Evolution of host specificity in monogeneans parasitizing African cichlid fish

Mendlová, Monika; Šimková, Andrea Vetešníková

doi:10.1186/1756-3305-7-69

Cited by 72 publications

(96 citation statements)

References 59 publications

(115 reference statements)

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“…However, our rDNA data confirm that Cichlidogyrus specimens infecting various bathybatine species are truly conspecific. Hence, we are dealing with an intermediate generalist species, parasitizing on a range of host-species within the same tribe43. Such weak host preference is probably an adaptation to the lower host availability in the deepwater realm, as has been suggested in previous studies on marine systems456.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 90%

“…Cichlidogyrus (Monopisthocotylea, Dactylogyridae) is the most species rich, with 102 representatives recorded from 88 different host species10111213141518373839404142. This genus displays variation in host-specificity and contains generalist but also strictly specialist species3943. In Lake Tanganyika, most species of Cichlidogyrus described to date are strict or intermediate specialists810121315 following the terminology used in Mendlová & Šimková43.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…This genus displays variation in host-specificity and contains generalist but also strictly specialist species3943. In Lake Tanganyika, most species of Cichlidogyrus described to date are strict or intermediate specialists810121315 following the terminology used in Mendlová & Šimková43. While strict specialists infect only a single host species, intermediate specialists parasitise on two or more congeneric host species and intermediate generalist infect heterogeneric host species from the same tribe.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Reduced host-specificity in a parasite infecting non-littoral Lake Tanganyika cichlids evidenced by intraspecific morphological and genetic diversity

Kmentová

Gelnar

Mendlová

et al. 2016

Sci Rep

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Lake Tanganyika is well-known for its high species-richness and rapid radiation processes. Its assemblage of cichlid fishes recently gained momentum as a framework to study parasite ecology and evolution. It offers a rare chance to investigate the influence of a deepwater lifestyle in a freshwater fish-parasite system. Our study represents the first investigation of parasite intraspecific genetic structure related to host specificity in the lake. It focused on the monogenean flatworm Cichlidogyrus casuarinus infecting deepwater cichlids belonging to Bathybates and Hemibates. Morphological examination of C. casuarinus had previously suggested a broad host range, while the lake’s other Cichlidogyrus species are usually host specific. However, ongoing speciation or cryptic diversity could not be excluded. To distinguish between these hypotheses, we analysed intraspecific diversity of C. casuarinus. Monogeneans from nearly all representatives of the host genera were examined using morphometrics, geomorphometrics and genetics. We confirmed the low host-specificity of C. casuarinus based on morphology and nuclear DNA. Yet, intraspecific variation of sclerotized structures was observed. Nevertheless, the highly variable mitochondrial DNA indicated recent population expansion, but no ongoing parasite speciation, confirming, for the first time in freshwater, reduced parasite host specificity in the deepwater realm, probably an adaptation to low host availability.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 90%

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confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Reduced host-specificity in a parasite infecting non-littoral Lake Tanganyika cichlids evidenced by intraspecific morphological and genetic diversity

Kmentová

Gelnar

Mendlová

et al. 2016

Sci Rep

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“…The effect of host traits on their parasite assemblages and the effect of parasite traits on their host spectra in terms of diversity or species richness (for parasite assemblages: Morand and Harvey , Krasnov et al , Bordes et al , , reviewed by Poulin and Morand ; for host spectra: Šimková et al , Krasnov et al , Mendlová and Šimková ) have been examined. However, the effect of host traits on species composition of parasite assemblages or the effect of parasite traits on species composition of a host spectra in terms of species identities and their ecological, physiological or morphological traits are poorly understood, although the importance of studies linking host and parasite traits is recognized (Thomas et al , McQuaid and Britton ).…”

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confidence: 99%

Trait‐based and phylogenetic associations between parasites and their hosts: a case study with small mammals and fleas in the Palearctic

Krasnov

Shenbrot

Khokhlova³

et al. 2015

Oikos

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We investigated the associations between ecological (density, shelter structure), morphological (body mass, hair morphology) and physiological traits (basal metabolic rate) of small mammals and ecological (seasonality of reproduction, microhabitat preferences, abundance, host specificity) and morphological (presence and number of combs) traits of their flea parasites that shape host selection processes by fleas. We adapted the extended version of the three‐table ordination and linked species composition of flea assemblages of host species with traits and phylogenies of both hosts and fleas. Fleas with similar trait values, independent of phylogenetic affinities, were clustered on the same host species. Fleas possessing certain traits selected hosts possessing certain traits. Fleas belonging to the same phylogenetic lineage were found on the same host more often than expected by chance. Certain phylogenetic lineages of hosts harbored certain phylogenetic lineages of fleas. The process of host selection by fleas appeared to be determined by reciprocal relationships between host and flea traits, as well as between host and flea phylogenies. We concluded that the connection between host and flea phylogenies, coupled with the connection between host and flea traits, suggests that the species compositions of the host spectra of fleas were driven by the interaction between historical processes and traits.

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“…This relationship has been much studied in monogeneans, and most evidence points to a significant positive correlation between these traits (Perera, 1992;Šimková et al, 2006;Mendlová and Šimková, 2014), including species of Ligophorus (Caltran et al, 1995b;Rubtsova et al, 2005). This pattern has often been explained in terms of water currents and the secondary lamella lengths that tend to increase with host gill size and the performance of the parasite's attachment to the host gill that is associated with parasite anchor size (Kearn, 1970;Caltran et al, 1995b;Turgut et al, 2006;Soler-Jiménez and Fajer-Ávila, 2012).…”

Section: Ligophorus Llewellynimentioning

confidence: 99%

Phenotypic plasticity in haptoral structures of Ligophorus cephali (Monogenea: Dactylogyridae) on the flathead mullet (Mugil cephalus): a geometric morphometric approach

Rodríguez-González

Míguez-Lozano

Llopis‐Belenguer

et al. 2015

International Journal for Parasitology

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Evaluating phenotypic plasticity in attachment organs of parasites can provide information on the capacity to colonize new hosts and illuminate evolutionary processes driving host specificity.We analysed the variability in shape and size of the dorsal and ventral anchors of Ligophorus cephali from Mugil cephalus by means of geometric morphometrics and multivariate statistics. We also assessed the morphological integration between anchors and between the roots and points in order to gain insight into their functional morphology. Dorsal and ventral anchors showed a similar gradient of overall shape variation, but the amount of localized changes was much higher in the former. Statistical models describing variations in shape and size revealed clear differences between anchors. The dorsal anchor/bar complex seems more mobile than the ventral one in Ligophorus, and these differences may reflect different functional roles in attachment to the gills. The lower residual variation associated with the ventral anchor models suggests a tighter control of their shape and size, perhaps because these anchors seem to be responsible for firmer attachment and their size and shape would allow more effective responses to characteristics of the microenvironment within the individual host. Despite these putative functional differences, the high level of morphological integration indicates a concerted action between anchors. In addition, we found a slight, although significant, morphological integration between roots and points in both anchors, which suggests that a large fraction of the observed phenotypic variation does not compromise the functional role of anchors as levers. Given the low level of genetic variation in our sample, it is likely that much of the morphological variation reflects host-driven plastic responses. This supports the hypothesis of monogenean specificity through host-switching and rapid speciation. The present study demonstrates the potential of geometric morphometrics to provide new and previously unexplored insights into the functional morphology of attachment and evolutionary processes of host-parasite coevolution.4

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Evolution of host specificity in monogeneans parasitizing African cichlid fish

Cited by 72 publications

References 59 publications

Reduced host-specificity in a parasite infecting non-littoral Lake Tanganyika cichlids evidenced by intraspecific morphological and genetic diversity

Reduced host-specificity in a parasite infecting non-littoral Lake Tanganyika cichlids evidenced by intraspecific morphological and genetic diversity

Trait‐based and phylogenetic associations between parasites and their hosts: a case study with small mammals and fleas in the Palearctic

Phenotypic plasticity in haptoral structures of Ligophorus cephali (Monogenea: Dactylogyridae) on the flathead mullet (Mugil cephalus): a geometric morphometric approach

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