On the distribution and abundance of eel parasites in Nova Scotia: local versus regional patterns.
Site-to-site variation in macroparasite species distribution and richness was observed in eels (Anguilla rostrata) among 7 sites in the Timber Lake drainage system, Nova Scotia. There was a positive relationship between maximum local species distribution, as measured by maximum prevalence at a site, and regional distribution, as measured by the number of sites in which a parasite was found within the watershed and among 28 sites across Nova Scotia. Species richness increased with spatial scale. However, the species richness of host-specific parasites approached a maximum at the spatial scale of the watershed, whereas that of generalist parasites continued to increase with increasing scale. The near-peak in species richness of eel specialists at the watershed level suggests that in a functional sense for these parasites it is the spatial scale of the watershed that serves as a species pool from which local species richness is derived.
Barker
D E
DE
Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Marcogliese
D J
DJ
Cone
D K
DK
D000049:Acanthocephala / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000811:Anguilla / Q000469:parasitology*; D000818:Animals; D002590:Cestode Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary; D003445:Crustacea; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D005618:Fresh Water; D006373:Helminthiasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D006374:Helminthiasis, Animal; D009349:Nematode Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary; D009674:Nova Scotia / Q000453:epidemiology; D010272:Parasitic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D010273:Parasitic Diseases, Animal; D015995:Prevalence; D013045:Species Specificity; D014201:Trematode Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary