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Email the author (Login required) Parasite-host interactions in intertidal rocky fish between the central and central-south zones of Chile: comparison of the diversity, connectivity and link density
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3856/vol44-issue4-fulltext-17
Abstract
Despite the fact interactions between parasites and hosts are constant and obligatory for parasites; the spatial variations of these relationships are poorly understood. In this study we aim to quantify and compare the host-parasite interactions in intertidal fish from two sampling zones: the central (33°S) and central-south (36°S) of Chile. A total of 2,081 fish were collected from 56 rocky pools. Biomass and abundance of fish between the two sampling zones, central (ZC) and central-south (ZCS), was compared. Common fish species between both zones were considered for parasitological analysis and comparisons between zones. The prevalence, abundance, richness and diversity of parasites were also compared between zones. The abundance and biomass of fish, as well as all the parasitological parameters were standardized by the rocky pool volume (m3). Beside the fact that fish abundance and biomass of fish and the community parameters were different between ZC and ZCS for some fish species, after standardization to pool volumes (m3), no difference was found in them. There was medium-low parasitic species similarity (<55%) between sampling zones, however, the parameters of host-parasite interaction, such as connectedness and link density, were not significantly different. This may be partly due to the similarity of species richness of fish maintaining their “parasite species load”, regardless of parasite species. Parasite communities have been determined as unsaturated with species, meaning that the host has niches which may be used by parasite species available in a certain host locality.
