Effects of trematode parasitism on the behaviour and ecology of a common marine snail (Littorina littorea (L.))

Davies, Mark S.; Knowles, A.John

doi:10.1016/s0022-0981(01)00250-7

Cited by 30 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Moreover, parasitized snails might arrive late at snail aggregations where they are consequently situated at the periphery. This will make them more susceptible to crab predation because of a higher probability of being among the Wrst-encountered individuals (Davies and Knowles 2001).…”

Section: Indirect Evects On Population Structure Of L Littoreamentioning

confidence: 99%

Habitat-specific size structure variations in periwinkle populations (Littorina littorea) caused by biotic factors

2008

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Shell size distribution patterns of marine gastropod populations may vary considerably across diVerent environments. We investigated the size and density structure of genetically continuous periwinkle populations (Littorina littorea) on an exposed rocky and a sheltered sedimentary environment on two nearby islands in the south-eastern North Sea (German Bight). On the sedimentary shore, periwinkle density (917 § 722 individuals m ¡2 ) was about three times higher than on the rocky shore (296 § 168 individuals m ¡2 ). Mean (9.8 § 3.9 mm) and maximum (22 mm) shell size of L. littorea on the sedimentary shore were smaller than on the rocky shore (21.5 § 4.2 and 32 mm, respectively), where only few small snails were found. Additionally, periwinkle shells were thicker and stronger on the rocky than on the sedimentary shore. To ascertain mechanisms responsible for diVerences in population structures, we examined periwinkles in both environments for growth rate, predation pressure, infection with a shell boring polychaete (Polydora ciliata) and parasitic infestation by trematodes. A crosswise transplantation experiment revealed better growth conditions on the sedimentary than on the rocky shore. However, crab abundance and prevalence of parasites and P. ciliata in adult snails were higher on the sedimentary shore. Previous investigations showed that crabs prefer large periwinkles infested with P. ciliata. Thus, we suggest that parasites and shell boring P. ciliata in conjunction with an increased crab predation pressure are responsible for low abundances of large periwinkles on the sedimentary shore while high wave exposure may explain low densities of juvenile L. littorea on the rocky shore. We conclude that biotic factors may strongly contribute to observed diVerences in size structure of the L. littorea populations studied on rocky and sedimentary shores.

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Section: Indirect Evects On Population Structure Of L Littoreamentioning

confidence: 99%

Habitat-specific size structure variations in periwinkle populations (Littorina littorea) caused by biotic factors

2008

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“…Following asexual reproduction, cercariae shed from the snails may infect their de nitive host either by direct penetration, e.g., avian schistosomes, or more commonly, by encysting in a second intermediate host, which is eaten as prey by the de nitive host. Determining the percentage of infected snails, known as prevalence, at eld sites over spatial and temporal scales is important because recent work has shown parasitism to impact the population biology, community structure, and food-web ecology of intermediate hosts (Davies and Knowles 2001, Gorbuskin and Levakin 1999, Huxham et al 1993, Sorensen and Minchella 2001, Thompson et al 2005, Wood et al 2007). The prevalence and species richness of larval trematodes in host snails is spatially variable at regional scales (see Thieltges et al 2009), thus documenting levels of infection in snail populations at a small spatial scale is important to assess local interactions between host and parasite as well as community dynamics.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trematode Infections inLittorina littoreaon the New Hampshire Coast

Lambert

Corliss

Sha

et al. 2012

Northeastern Naturalist

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“…5). In addition to single effects of epibionts (Buschbaum, 2000), predation (Rangeley and Thomas, 1987), competition (Fenske, 1997) and trematode infestations (Lambert and Farley, 1968;Lauckner, 1980;Huxham et al, 1993;Davies and Knowles, 2001), this study has shown that facilitative processes between epibionts and other snail associated organisms and concomitant indirect effects are also important biotic factors in L. littorea population dynamics. Fig.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 69%

Vicious circle in the intertidal: Facilitation between barnacle epibionts, a shell boring polychaete and trematode parasites in the periwinkle Littorina littorea

Thieltges

Buschbaum

2007

Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology

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We studied interactions between three organisms associated with a common gastropod of northern Atlantic shores, the periwinkle Littorina littorea: barnacle epibionts Balanus crenatus, a shell boring polychaete Polydora ciliata, and tissue invading trematodes which use the periwinkles as first intermediate host. Snails collected shortly after barnacle settlement with N 50% cover of barnacles had significantly higher infestation of shell boring worms compared to unfouled snails, while trematode infestation was similar. The result was the same at two sites, and we conclude that the worm P. ciliata facilitates barnacle fouling on snails. The reverse was also the case. In an experiment with 14 weeks of exposure, snail treatments with barnacle epibionts had a significantly higher P. ciliata load than unfouled and cleaned snails. Again, trematode infestations were similar. The reciprocal positive interactions between barnacle epibionts and shell boring worms on snail houses is regarded as a case of facultative mutualism. On the other hand, for the snail basibiont, both barnacles and shell boring worms exert strongly negative effects by reducing fecundity, growth, and survival, resulting in a vicious circle for the snails. The combined effects of these associated organisms may rival in importance any competitive or predacious effects on the host L. littorea.

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Effects of trematode parasitism on the behaviour and ecology of a common marine snail (Littorina littorea (L.))

Cited by 30 publications

References 23 publications

Habitat-specific size structure variations in periwinkle populations (Littorina littorea) caused by biotic factors

Habitat-specific size structure variations in periwinkle populations (Littorina littorea) caused by biotic factors

Trematode Infections inLittorina littoreaon the New Hampshire Coast

Vicious circle in the intertidal: Facilitation between barnacle epibionts, a shell boring polychaete and trematode parasites in the periwinkle Littorina littorea

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