Density-dependent effects of Anguillicola crassus (Nematoda) within and on its copepod intermediate hosts.
Density-dependent effects of Anguillicola crassus larval infections in the copepod intermediate host were examined experimentally. Three species of copepods (Cyclops vicinus, C. viridis and C. fuscus) were subjected to a range of doses of larval A. crassus within infection arenas. Prevalence, intensity and parasite dispersion (variance: mean abundance) values increase and then approach an asymptote as infection dose increases. Infection parameters differ between species of copepod. Increasing temperature has a negative effect on the establishment of the parasite population within the intermediate host. Parasite-induced host mortality increases with dose. These mechanisms have the potential to regulate populations of A. crassus larvae within the copepod population and hence the whole suprapopulation.
Ashworth
S T
ST
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Exeter, UK. biology@exeter.ac.uk
Kennedy
C R
CR
Blanc
G
G
D000818:Animals; D003445:Crustacea / Q000469:parasitology*; D009348:Nematoda