Fish Parasites as Indicators Fish Parasites as Indicators of Aquatic Resourcesof Aquatic Resources

D. DorfmanD. DorfmanMonmouth University, West Long Branch, NJMonmouth University, West Long Branch, NJ

AbstractAbstract Biota utilizing fresh water, estuarine, and marine resources can be Biota utilizing fresh water, estuarine, and marine resources can be

determined by various degrees of field surveys. When time is of the determined by various degrees of field surveys. When time is of the essence, and financial constraints demand more rapid responses for essence, and financial constraints demand more rapid responses for environmental assessments, literature reviews and federal and state reports environmental assessments, literature reviews and federal and state reports can assist in plant and animal determinations of particular sites. To verify can assist in plant and animal determinations of particular sites. To verify some of the available data, and to perhaps extend the data of organisms some of the available data, and to perhaps extend the data of organisms that may not be indicated, use of fish verified as in or around the site may that may not be indicated, use of fish verified as in or around the site may be noted. The surveyor could then go to a checklist of parasites reported for be noted. The surveyor could then go to a checklist of parasites reported for these fish species (e.g. Hoffman, 1999, Anderson, 2000, Gibson, 1996), these fish species (e.g. Hoffman, 1999, Anderson, 2000, Gibson, 1996), record these, then from the literature on these parasites, examine their life record these, then from the literature on these parasites, examine their life histories. The obtained data can add, measurably, to other species utilizing histories. The obtained data can add, measurably, to other species utilizing the site whether they are temporary or seasonal users of the site being the site whether they are temporary or seasonal users of the site being studied (especially for birds, and invertebrates). For example a checklist for studied (especially for birds, and invertebrates). For example a checklist for Fundulus heteroclitus (Hoffman, 1999)Fundulus heteroclitus (Hoffman, 1999) indicates that they are parasitized by indicates that they are parasitized by 12 protozoa, seven monogenea, nine trematoda, two cestoidea, four 12 protozoa, seven monogenea, nine trematoda, two cestoidea, four nematoda, three acanthocephala, and five crustacea. The life histories of nematoda, three acanthocephala, and five crustacea. The life histories of these parasites involve many intermediate and final hosts that could be these parasites involve many intermediate and final hosts that could be added to the list of organisms that may be using the study site.added to the list of organisms that may be using the study site.

Fundulus diaphanus, Fundulus diaphanus, banded banded killifishkillifish

ProtozoaProtozoa Myxobolus diaphanousMyxobolus diaphanous M. funduliM. funduli M. subtecalisM. subtecalis

MonogeneaMonogenea Ancyrocephalus angularisAncyrocephalus angularis Gyrodactylus avalonisGyrodactylus avalonis G. prolongisG. prolongis g. stegurusg. stegurus Salsuginis angularisSalsuginis angularis S. funduliS. funduli

Fundulus diaphanus (cont.)Fundulus diaphanus (cont.) TrematodaTrematoda

Allocreadium communeAllocreadium commune Asymphlodora Asymphlodora sp.sp. Clinostomum complanatumClinostomum complanatum Crassiphiala bulboglossaCrassiphiala bulboglossa Creptotrema funduliCreptotrema funduli Diplostomulum Diplostomulum sp.sp. Homalometron pallidumHomalometron pallidum Neascus pyriformisNeascus pyriformis NeascusNeascus sp. sp. Ornithodiplostomum ptychocheilusOrnithodiplostomum ptychocheilus Petasiger Petasiger sp.sp. Posthodiplostomum minimumPosthodiplostomum minimum Rhipidocotyle septpapillataRhipidocotyle septpapillata

TrematodesTrematodes

TrematodesTrematodes

TrematodesTrematodes

TrematodesTrematodes

TrematodesTrematodes

Fundulus diaphanus (cont.)Fundulus diaphanus (cont.)

CestoideaCestoidea Bothriocephalus rarusBothriocephalus rarus Dilepis Dilepis sp.sp. Parvitaenia Parvitaenia sp.sp. Proteocephalus ambloplitisProteocephalus ambloplitis Proteocephalus Proteocephalus sp.sp.

NematodaNematoda Cucullanus Cucullanus sp.sp. Cystidicola Cystidicola sp.sp. Eustrongylides Eustrongylides sp.sp. Hedruris Hedruris sp.sp. Rhabdochona Rhabdochona sp.sp. Spiroxys Spiroxys sp.sp.

NematodesNematodes

NematodesNematodes

Fundulus diaphanus (cont.)Fundulus diaphanus (cont.) AcanthocephalaAcanthocephala

Acanthocephalus Acanthocephalus sp.sp. Leptorhynchoides thecatusLeptorhynchoides thecatus Neoechinorhynchus cylindratusNeoechinorhynchus cylindratus Neoechinorhynchus Neoechinorhynchus sp.sp. Octospiniferoides Octospiniferoides sp.sp. Pomphorhynchus bulbocolliPomphorhynchus bulbocolli

MolluscaMollusca Elliptio complanataElliptio complanata

CrustaceaCrustacea Ergasilus lizaeErgasilus lizae

AcanthocephalaAcanthocephala

AcanthocephalaAcanthocephala

Fundulus majalis, Fundulus majalis, striped killifishstriped killifish

ProtozoaProtozoa Chloromyxum renalisChloromyxum renalis Myxobolus funduliMyxobolus funduli Oodinium cyprinodontumOodinium cyprinodontum

TrematodaTrematoda Ascocotyle angrenseAscocotyle angrense A. diminutaA. diminuta AcanthocephalaAcanthocephala Rhadinorhynchus pristisRhadinorhynchus pristis

CrustaceaCrustacea Argulus funduliArgulus funduli Ergasilus manicatusErgasilus manicatus

Fundulus heteroclitus, Fundulus heteroclitus, mummichogmummichog

ParasitesParasites ProtozoaProtozoa

Eimeria funduliEimeria funduli Eimeria Eimeria sp.sp. Glugea hertwigiGlugea hertwigi Kudoa Kudoa sp.sp. Myxidium foliumMyxidium folium Myxobolus bilineatumMyxobolus bilineatum M. funduliM. funduli M. hudsoniusM. hudsonius M. subtecalisM. subtecalis Oodinium cyprinodontumOodinium cyprinodontum Plistophora Plistophora sp.sp. Sphaerospora renalisSphaerospora renalis

Fundulus heteroclitus (cont.)Fundulus heteroclitus (cont.)

TrematodaTrematoda Ascocotyle angrenseAscocotyle angrense A. diminutaA. diminuta Clinostonum complanatumClinostonum complanatum Crepidostomum cooperiCrepidostomum cooperi Diplostomulum nassaDiplostomulum nassa EchinochasmusschwartziEchinochasmusschwartzi Homalometron pallidumHomalometron pallidum Stephanoprora denticulateStephanoprora denticulate Tetracotyle Tetracotyle sp.sp.

Fundulus heteroclitus (cont.)Fundulus heteroclitus (cont.)

CestoideaCestoidea Cyclustera Cyclustera sp.sp. Proteocephalus Proteocephalus sp.sp.

NematodaNematoda Contracaecum spiculigerumContracaecum spiculigerum Dichelyne bullockiDichelyne bullocki D. lintoniD. lintoni EustrongylidesEustrongylides sp. sp.

Tapeworm

Tapeworm

Fundulus heteroclitus (cont.)Fundulus heteroclitus (cont.)

MonogeneaMonogenea Gyrodactylus foxiGyrodactylus foxi G. prolongusG. prolongus G. stephanusG. stephanus Gyrodactylus Gyrodactylus sp.sp. Salsuginis angularisSalsuginis angularis S. heterocliteS. heteroclite Swingleus Swingleus sp.sp.

Fundulus heteroclitus (cont.)Fundulus heteroclitus (cont.)

AcanthocephalaAcanthocephala Fessisentis freidiFessisentis freidi Neochinorhynchus cylindratusNeochinorhynchus cylindratus N. rutiliN. rutili

CrustaceaCrustacea Argulus funduliArgulus funduli Ergasilus funduliErgasilus funduli E. lizaeE. lizae E. monicatusE. monicatus Livoneca ovalisLivoneca ovalis

Complexities of a Food WebComplexities of a Food Web