Population Structure and Energetics of the Bopyrid Isopod Parasite Orthione Griffenis in Mud Shrimp Upogebia Pugettensis

Abstract The population structure and energetic burden of bopyrid isopod parasite Orthione griffenis on the eastern Pacific mud shrimp Upogebia pugettensis are estimated from size and weight relationships between parasite and host. U. pugettensis weight loss increases with O. griffenis weight but th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of crustacean biology 2008-05, Vol.28 (2), p.228-233
Main Authors: Smith, Andrew E, Chapman, John W, Dumbauld, Brett R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Crustacea
ecology
estuaries
Isopoda
Marine
Neaeromya
Northeast Pacific
Orthione
parasite
Thallassinidea
Upogebia
Upogebia pugettensis
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Summary:Abstract The population structure and energetic burden of bopyrid isopod parasite Orthione griffenis on the eastern Pacific mud shrimp Upogebia pugettensis are estimated from size and weight relationships between parasite and host. U. pugettensis weight loss increases with O. griffenis weight but the high variance in the relation indicates that direct weight comparisons are insufficient to reveal most of the host-parasite energetic interactions. Environment, reproductive development, age, molt stage and the feeding histories of the hosts and parasites, not apparent from weight ratio comparisons, are likely to be important factors in their interaction. The high prevalence of O. griffenis among U. pugettensis and positive correlation between host weight loss and parasite weight nevertheless, indicate large impacts of these parasites on mud shrimp populations are occurring with corresponding effects on estuarine dynamics in Pacific Northwest estuaries.
ISSN:0278-0372
1937-240X
DOI:10.1651/0278-0372(2008)028[0228:PSAEOT]2.0.CO;2