WoRMS source details
Levy, E., M. González-Castro & J.T. Timi. (2023). Parasites as indicators of habitat preferences by hybrids between estuarine and freshwater congeneric silversides (Atherinopsidae). Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science. 294(1): 1-11. Nov 2023.
480934
10.1016/j.ecss.2023.108538 [view]
Levy, E., M. González-Castro & J.T. Timi
2023
Parasites as indicators of habitat preferences by hybrids between estuarine and freshwater congeneric silversides (Atherinopsidae).
Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science
294(1): 1-11. Nov 2023
Publication
Available for editors [request]
Silversides of the genus Odontesthes are characterized by their conserved morphology and vast phenotypic plasticity. They have developed complex population structures, promoting hybridization and speciation phenomena and often leading to intricate taxonomies. Within this genus, O. argentinensis, an originally marine species and O. bonariensis, a freshwater species, coexist in Mar Chiquita Coastal Lagoon (central Argentina). This lagoon has an inlet to the sea, creating a saline gradient that promotes highly variable conditions throughout the system. While O. argentinensis has established a resident population inside the lagoon, O. bonariensis is only sporadically found, inhabiting mainly tributary streams. Notably, hybrids between the two have been found in the lagoon. Parasites can significantly influence hybridization in host species, either promoting or hindering the process. From an evolutionary standpoint, parasites can impact hybridization by altering host immune responses, affecting host ecology and fitness. As a result, parasites can be valuable indicators of hybrid host ecology and their evolutionary trajectories. The present study analyzes the parasite communities of these sympatric Odon-testhes and their hybrids, and determines their habitat preferences. While O. argentinensis showed evidence of marine parasites, O. bonariensis had a dominance of freshwater species as expected. And, although parasites of hybrids displayed similarities with both parental species, they indicated a preference of these hosts by freshwater habitats or longer periods of permanence in the oligohaline areas of Mar Chiquita. The presence of pure parental species, the differences in habitat use found between them and hybrids, and the conditioning effect of environmental heterogeneity over the hybridization event support a mosaic model for this hybrid zone. Finally, studies of parasitism in hybrid zones may contribute to understand the evolutionary history and stability of boundaries or possible biological barriers between host species, and they also provide insight on how natural selection and evolution drive speciation, colonization and habitat use in transitional environments.
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Ascocotyle diminuta Stunkard & Haviland, 1924 (additional source)
Austrodiplostomum mordax Szidat & Nani, 1951 (additional source)
Cucullanus marplatensis Daniel, Timi & Sardella, 2002 (additional source)
Huffmanela moraveci Carballo & Navone, 2007 (additional source)
Pseudoterranova cattani George-Nascimento & Urrutia, 2000 accepted as Phocanema cattani (George-Nascimento & Urrutia, 2000) Bao, Giulietti, Levsen & Karlsbakk, 2023 (additional source)
Austrodiplostomum mordax Szidat & Nani, 1951 (additional source)
Cucullanus marplatensis Daniel, Timi & Sardella, 2002 (additional source)
Huffmanela moraveci Carballo & Navone, 2007 (additional source)
Pseudoterranova cattani George-Nascimento & Urrutia, 2000 accepted as Phocanema cattani (George-Nascimento & Urrutia, 2000) Bao, Giulietti, Levsen & Karlsbakk, 2023 (additional source)
Buenos Aires for Ascocotyle diminuta Stunkard & Haviland, 1924
Buenos Aires for Ascocotyle felippei Travassos, 1929
Buenos Aires for Austrodiplostomum mordax Szidat & Nani, 1951
Buenos Aires for Corynosoma australe Johnston, 1937
Buenos Aires for Cucullanus marplatensis Daniel, Timi & Sardella, 2002
Buenos Aires for Huffmanela moraveci Carballo & Navone, 2007
Buenos Aires for Profilicollis chasmagnathi (Holcman-Spector, Mañé-Garzón & Dei-Cas, 1977) Golvan, 1994
Buenos Aires for Pseudoterranova cattani George-Nascimento & Urrutia, 2000
Buenos Aires for Ascocotyle felippei Travassos, 1929
Buenos Aires for Austrodiplostomum mordax Szidat & Nani, 1951
Buenos Aires for Corynosoma australe Johnston, 1937
Buenos Aires for Cucullanus marplatensis Daniel, Timi & Sardella, 2002
Buenos Aires for Huffmanela moraveci Carballo & Navone, 2007
Buenos Aires for Profilicollis chasmagnathi (Holcman-Spector, Mañé-Garzón & Dei-Cas, 1977) Golvan, 1994
Buenos Aires for Pseudoterranova cattani George-Nascimento & Urrutia, 2000