TY - JOUR
T1 - Host selection and potential predation in the host-parasite interaction between the isopod Tachaea chinensis and freshwater host species
AU - Khalfan, Al-Wahaibi Mohamed
AU - Tani, Shotaro
AU - Aoki, Yudai
AU - Younes, Abdelgayed
AU - Saito, Hidetoshi
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Authors
PY - 2023/8/1
Y1 - 2023/8/1
N2 - Tachaea chinensis is an ectoparasite commonly found on diverse ecologically and commercially valuable freshwater shrimps and prawns. Previous studies on this parasite have focused on its distribution and taxonomical identification, while its host preference and/or the potential predation in this host-parasite interaction remained poorly understood. In this study, we investigate the host preference and potential predation of the isopod T. chinensis using manipulative choice and predation experiments under laboratory settings. The preference toward a broad range of host decapods in single-host treatments, indicates a low host specificity, which ultimately aids in the survival of this parasite in the natural environment. Tachaea chinensis responded well to the shrimp Palaemon paucidens when presented with uncommon host species in all three treatments. In host-parasite predation treatments, all the tested P. paucidens shrimp, the prawn Macrobrachium nipponense, and the crayfish Procambarus clarkii were able to consume the isopod–especially the invasive crayfish P. clarkii, which consumed a greater percentage in a considerably shorter time frame (Fisher's exact test, P < 0.01). This study demonstrated for the first time the ability of larger freshwater decapods to prey upon T. chinensis. Despite the large difference in the maximum attainable size of those freshwater species, a high predation pressure by the invasive crayfish on the isopod is anticipated, if they are present in the same environment.
AB - Tachaea chinensis is an ectoparasite commonly found on diverse ecologically and commercially valuable freshwater shrimps and prawns. Previous studies on this parasite have focused on its distribution and taxonomical identification, while its host preference and/or the potential predation in this host-parasite interaction remained poorly understood. In this study, we investigate the host preference and potential predation of the isopod T. chinensis using manipulative choice and predation experiments under laboratory settings. The preference toward a broad range of host decapods in single-host treatments, indicates a low host specificity, which ultimately aids in the survival of this parasite in the natural environment. Tachaea chinensis responded well to the shrimp Palaemon paucidens when presented with uncommon host species in all three treatments. In host-parasite predation treatments, all the tested P. paucidens shrimp, the prawn Macrobrachium nipponense, and the crayfish Procambarus clarkii were able to consume the isopod–especially the invasive crayfish P. clarkii, which consumed a greater percentage in a considerably shorter time frame (Fisher's exact test, P < 0.01). This study demonstrated for the first time the ability of larger freshwater decapods to prey upon T. chinensis. Despite the large difference in the maximum attainable size of those freshwater species, a high predation pressure by the invasive crayfish on the isopod is anticipated, if they are present in the same environment.
KW - Host specificity
KW - Macrobrachium nipponense
KW - Pairwise experiments
KW - Palaemon paucidens
KW - Parasite consumption
KW - Procambarus clarkii
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85153497261&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85153497261&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/ba769dd0-4cc0-305f-915f-daffc6572bb5/
U2 - 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2023.04.006
DO - 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2023.04.006
M3 - Article
C2 - 37182113
SN - 2213-2244
VL - 21
SP - 59
EP - 68
JO - International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife
JF - International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife
ER -