: https://scholarworks.uark.edu/jaas/vol72/iss1/16 Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science, Vol. 72 [], Art. 16 Parasites of the Spotted Sucker, Minytrema melanops (Cypriniformes: Catostomidae) from Arkansas and Oklahoma C.T. McAllister1*, D.G. Cloutman2, A. Choudhury3, T. Scholz4, S.E. Trauth5, T.J. Fayton6, and H.W. Robison7 1Science and Mathematics Division, Eastern Oklahoma State College, Idabel, OK 74745 2P. O. Box 197, Burdett, KS 67523 3Division of Natural Sciences, St. Norbert College, 100 Grant Street, DePere, WI 54115 4Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic 5Department of Biological Sciences, Arkansas State University (Emeritus), State University, AR 72467 6Lamar Fish Health Center, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 400 Washington Avenue, Lamar, PA 16848 79717 Wild Mountain Drive, Sherwood, AR 72120 *Correspondence: [email protected] Running Title: Spotted Sucker Parasites Abstract There is a moderate amount of information on parasites of M. melanops from various North American During October 2015, March and April 2016 and localities (Mackiewicz 1968, 1969, Chien and Rogers again between March and April 2017, 15 Spotted Sucker 1970, Bangham 1972, Dechtiar 1972, Combs et al. (Minytrema melanops) were collected from sites in the 1976, 1977, Williams 1976, Christensen et al. 1982, Ouachita (n = 5), Red (n = 1), and St. Francis (n = 5) Williams and Rogers 1984, Hoffman 1999, Dutton and river drainages, Arkansas, and the Arkansas River Barger 2010, Fayton and Kritsky 2013, Gale et al. 2014, drainage, Oklahoma (n = 4), and examined for McAllister et al. 2013, 2015, Oros et al. 2016, 2018). protozoan and metazoan parasites. Found were However, most reports involve fish collected east of the Calyptospora sp., Myxobolus sp., Pseudomurraytrema Mississippi River and nothing is known of specimens alabarrum, Biacetabulum banghami, Penarchigetes from Arkansas. Here we report some new host and oklensis, and Acanthocephalus sp. New host and distributional records for parasites of M. melanops from distributional records are documented for these Arkansas and Oklahoma. parasites. Materials and Methods Introduction During October 2015, March and April 2016 and The Spotted Sucker, Minytrema melanops again between March and April 2017, 15 M. melanops (Rafinesque) is a moderately slim-bodied nearly terete (mean ± 1SD total length [TL] = 179.0 ± 58.6, range 92– sucker that ranges from the Lower Great Lakes basin 243 mm) were collected with a boat electrofisher from (lakes Erie, Huron, and Michigan) and Ontario, Canada, OKLAHOMA: Arkansas River drainage of the Illinois the upper Mississippi Valley south to the Gulf slope River, Cherokee Co. (35° 57' 30.042''N, 94° 52' drainages from Texas to Florida and north on the 10.0272''W) (n = 4); and with seines from Atlantic coast to Cape Fear drainage of North Carolina ARKANSAS: St. Francis River drainage of Crow (Gilbert and Burgess 1980). In Arkansas, M. melanops Creek at Madison, St. Francis Co. (35° 00' 45.4752”N, is widespread and common but nearly absent from the 90° 43' 08.3346”W) (n = 5), Red River drainage of the upper White River drainage (Robison and Buchanan Saline River, Sevier Co. (34° 05' 46.3128"N, 1988). In Oklahoma, the Spotted Sucker is found in 94° 05' 5.0496"W) (n = 1), Ouachita River drainage at about the eastern half of the state (Miller and Robison Calion Lake Spillway, Union Co. (33° 19' 32.2608"N, 2004). It is adapted to slow-moving slightly-turbid 92° 31' 35.1912"W) (n = 3), West Tulip Creek, Dallas waterways of hard-bottomed creeks and small rivers. Co. (34° 01' 13.026"N, 92° 44' 4.1136"W) (n = 1), and They feed on detritus, zooplankton, and various Caddo River, Montgomery Co. (34° 23' 52.7742"N, 93° organisms such as mollusks and other invertebrates 37' 17.6226"W) (n = 1). Specimens were placed in (White and Haag 1977). aerated habitat water and necropsied within 24 hr. We Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science, Vol. 72, 2018 87 Published by Arkansas Academy of Science, 81 Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science, Vol. 72 [], Art. 16 C.T. McAllister, D.G. Cloutman, A. Choudhury, T. Scholz, S.E. Trauth, T.J. Fayton, and H.W. Robison followed accepted guidelines for the use of fish in research (Use of Fishes in Research Committee 2014); specimens were overdosed with a concentrated chloretone solution and a mid–ventral incision was made to expose the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and viscera. The GI tract was split longitudinally from esophagus to anus and all internal organs were placed in Petri dishes containing 0.9% saline and examined under a stereomicroscope. A species of monogenean was picked with minuten nadeln directly from the gills of fish (n = 9) previously preserved in 10% formalin then mounted in Gray and Wess medium stained with Gomori’s trichrome. Cestodes from the intestine were fixed in hot tap water without coverslip pressure, transferred to 70–95% (v/v) DNA grade ethanol, stained in Mayer’s carmine, dehydrated in an ethanol series, cleared with eugenol, and mounted in Canada balsam (Scholz et al. 2015). Tissues with encapsulated parasites were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin and processed using standard histological methods (Presnell and Schreibman 1997), with sectioning at 8–10 µm followed by staining with hematoxylin and eosin. Voucher specimens of parasites were deposited in the Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology (HWML), University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska, or the helminthological collection of the Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic (IPCAS). Host voucher specimens were deposited in the Henderson State University (HSU) fish collection, Arkadelphia, Arkansas. Prevalence, mean intensity ± Figures 1A–B. Calyptospora sp. from Minytrema melanops. (A) 1SD, and range of infection are provided in accordance Low power magnification showing oocysts in encapsulation of liver tissue; scale bar = 250 µm. (B) High power magnification of with terminology given in Bush et al. (1997). encapsulation showing hundreds of oocysts; scale bar = 125 µm. Results and Discussion Type-host and type locality: Gulf Killifish The following is an annotated list of collection and (Fundulus grandis), Ocean Springs, Jackson Co., parasite data as follows: Mississippi (Duszynski et al. 1979). Other reported hosts: Several species of fundulid PROTISTA: APICOMPLEXA: CALYPTOSPORIDAE fishes are known as natural hosts, as well as the Inland Calyptospora sp. (Figs. 1A‒B) Silverside (Menidia beryllina) and Gulf Toadfish Host and locality: 1 M. melanops (213 mm TL) (Opsanus beta) (Solangi and Overstreet 1980, Upton collected on 21 Apr. 2017 from Crow Creek at Madison, and Duszynski 1982, Fournie and Overstreet 1983, St. Francis Co., Arkansas (35° 00' 45.4752”N, 90° 43' 1993, Hawkins et al. 1983, 1984, Oliveira
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Seasonal and Diel Movements and Habitat Use of Robust Redhorses in the Lower Savannah River. Georgia, and South Carolina
    Transactions of the American FisheriesSociety 135:1145-1155, 2006 [Article] © Copyright by the American Fisheries Society 2006 DO: 10.1577/705-230.1 Seasonal and Diel Movements and Habitat Use of Robust Redhorses in the Lower Savannah River, Georgia and South Carolina TIMOTHY B. GRABOWSKI*I Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina,29634-0326, USA J. JEFFERY ISELY U.S. Geological Survey, South Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, 29634-0372, USA Abstract.-The robust redhorse Moxostonta robustum is a large riverine catostomid whose distribution is restricted to three Atlantic Slope drainages. Once presumed extinct, this species was rediscovered in 1991. Despite being the focus of conservation and recovery efforts, the robust redhorse's movements and habitat use are virtually unknown. We surgically implanted pulse-coded radio transmitters into 17 wild adults (460-690 mm total length) below the downstream-most dam on the Savannah River and into 2 fish above this dam. Individuals were located every 2 weeks from June 2002 to September 2003 and monthly thereafter to May 2005. Additionally, we located 5-10 individuals every 2 h over a 48-h period during each season. Study fish moved at least 24.7 ± 8.4 river kilometers (rkm; mean ± SE) per season. This movement was generally downstream except during spring. Some individuals moved downstream by as much as 195 rkm from their release sites. Seasonal migrations were correlated to seasonal changes in water temperature. Robust redhorses initiated spring upstream migrations when water temperature reached approximately 12'C. Our diel tracking suggests that robust redhorses occupy small reaches of river (- 1.0 rkm) and are mainly active diumally.
    [Show full text]
  • SPORT FISH of OHIO Identification DIVISION of WILDLIFE
    SPORT FISH OF OHIO identification DIVISION OF WILDLIFE 1 With more than 40,000 miles of streams, 2.4 million acres of Lake Erie and inland water, and 450 miles of the Ohio River, Ohio supports a diverse and abundant fish fauna represented by more than 160 species. Ohio’s fishes come in a wide range of sizes, shapes and colors...and live in a variety of aquatic habitats from our largest lakes and rivers to the smallest ponds and creeks. Approximately one-third of these species can be found in this guide. This fish identification guide provides color illustrations to help anglers identify their catch, and useful tips to help catch more fish. We hope it will also increase your awareness of the diversity of fishes in Ohio. This book also gives information about the life history of 27 of Ohio’s commonly caught species, as well as information on selected threatened and endangered species. Color illustrations and names are also offered for 20 additional species, many of which are rarely caught by anglers, but are quite common throughout Ohio. Fishing is a favorite pastime of many Ohioans and one of the most enduring family traditions. A first fish or day shared on the water are memories that last a lifetime. It is our sincere hope that the information in this guide will contribute significantly to your fishing experiences and understanding of Ohio’s fishes. Good Fishing! The ODNR Division of Wildlife manages the fisheries of more than 160,000 acres of inland water, 7,000 miles of streams, and 2.25 million acres of Lake Erie.
    [Show full text]
  • Edna Assay Development
    Environmental DNA assays available for species detection via qPCR analysis at the U.S.D.A Forest Service National Genomics Center for Wildlife and Fish Conservation (NGC). Asterisks indicate the assay was designed at the NGC. This list was last updated in June 2021 and is subject to change. Please contact [email protected] with questions. Family Species Common name Ready for use? Mustelidae Martes americana, Martes caurina American and Pacific marten* Y Castoridae Castor canadensis American beaver Y Ranidae Lithobates catesbeianus American bullfrog Y Cinclidae Cinclus mexicanus American dipper* N Anguillidae Anguilla rostrata American eel Y Soricidae Sorex palustris American water shrew* N Salmonidae Oncorhynchus clarkii ssp Any cutthroat trout* N Petromyzontidae Lampetra spp. Any Lampetra* Y Salmonidae Salmonidae Any salmonid* Y Cottidae Cottidae Any sculpin* Y Salmonidae Thymallus arcticus Arctic grayling* Y Cyrenidae Corbicula fluminea Asian clam* N Salmonidae Salmo salar Atlantic Salmon Y Lymnaeidae Radix auricularia Big-eared radix* N Cyprinidae Mylopharyngodon piceus Black carp N Ictaluridae Ameiurus melas Black Bullhead* N Catostomidae Cycleptus elongatus Blue Sucker* N Cichlidae Oreochromis aureus Blue tilapia* N Catostomidae Catostomus discobolus Bluehead sucker* N Catostomidae Catostomus virescens Bluehead sucker* Y Felidae Lynx rufus Bobcat* Y Hylidae Pseudocris maculata Boreal chorus frog N Hydrocharitaceae Egeria densa Brazilian elodea N Salmonidae Salvelinus fontinalis Brook trout* Y Colubridae Boiga irregularis Brown tree snake*
    [Show full text]
  • Spatial Variation in Fish-Tissue Mercury Concentrations in the St. Croix River Basin, Minnesota and Wisconsin, 2004
    Prepared in cooperation with the National Park Service Spatial Variation in Fish-Tissue Mercury Concentrations in the St. Croix River Basin, Minnesota and Wisconsin, 2004 Scientific Investigations Report 2006–5063 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Spatial Variation in Fish-Tissue Mercury Concentrations in the St. Croix River Basin, Minnesota and Wisconsin, 2004 By Victoria G. Christensen, Stephen P. Wente, Mark B. Sandheinrich, and Mark E . Brigham Prepared in cooperation with the National Park Service Scientific Investigations Report 2006–5063 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior P. Lynn Scarlett, Acting Secretary U.S. Geological Survey P. Patrick Leahy, Acting Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2006 For product and ordering information: World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS For more information on the USGS--the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment: World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report. Suggested citation: Christensen, V.G., Wente, S.P., Sandheinrich, M.B., and Brigham, M.E., 2006, Spatial variation in fish-tissue mercury concentrations in the St. Croix River Basin, Minnesota and Wisconsin, 2004: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investi- gations Report 2006–5063, 26 p.
    [Show full text]
  • BIOLOGICAL FIELD STATION Cooperstown, New York
    BIOLOGICAL FIELD STATION Cooperstown, New York 49th ANNUAL REPORT 2016 STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK COLLEGE AT ONEONTA OCCASIONAL PAPERS PUBLISHED BY THE BIOLOGICAL FIELD STATION No. 1. The diet and feeding habits of the terrestrial stage of the common newt, Notophthalmus viridescens (Raf.). M.C. MacNamara, April 1976 No. 2. The relationship of age, growth and food habits to the relative success of the whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) and the cisco (C. artedi) in Otsego Lake, New York. A.J. Newell, April 1976. No. 3. A basic limnology of Otsego Lake (Summary of research 1968-75). W. N. Harman and L. P. Sohacki, June 1976. No. 4. An ecology of the Unionidae of Otsego Lake with special references to the immature stages. G. P. Weir, November 1977. No. 5. A history and description of the Biological Field Station (1966-1977). W. N. Harman, November 1977. No. 6. The distribution and ecology of the aquatic molluscan fauna of the Black River drainage basin in northern New York. D. E Buckley, April 1977. No. 7. The fishes of Otsego Lake. R. C. MacWatters, May 1980. No. 8. The ecology of the aquatic macrophytes of Rat Cove, Otsego Lake, N.Y. F. A Vertucci, W. N. Harman and J. H. Peverly, December 1981. No. 9. Pictorial keys to the aquatic mollusks of the upper Susquehanna. W. N. Harman, April 1982. No. 10. The dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata: Anisoptera and Zygoptera) of Otsego County, New York with illustrated keys to the genera and species. L.S. House III, September 1982. No. 11. Some aspects of predator recognition and anti-predator behavior in the Black-capped chickadee (Parus atricapillus).
    [Show full text]
  • Intestinal Helminths of the White Sucker, Catostomus Commersoni (Lacepede), in SE Wisconsin
    OF WASHINGTON, VOLUME 41, NUMBER 1, JANUARY 1974 81 Intestinal Helminths of the White Sucker, Catostomus commersoni (Lacepede), in SE Wisconsin OMAR M. AMIN Science Division, University of Wisconsin-Parkside, Kenosha 53140 ABSTRACT: Five species of helminths were recovered from the intestine of the white sucker, Catostomus commersoni (Lacepede), in southeastern Wisconsin. Hosts were seined in five sites in both the Root River (Milwaukee and Racine counties; autumn 1971) and the Pike River (Racine and Kenosha counties; autumn 1972). The helminths are Triganodistomum attenuatum Mueller and Van Cleave, 1932 (Trem- atoda: Lissorchiidae), new locality record; Eiacetabulum macrocephalum McCrae, 1962 (Cestoda: Caryophyllaeidae), new state record; Biacetabulum biloculoides Mackiewicz and McCrae, 1965 (Cestoda: Caryophyllaeidae), new state record; Acanthocephahis dims (Van Cleave, 1931) Van Cleave and Townsend, 1936, new host and state record; Dorylaimtis sp. (?) Dujardin, 1845 (Nematoda: Dory- laimidae), a nonparasitie nematode reported for the first time in this fish. Distribution, structural obser- vations, and host-parasite relationships of the above species are discussed. Previous reports of fish parasites in Wis- upon recovery were placed in 70% alcohol. consin were confined to the geographical Hosts were classed in one of three size classes northeast and west (Pearse, 1924a), north according to their total length, 5-9.9, 10-14.9, (Bangham, 1946), northwest (Fischthal, 1947, and 15-37 cm. 1950, 1952), and east (Anthony, 1963). These Trematodes and cestodes were stained in reports dealt only with host records. Literature Semichon's carmine, cleared in xylene, and on the ecology or host-parasite relationship of whole-mounted in Canada balsam. Acantho- fish parasites in Wisconsin is relatively scarce cephalans were fixed in Bouin's fluid, stained (Marshall and Gilbert, 1905; Pearse, 1924b; in Harris' hematoxylin, cleared in beechwood Cross, 1938).
    [Show full text]
  • Tennessee Fish Species
    The Angler’s Guide To TennesseeIncluding Aquatic Nuisance SpeciesFish Published by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Cover photograph Paul Shaw Graphics Designer Raleigh Holtam Thanks to the TWRA Fisheries Staff for their review and contributions to this publication. Special thanks to those that provided pictures for use in this publication. Partial funding of this publication was provided by a grant from the United States Fish & Wildlife Service through the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force. Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Authorization No. 328898, 58,500 copies, January, 2012. This public document was promulgated at a cost of $.42 per copy. Equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from programs of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is available to all persons without regard to their race, color, national origin, sex, age, dis- ability, or military service. TWRA is also an equal opportunity/equal access employer. Questions should be directed to TWRA, Human Resources Office, P.O. Box 40747, Nashville, TN 37204, (615) 781-6594 (TDD 781-6691), or to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Human Resources, 4401 N. Fairfax Dr., Arlington, VA 22203. Contents Introduction ...............................................................................1 About Fish ..................................................................................2 Black Bass ...................................................................................3 Crappie ........................................................................................7
    [Show full text]
  • (Nematoda: Thelazioidea) in the Blue Sucker, Cycleptus Elongatus (Lesueur, 1817), from Illinois
    Transactions of the Illinois State Academy of Science received 12/10/01 (2002), Volume 95, #2, pp. 107 - 109 accepted 2/22/02 First Record of Rhabdochona cascadilla Wigdor, 1918 (Nematoda: Thelazioidea) in the Blue Sucker, Cycleptus elongatus (Lesueur, 1817), from Illinois William G. Dyer and William J. Poly Department of Zoology Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Illinois 62901-6501 ABSTRACT Rhabdochona cascadilla was detected in the intestine of Cycleptus elongatus from the Mississippi River in Randolph County, Illinois. This constitutes the first record of this rhabdochonid nematode in the blue sucker and the only internal helminth for this host. INTRODUCTION Nematodes of the genus Rhabdochona Railliet, 1916 (Thelazioidea, Rhabdochonidae) are cosmopolitan in distribution as intestinal parasites of freshwater fishes (Moravec and Coy Otero, 1987; Moravec, 1994). Approximately 96 nominal species have been recognized of which 19 have been reported from North and South America (see Sanchez-Alvarez et al., 1998). Of rhabdochonid nematodes reported from North America, Rhabdochona cascadilla Wigdor, 1918 has been recorded in 13 families, 30 genera, and 53 species of freshwater fishes across Canada and the United States (Hoffman, 1999). Identification of Rhabdochona species is difficult as many of them have been inadequately or erroneously described, and as pointed out by Sanchez-Alvarez et al. (1998), a detailed taxonomic revision of all putative species in this group warrants initiation. MATERIALS AND METHODS A single adult female blue sucker (557 mm standard length) was collected incidentally by electrofishing on 24 October 1996 from the Mississippi River just below the mouth of the Kaskaskia River, Randolph County, Illinois and was transported alive to the laboratory.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 Curriculum Vitae Stephen S. Curran, Ph.D. Department of Coastal
    Curriculum vitae Stephen S. Curran, Ph.D. Department of Coastal Sciences The University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast Research Laboratory 703 East Beach Drive Phone: (228) 238-0208 Ocean Springs, MS 39564 Email: [email protected] Research and Teaching Interests: I am an organismal biologist interested in the biodiversity of metazoan parasitic animals. I study their taxonomy using traditional microscopic and histological techniques and their genetic interrelationships and systematics using ribosomal DNA sequences. I also investigate the effects of extrinsic factors on aquatic environments by using parasite prevalence and abundance as a proxy for total biodiversity in aquatic communities and for assessing food web dynamics. I am also interested in the epidemiology of viral diseases of crustaceans. University Teaching Experience: •Instructor for Parasites of Marine Animals Summer class, University of Southern Mississippi, Gulf Coast Research Laboratory (2011-present). •Co-Instructor (with Richard Heard) for Marine Invertebrate Zoology, University of Southern Mississippi, Gulf Coast Research Laboratory (2007). •Intern Mentor, Gulf Coast Research Laboratory. I’ve instructed 16 interns during (2003, 2007- present). •Graduate Teaching Assistant for Animal Parasitology, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut (Spring 1995). •Graduate Teaching Assistant for Introductory Biology for Majors, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut (Fall 1994). Positions: •Assistant Research
    [Show full text]
  • Spatial Criteria Used in IUCN Assessment Overestimate Area of Occupancy for Freshwater Taxa
    Spatial Criteria Used in IUCN Assessment Overestimate Area of Occupancy for Freshwater Taxa By Jun Cheng A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirements for the degree of Masters of Science Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Toronto © Copyright Jun Cheng 2013 Spatial Criteria Used in IUCN Assessment Overestimate Area of Occupancy for Freshwater Taxa Jun Cheng Masters of Science Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Toronto 2013 Abstract Area of Occupancy (AO) is a frequently used indicator to assess and inform designation of conservation status to wildlife species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The applicability of the current grid-based AO measurement on freshwater organisms has been questioned due to the restricted dimensionality of freshwater habitats. I investigated the extent to which AO influenced conservation status for freshwater taxa at a national level in Canada. I then used distribution data of 20 imperiled freshwater fish species of southwestern Ontario to (1) demonstrate biases produced by grid-based AO and (2) develop a biologically relevant AO index. My results showed grid-based AOs were sensitive to spatial scale, grid cell positioning, and number of records, and were subject to inconsistent decision making. Use of the biologically relevant AO changed conservation status for four freshwater fish species and may have important implications on the subsequent conservation practices. ii Acknowledgments I would like to thank many people who have supported and helped me with the production of this Master’s thesis. First is to my supervisor, Dr. Donald Jackson, who was the person that inspired me to study aquatic ecology and conservation biology in the first place, despite my background in environmental toxicology.
    [Show full text]
  • Cestodes of the Fishes of Otsego Lake and Nearby Waters
    Cestodes of the fishes of Otsego Lake and nearby waters Amanda Sendkewitz1, Illari Delgado1, and Florian Reyda2 INTRODUCTION This study of fish cestodes (i.e., tapeworms) is part of a survey of the intestinal parasites of fishes of Otsego Lake and its tributaries (Cooperstown, New York) from 2008 to 2014. The survey included a total of 27 fish species, consisting of six centrarchid species, one ictalurid species, eleven cyprinid species, three percid species, three salmonid species, one catostomid species, one clupeid species, and one esocid species. This is really one of the first studies on cestodes in the area, although one of the first descriptions of cestodes was done on the Proteocephalus species Proteocephalus ambloplitis by Joseph Leidy in Lake George, NY in 1887; it was originally named Taenia ambloplitis. Parasite diversity is a large component of biodiversity, and is often indicative of the health and stature of a particular ecosystem. The presence of parasitic worms in fish of Otsego County, NY has been investigated over the course of a multi-year survey, with the intention of observing, identifying, and recording the diversity of cestode (tapeworm) species present in its many fish species. The majority of the fish species examined harbored cestodes, representing three different orders: Caryophyllidea, Proteocephalidea, and Bothriocephalidea. METHODS The fish utilized in this survey were collected through hook and line, gill net, electroshock, or seining methods throughout the year from 2008-2014. Cestodes were collected in sixteen sites throughout Otsego County. These sites included Beaver Pond at Rum Hill, the Big Pond at Thayer Farm, Canadarago Lake, a pond at College Camp, the Delaware River, Hayden Creek, LaPilusa Pond, Mike Schallart’s Pond in Schenevus, Moe Pond, a pond in Morris, NY, Oaks Creek, Paradise Pond, Shadow Brook, the Susquehanna River, the Wastewater Treatment Wetland (Cooperstown), and of course Otsego Lake.
    [Show full text]
  • Summary Report of Freshwater Nonindigenous Aquatic Species in U.S
    Summary Report of Freshwater Nonindigenous Aquatic Species in U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Region 4—An Update April 2013 Prepared by: Pam L. Fuller, Amy J. Benson, and Matthew J. Cannister U.S. Geological Survey Southeast Ecological Science Center Gainesville, Florida Prepared for: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region Atlanta, Georgia Cover Photos: Silver Carp, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix – Auburn University Giant Applesnail, Pomacea maculata – David Knott Straightedge Crayfish, Procambarus hayi – U.S. Forest Service i Table of Contents Table of Contents ...................................................................................................................................... ii List of Figures ............................................................................................................................................ v List of Tables ............................................................................................................................................ vi INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................. 1 Overview of Region 4 Introductions Since 2000 ....................................................................................... 1 Format of Species Accounts ...................................................................................................................... 2 Explanation of Maps ................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]