title: Distribution, abundance, and genetic diversity of Clinostomum spp. metacercariae (Trematoda:Digenea) in a modified Ozark stream system.
abstract: Land-use alterations can have profound influences on faunal distributions, including host-parasite relationships. Yellow grub trematodes ( Clinostomum spp.) have complex life cycles involving 3 hosts: a snail, a fish or amphibian, and a bird. Here, we analyze the distribution, prevalence, intensity, abundance, and genetic diversity of encysting metacercariae of Clinostomum spp. in salamanders and fishes throughout an aquatic system that includes a natural Ozark stream and man-made ponds. We found Clinostomum sp. infecting permanently aquatic Oklahoma salamanders ( Eurycea tynerensis ; 56% prevalence) and larval grotto salamanders ( Eurycea spelaea ) immediately downstream from a man-made pond. However, Clinostomum sp. did not infect any salamanders in the spring that supplies this pond, or in sections farther downstream (~0.5 and 2 km). Metacercariae of Clinostomum sp. were present in ~90% of introduced largemouth bass ( Micropterus salmoides ) in the man-made pond adjunct to the stream. Morphological examination and phylogenetic analyses based on the mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase 1 ( Co1 ) and the nuclear ribosomal gene 18S show that fishes and salamanders at this site are primarily infected with Clinostomum marginatum . There is a relatively high degree of mitochondrial haplotype diversity in C. marginatum at this site but no consistent genetic difference between parasites in largemouth bass from the man-made pond and those in salamanders from the stream. Based on the microgeographic distribution and relationships of metacercariae of C. marginatum at this site, we hypothesize that the adjunct man-made pond has created an ecological situation that brings the cercariae of this parasite into contact with novel stream salamander hosts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Tulsa, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74104, USA. ron-bonett@utulsa.edu
authors.forename: Ronald M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Bonett
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Steffen
authors.forename: Ana L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Trujano-Alvarez
authors.forename: Samuel D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Charles R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Bursey
authors.forename: Chris T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: McAllister
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001492:Bass / Q000469:parasitology*; D005260:Female; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006239:Haplotypes; D008297:Male; D009825:Oklahoma / Q000453:epidemiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D015995:Prevalence; D045483:Rivers; D014200:Trematoda / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D014201:Trematode Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D014562:Caudata / Q000469:parasitology*