An introduced Asian parasite threatens northeastern Pacific estuarine ecosystems

Abstract

The introduced Asian parasitic bopyrid isopod, Orthione griffenis, was first discovered on the Pacific coast of North America in Washington in 1988 and next in California in 1992. The range of Orthione presently extends from British Columbia to Baja California, where it infests at least two species of the native estuary mud shrimp, Upogebia. Intense Orthione infestations are associated with the apparent demise of many local populations of Upogebia pugettensis yet nonindigenous origins of Orthione in North America and thus the ecological significance of its impacts have remained in doubt. Six criteria reveal that Orthione is introduced to North America: its conspecificity with disjunct Asian populations, its earliest (1950s) collections in Asia, its late discovery among symbiotic species associated with Upogebia, its historical absence, and its appearance in North America coincident with extensive new ballast water traffic from Asia. Orthione is the first recognized bopyrid isopod invasion globally. Coexistence of U. pugettensis, which are ecosystem engineers, with its newly acquired parasite cannot be assumed. Orthione threatens eastern Pacific estuary ecosystems where Upogebia were previously abundant.

Biology of the Mud Shrimp Upogebia major (de Haan, 1841), with Particular Reference to Pest Management for Shrimp Control in Manila Clam Bed in the West Coast of Korea

“…10). 급기야 이러한 외래종인 기생성 등각류의 창궐은 쏙의 개체군 붕괴를 넘어 북동 태평양의 하구 생 태계를 위협하는 것으로 인식되고 있는 상황에 와 있다 (Chapman et al 2012 Kinoshita et al 2010 …”

Parasites and marine invasions: Ecological and evolutionary perspectives

“…In addition to microparasites, also life cycle stages of macroparasites may be found in ballast water tanks. For example, free-living stages of the parasitic isopod Orthione griffenis have been found in ballast water in North America, surviving a trip of 11-21 days from Japan (Carlton and Geller, 1993) and Chapman et al (2012) suggested that ballast water traffic is the vector of introduction of O. griffenis. The introduction of free-living infective stages of parasites can lead to emerging diseases, a term used for a disease that appears for the first time in a host population, or a previously existing disease that suddenly increases in incidence or geographic range, or that manifests itself in a new way (Daszak et al, 2000).…”

“…Due to the lack of co-evolutionary history of native host and invasive parasites, native naive host species may be particularly vulnerable to invasive parasites, resulting in negative effects on native host species, communities and even ecosystems. For example, the collapse of the native mud-shrimp Upogebia pugettensis on the west coast of North America (Dumbauld et al, 2011) with major consequences for the ecosystem such as food reduction for fish (Chapman et al, 2012) has been attributed to the introduction of the parasitic isopod O. griffenis with ballast water as discussed above. Ballast water can also be a vector for human pathogenic microorganisms and epidemic outbreaks (McCarthy and Khambaty, 1994).…”

A rapid intertidal megafauna survey method applied to Upogebia pugettensis, and its introduced parasite, Orthione griffensis

“…The Alsea Bay population appears to be declining along with all other known U. pugettensis in Oregon estuaries. -1980s (Dumbauld, 2011Chapman et al, 2012). All known populations of Upogebia are intensely infested by Orthione, which effectively castrate their female hosts (Smith et al, 2008;Chapman et al, 2012).…”

“…-1980s (Dumbauld, 2011Chapman et al, 2012). All known populations of Upogebia are intensely infested by Orthione, which effectively castrate their female hosts (Smith et al, 2008;Chapman et al, 2012). All populations of Upogebia between Vancouver, British Columbia and Morro Bay, California appear to be declining (Chapman et al, 2012).…”