Parasites often play an important role in modifying the physiology and behavior of their hosts may, consequently, mediate influence have on other components ecological community. Along northern Atlantic coast North America, dominant herbivorous snail Littorina littorea structures rocky intertidal communities through strong grazing pressure is frequently parasitized by digenean trematode Cryptocotyle lingua. We hypothesized that effects parasitism host would induce behavioral changes L....

Non-native foundation species may alter physical environments and provide habitat, thereby impacting recipient communities. Along the US east coast, we assessed biogeographic patterns of free-living parasitic community diversity associated with non-native red alga Gracilaria vermiculophylla , which is characterized by fixed (with holdfast) or free-floating thalli depending on availability hard substratum. In summer 2019, surveyed 17 sites across 3 regions. We used a random quadrat design to...

Geographic variability in abundance can be driven by multiple physical and biological factors operating at scales. To understand the determinants of larval trematode prevalence within populations marine snail host Littorina littorea, we quantified many variables 28 New England intertidal sites. A hierarchical, mixed-effects model identified gulls (the final hosts dispersive agents infective stages) size (a proxy for time exposure) as primary associated with prevalence. The predominant...

Abstract Aim To determine timing, source and vector for the recent introduction of European green crab, Carcinus maenas (Linnaeus, 1758), to Newfoundland using multiple lines evidence. Location Founding populations in Placentia Bay, Newfoundland, Canada potential north‐west Atlantic (NWA) Europe. Methods We analysed mitochondrial microsatellite genetic data from NWA sampled during 1999–2002 probable locations vectors Bay discovered 2007. also demographic shipping records look congruent...

In a single well-mixed population, equally abundant neutral alleles are likely to persist. However, in spatially complex populations structured by an asymmetric dispersal mechanism, such as coastal population where larvae predominantly moved downstream currents, the eventual frequency of haplotypes will depend on their initial spatial location. our study progression two separate, genetically distinct introductions European green crab ( Carcinus maenas ) along coast eastern North America, we...

The North Atlantic intertidal gastropod, Littorina saxatilis (Olivi, 1792), exhibits extreme morphological variation between and within geographic regions has become a model for studies of local adaptation; yet comprehensive analysis the species' phylogeography is lacking. Here, we examine phylogeographic patterns populations in one remote Mediterranean population using sequence fragment mitochondrial cytochrome b gene (607 bp). We found that, as opposed to many other rocky species, L....

Abstract Even after decades of investigation using multiple sources evidence, the natural histories some species remain unclear (i.e. cryptogenic). A key example is Littorina littorea , most abundant intertidal snail in northeastern North America. Native to Europe, snail's ecological history America has been debated for over 100 years with no definitive resolution. To resolve its cryptogenic status, we used molecular genetics from a novel combination and highly associated trematode parasite,...

Early invasions of the North American shore occurred mainly via deposition ballast rock, which effectively transported pieces intertidal zone across Atlantic. From 1773–1861, >880 European ships entered Pictou Harbor, Nova Scotia, as a result emigration and trade from Europe. The rockweed Fucus serratus (1868) snail Littorina littorea (≈1840) were found in during this same period. With shipping records (a proxy for propagule pressure) to guide sampling, we used F. model examine...

Abstract Aim To use a comparative approach to understand parasite demographic patterns in native versus introduced populations, evaluating the potential roles of host invasion history and life history. Location North American east west coasts with focus on San Francisco Bay (SFB). Methods Species richness prevalence trematode parasites were examined ranges two gastropod species, Ilyanassa obsoleta Littorina saxatilis . We divided range into putative source area for introduction areas north...

Abstract Introductions of novel ecosystem engineers to our estuaries and coasts are often associated with strong impacts on the environment, some species altering community behavioral interactions, especially when part a cascading interaction. In US Mid‐Atlantic soft‐sediment mudflats adjacent salt marshes, native predatory polychaete Diopatra cuprea preferentially decorates its mucus tube invasive red alga Gracilaria vermiculophylla . This may be due facilitation cascade between these...

Species introduced to novel regions often leave behind many parasite species. Signatures of release could thus be used resolve cryptogenic (uncertain) origins such as that Littorina littorea, a European marine snail whose history in North America has been debated for over 100 years. Through extensive field and literature surveys, we examined species richness parasitic trematodes infecting this two co-occurring congeners, L. saxatilis obtusata, both considered native throughout the Atlantic....

Abstract Organisms vary in the timing of energy acquisition and use for reproduction. Thus, breeding strategies exist on a continuum, from capital to income breeding. Capital breeders acquire store before start reproductive season, while finance reproduction using acquired during season. Latitude its associated environmental drivers are expected heavily influence strategy, potentially leading latitudinal variation within single species. We examined strategy Asian shore crab Hemigrapsus...

Abstract Aim For over 80 years, the Maine baitworm trade has shipped live polychaete worms and packing algae ‘wormweed’ to distributors world‐wide, while also consistently transferring a wide diversity abundance of hitchhiking organisms all life stages numerous recipient communities. Here, we investigate this potent, yet underestimated, invasion vector using an important region (the Mid‐Atlantic) examine stepwise species transfer survival along four vector. Location Mid‐Atlantic (New Jersey,...

Abstract Renicolid digeneans parasitize aquatic birds. Their intramolluscan stages develop in marine and brackish-water gastropods, while metacercariae molluscs fishes. The systematics of renicolids is poorly developed, their life cycles are mostly unknown, the statuses many species require revision. Here, we establish based on integrated morphological molecular data that adult from gulls Larus argentatus schistisagus sporocysts cercariae Cercaria parvicaudata snails Littorina spp....

MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout JournalEditorsTheme Sections 393:83-96 (2009) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps08225 Differential escape from parasites by two competing introduced crabs April M. H. Blakeslee1,*, Carolyn L. Keogh2, James E. Byers3, Armand Kuris4 Kevin D. Lafferty5, Mark Torchin6 1Marine Invasions Lab, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, 647...

A common signature of marine invasions worldwide is a significant loss parasites (= parasite escape) in non-native host populations, which may confer release from some the harmful effects parasitism (e.g., castration, energy extraction, immune activation, behavioral manipulation) and possibly enhance success non-indigenous species. In eastern North America, notorious invader Carcinus maenas (European green crab) has escaped more than two-thirds its native load. However, one parasites,...

Biological invasions offer unique opportunities to investigate evolutionary dynamics at the peripheries of expanding populations. Here, we examine genetic patterns associated with admixture between two distinct invasive lineages European green crab, Carcinus maenas L., independently introduced northwest Atlantic. Previous investigations based on mitochondrial DNA sequences demonstrated that larval dispersal driven by advective currents could explain observed southward displacement an zone...

Abstract Two genetically distinct lineages of European green crabs ( Carcinus maenas ) were independently introduced to eastern North America, the first in early 19th century and second late 20th century. These came into secondary contact southeastern Nova Scotia, Canada NS ), where they hybridized, producing latitudinal genetic clines. Previous studies have documented a persistent southward shift clines different marker types, consistent with existing dispersal recruitment pathways. We...

Abstract Parasites can impart heavy fitness costs on their hosts. Thus, understanding the spatial and temporal consistency in parasite pressure elucidate likeliness of parasites’ role as agents directional selection, well revealing variable environmental factors associated with infection risk. We examined spatiotemporal variation digenetic trematode 18 populations an intertidal host snail ( Littorina littorea ) over a 300 km range at 11‐yr interval, more than double generation time snail....

Species distributions are rapidly changing as human globalization increasingly moves organisms to novel environments. In marine systems, species introductions the result of a number anthropogenic mechanisms, notably shipping, aquaculture/mariculture, pet and bait trades, creation canals. Marine invasions global threat non-human populations alike often listed one top conservation concerns worldwide, having ecological, evolutionary, social ramifications. Evolutionary investigations can provide...