No evidence for host specialization or host-race formation in the European bitterling (Rhodeus amarus), a fish that parasitizes freshwater mussels

0361517 - ÚBO 2012 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Reichard, Martin - Bryja, Josef - Polačik, Matej - Smith, C.
No evidence for host specialization or host-race formation in the European bitterling (Rhodeus amarus), a fish that parasitizes freshwater mussels.
Molecular Ecology. Roč. 20, č. 17 (2011), s. 3631-3643. ISSN 0962-1083. E-ISSN 1365-294X
R&D Projects: GA AV ČR KJB600930802; GA ČR GA206/09/1163
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z60930519
Keywords : coevolution * cuckoo * host–parasite relationship * speciation * symbiosis
Subject RIV: EG - Zoology
Impact factor: 5.522, year: 2011

Coevolutionary relationships between parasites and hosts can elevate the rate of evolutionary changes and lead to host specificity. We used the European bitterling (Rhodeus amarus), a freshwater fish that parasitizes unionid mussels, to investigate host specialization across regions of recent and ancient sympatry between coevolving partners. Overall, we established that populations of R. amarus show limited potential for specialization, manifested as weak effects of host conditioning and genetic within-population structure. Rhodeus amarus is the only species of mussel-parasitizing fish in Europe, which contrasts with the species-rich communities of bitterling in eastern Asia where several host-specific bitterling occur. We discuss costs and constraints on the evolution of host-specific lineages in our study system and more generally.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0198816