The influence of host ecology and biogeography on the helminth species richness of freshwater fishes in Mexico

• Published in: Parasitology 2012-10, Vol.139 (12), p.1652-1665
• Main Authors: GARRIDO-OLVERA, L., ARITA, H. T., PÉREZ-PONCE DE LEÓN, G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acanthocephala; Agnatha. Pisces; Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Atherinopsidae; Biodiversity; Biogeography; Biological and medical sciences; Cichlidae; Distribution patterns; Fish Diseases - parasitology; Fishes; Fresh Water; Fresh water ecosystems; Freshwater; Freshwater fish; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; General aspects and techniques. Study of several systematic groups. Models; Geography; Goodeidae; Helminthiasis, Animal - parasitology; Helminths - classification; Helminths - physiology; Host-Parasite Interactions; Invertebrates; Mexico; Nematoda; Parasites; Pisces; Platyhelminthes; Species richness; Synecology; Trophic levels; Vertebrates: general zoology, morphology, phylogeny, systematics, cytogenetics, geographical distribution
• ISSN: 0031-1820; 1469-8161; 1469-8161
• DOI: 10.1017/S003118201200100X

Freshwater fish helminths, the most well known Mexican vertebrate parasites, include approximately 260 species (platyhelminthes, acanthocephalans, nematodes, and hirudineans). The distribution patterns of adult helminth diversity (throughout parasite and host groups and hydrological regions) are described and the effects of host traits and environmental and geographical factors on diversity are evaluated. Adult helminths include 160 species, parasitizing 149 fish species of 23 families distributed in 21 regions. Nematoda was the most species-rich (>50 species). Cichlidae harboured rich helminth assemblages, with widespread parasites. By contrast, Atherinopsidae and Goodeidae showed relatively poor helminth assemblages, including specific parasites with narrow distribution. Helminth richness in southeastern Mexico was higher than northern or central regions. Non-parametric richness estimators were used to avoid confusion in comparisons with unequal sampling efforts. Bootstrap values, the method with the best performance, indicated that estimated richness shows the same distribution pattern that observed richness. Non-phylogenetic and phylogenetic analyses were used to determine the role of different factors in the parasite diversification. The distribution range was the most important richness predictor (widespread fishes harbour richer parasite assemblages), although interactions between this variable and others such as trophic level, latitude, habitat temperature and precipitation are also important. Likewise, biogeographical factors can also affect parasite diversity.