Conference Paper
Host-parasite interactions after niche change: the macroparasite diversity in the Mexican cavefish Astyanax mexicanus
Santacruz, A., Hernández-Mena, D., Miranda-Gamboa, R.A., Pérez-Ponce de León, G. and Ornelas-Garcíai, P.
Record Number:
5646
Year:
2022
Journal:
AIM 2022
Pages:
54
Abstract:
Astyanax mexicanus has repeatedly colonized cave environments displaying parallel evolution of troglobic phenotypes. Despite being a model system for studying adaptation
to life in the dark, parasites infecting cavefish are almost unknown. In this study, we investigated the macroparasite diversity of 18 cavefish populations belonging to independent lineages and compare it with the parasite diversity of nearby surface fish populations, aiming at understanding differences associated with niche change. We found 12 parasite species across cavefish populations, comprising 11 of the 28 species known for the surface populations. The parasite diversity within caves belongs to five taxonomic
groups: trematodes, monogeneans, nematodes, copepods and ticks. This diversity
includes parasites with direct and complex life cycles, as well as exotic parasite species, where monogeneans are widely extended and are absent only in two caves. Surprisingly, some cavefish populations display prevalence and parasite loads significatively higher
than surface fish populations. However, parasite assemblages are similar between cave and surface populations, and the genetic lineages of the parasites are shared among
cave and surface fish populations. The spatial variation in parasite diversity across caves
indicates historical and geographical contingencies of the host-parasite colonization. Understanding the parasites infecting cavefish will allow the study on how host-parasite interactions have shaped adaptation to cave life, and how cavefish face new and ancient enemies.
Times Cited:
1
Relevent Species: