title: Differentiation of two locally sympatric Protopolystoma (Monogenea: Polystomatidae) species by temperature-dependent larval development and survival.
abstract: The developmental response of egg stages to different environmental temperature regimes was studied in Protopolystoma xenopodis and Protopolystoma orientalis (Monogenea: Polystomatidae) isolates from southern Africa. Eggs failed to develop at 10 degrees C, whilst at 15 degrees C only P. xenopodis completed larval development, hatching 49--88 days post-collection. Respective hatching windows were 26--34 (P. xenopodis) and 37--49 (P. orientalis) days at 20 degrees C, and 18--26 and 27--37 days at 25 degrees C. Continuous maintenance at 30 degrees C was lethal for eggs of both species. There were no consistent interspecific differences in the response of egg stages to low and high temperature shocks during early embryonic development.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1UG, UK.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Tinsley
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Du Preez
mesh_terms: D000353:Africa, Southern; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development; D008297:Male; D015996:Survival Rate; D013696:Temperature; D014419:Turbellaria / Q000145:classification*