Document Type
Article
Date of Original Version
2-20-2003
Abstract
In marine systems, empirical studies demonstrating effects of macroparasites on host population dynamics are relatively few. We tested the effects of a copepod macroparasite infecting the gills of a small coral reef fish, the bridled goby Coryphopterus glaucofraenum. Fish that were naturally infected and uninfected were tagged as individuals and tracked in the field for 5 mo. Parasitism was associated with an increase in gill ventilation rate, and a reduction in feeding. More importantly, parasitized fish showed significantly reduced growth (by 66%) and gonad mass (by 68%) compared to uninfected fish, and parasitism increased instantaneous mortality by a factor of 1.8. Since the prevalence of infection was higher in areas of high goby density, parasiteinduced mortality is a possible cause of host density dependence. These results imply a major effect of parasitism on host population dynamics and suggest that parasitism warrants closer attention by marine ecologists.
Citation/Publisher Attribution
Finley, R. J., & Forrester, G. E. (2003). Impact of Ectroparasites on the Demography of a Small Reef Fish. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 248, 305-309. doi: 10.3354/meps248305
Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.3354/meps248305
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