Population dynamics and development of the rhizocephalan Sacculina carcini, parasitic on the shore crab Carcinus maenas
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Population dynamics and development of the rhizocephalan Sacculina carcini, parasitic on the shore crab Carcinus maenas. / Mouritsen, Kim N.; Geyti, Sissel N.S.; Lützen, Jørgen; Høeg, Jens T.; Glenner, Henrik.
I: Diseases of Aquatic Organisms, Bind 131, Nr. 3, 20.11.2018, s. 199-211.Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › fagfællebedømt
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Population dynamics and development of the rhizocephalan Sacculina carcini, parasitic on the shore crab Carcinus maenas
AU - Mouritsen, Kim N.
AU - Geyti, Sissel N.S.
AU - Lützen, Jørgen
AU - Høeg, Jens T.
AU - Glenner, Henrik
PY - 2018/11/20
Y1 - 2018/11/20
N2 - The ecologically important shore crab Carcinus maenas is commonly infected in its native range by the rhizocephalan Sacculina carcini. However, several aspects of this host-parasite interaction are poorly understood. Here, we analyse data from approximately 60 000 Danish crabs to unravel factors governing infection patterns in time and space, and according to host sex and size. Female crabs were more frequently infected (12.6%) than males (7.9%). Sites with high salinity supported the highest infection prevalence. Infection prevalence peaked in summer (10 to 15%) and winter (20 to 35%) due in part to emergence of virginal externae in summer (main outbreak) and autumn (minor outbreak) preceded by peaks in crabs with lost externa (scars). Younger externae and scars dominated among males, whereas adult externae were most frequent among females. Infection prevalence increased with size in females but decreased in males, and modified (feminized) males showed lower scar frequency than unmodified ones. Modified males occurred frequently among the smaller size classes, whereas unmodified males dominated the larger size classes. Externa size was positively related to host size in both genders (same linear relationship). Molecular analyses suggested that hosts below 16 mm in carapace width do not become infected. Dissections of infected hosts revealed marked reduction of ovaries, whereas testes were unaffected by sacculinization. Our study demonstrates great spatio-temporal variation in infection prevalence mainly related to the parasite's life history. S. carcini appears capable of infecting all host sizes except the smallest. Owing to incomplete feminization of males, infections are rapidly lost from the larger and highly profitable male hosts.
AB - The ecologically important shore crab Carcinus maenas is commonly infected in its native range by the rhizocephalan Sacculina carcini. However, several aspects of this host-parasite interaction are poorly understood. Here, we analyse data from approximately 60 000 Danish crabs to unravel factors governing infection patterns in time and space, and according to host sex and size. Female crabs were more frequently infected (12.6%) than males (7.9%). Sites with high salinity supported the highest infection prevalence. Infection prevalence peaked in summer (10 to 15%) and winter (20 to 35%) due in part to emergence of virginal externae in summer (main outbreak) and autumn (minor outbreak) preceded by peaks in crabs with lost externa (scars). Younger externae and scars dominated among males, whereas adult externae were most frequent among females. Infection prevalence increased with size in females but decreased in males, and modified (feminized) males showed lower scar frequency than unmodified ones. Modified males occurred frequently among the smaller size classes, whereas unmodified males dominated the larger size classes. Externa size was positively related to host size in both genders (same linear relationship). Molecular analyses suggested that hosts below 16 mm in carapace width do not become infected. Dissections of infected hosts revealed marked reduction of ovaries, whereas testes were unaffected by sacculinization. Our study demonstrates great spatio-temporal variation in infection prevalence mainly related to the parasite's life history. S. carcini appears capable of infecting all host sizes except the smallest. Owing to incomplete feminization of males, infections are rapidly lost from the larger and highly profitable male hosts.
KW - Externa development
KW - Feminization
KW - Host-size selection
KW - Infection prevalence
KW - Parasitism
KW - Phenology
KW - Sex-biased infection
KW - Spatial distribution
U2 - 10.3354/dao03290
DO - 10.3354/dao03290
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 30459292
AN - SCOPUS:85056802328
VL - 131
SP - 199
EP - 211
JO - Diseases of Aquatic Organisms
JF - Diseases of Aquatic Organisms
SN - 0177-5103
IS - 3
ER -
ID: 209827363