Hidden parasite diversity in a European freshwater system

0540469 - BC 2021 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Selbach, C. - Soldánová, Miroslava - Feld, C.K. - Kostadinova, A. - Sures, B.
Hidden parasite diversity in a European freshwater system.
Scientific Reports. Roč. 10, č. 1 (2020), č. článku 2694. ISSN 2045-2322. E-ISSN 2045-2322
R&D Projects: GA ČR(CZ) GBP505/12/G112
Institutional support: RVO:60077344
Keywords : larval trematodes digenea * environmental parasitology * intermediate hosts * life-cycle * eye fluke * gastropoda * pulmonata * communities * mollusks * behavior
OECD category: Zoology
Impact factor: 4.380, year: 2020
Method of publishing: Open access
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-59548-5

Parasites comprise a huge part of the biodiversity on earth. However, on a local scale, not much is known about their diversity and community structure. Here, we assess the diversity of larval trematode communities in an interconnected freshwater system of the River Ruhr in Germany and analyse how the parasites are spatially and temporally distributed in the ecosystem. A total of 5347 snail hosts belonging to six species revealed a highly diverse parasite fauna with 36 trematode species. More abundant snail species harboured more species-rich trematode faunas and communities, with the two dominant snail species, Radix auricularia and Gyraulus albus, accounting for almost 90% of the trematode diversity and harbouring spatially and temporally stable parasite communities. The results highlight the important role of stable keystone host populations for trematode transmission, structure and diversity. This local trematode diversity reveals information on definitive host occurrence and trophic interactions within ecosystems.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0318090