title: Parasites as biological tags to assess host population structure: Guidelines, recent genetic advances and comments on a holistic approach.
abstract: We review the use of parasites as biological tags of marine fishes and cephalopods in host population structure studies. The majority of the work published has focused on marine fish and either single parasite species or more recently, whole parasite assemblages, as biological tags. There is representation of host organisms and parasites from a diverse range of taxonomic groups, although focus has primarily been on host species of commercial importance. In contrast, few studies have used parasites as tags to assess cephalopod population structure, even though records of parasites infecting cephalopods are well-documented. Squid species are the only cephalopod hosts for which parasites as biological tags have been applied, with anisakid nematode larvae and metacestodes being the parasite taxa most frequently used. Following a brief insight into the importance of accurate parasite identification, the population studies that have used parasites as biological tags for marine fishes and cephalopods are reviewed, including comments on the dicyemid mesozoans. The advancement of molecular genetic techniques is discussed in regards to the new ways parasite genetic data can be incorporated into population structure studies, alongside host population genetic analyses, followed by an update on the guidelines for selecting a parasite species as a reliable tag candidate. As multiple techniques and methods can be used to assess the population structure of marine organisms (e.g. artificial tags, phenotypic characters, biometrics, life history, genetics, otolith microchemistry and parasitological data), we conclude by commenting on a holistic approach to allow for a deeper insight into population structuring.
authors.affiliation: Marine Parasitology Laboratory, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia ; Southern Seas Ecology Laboratories, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia ; Australian Centre for Evolutionary Biology and Biodiversity, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.
authors.forename: Sarah R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Catalano
authors.affiliation: Marine Parasitology Laboratory, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia ; Australian Centre for Evolutionary Biology and Biodiversity, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia ; Parasitology Section, South Australian Museum, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.
authors.forename: Ian D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Whittington
authors.affiliation: Australian Centre for Evolutionary Biology and Biodiversity, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia ; Evolutionary Biology Unit, South Australian Museum, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.
authors.forename: Stephen C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Donnellan
authors.affiliation: Southern Seas Ecology Laboratories, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia ; Environment Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.
authors.forename: Bronwyn M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Gillanders
keywords: Dicyemida; Host stock discrimination; Marine parasites; Multidiscipline approach; Next-generation sequencing; Tag guidelines