Stable isotope analysis spills the beans about spatial variance in trophic structure in a fish host – parasite system from the Vaal River System, South Africa
Stable isotope analysis offers a unique tool for comparing trophic interactions and food web architecture in ecosystems based on analysis of stable isotope ratios of carbon (13C/12C) and nitrogen (15N/14N) in organisms. Clarias gariepinus were collected from six sites along the Vaal River, South Afr...
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| Format: | Article |
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Elsevier
2020-08-01
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| Series: | International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213224420300547 |
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| author | Beric M. Gilbert Milen Nachev Maik A. Jochmann Torsten C. Schmidt Daniel Köster Bernd Sures Annemariè Avenant-Oldewage |
| author_facet | Beric M. Gilbert Milen Nachev Maik A. Jochmann Torsten C. Schmidt Daniel Köster Bernd Sures Annemariè Avenant-Oldewage |
| author_sort | Beric M. Gilbert |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Stable isotope analysis offers a unique tool for comparing trophic interactions and food web architecture in ecosystems based on analysis of stable isotope ratios of carbon (13C/12C) and nitrogen (15N/14N) in organisms. Clarias gariepinus were collected from six sites along the Vaal River, South Africa and were assessed for ectoparasites and endoparasites. Lamproglena clariae (Copepoda), Tetracampos ciliotheca and Proteocephalus glanduligerus (Cestoda), and larval Contracaecum sp. (Nematoda) were collected from the gills, intestine and mesenteries, respectively. Signatures of δ13C and δ15N were analysed in host muscle tissue and parasites using bulk stable isotope analysis. Variable stable isotope enrichment between parasites and host were observed; L. clariae and the host shared similar δ15N signatures and endoparasites being depleted in δ13C and δ15N relative to the host. Differences in stable isotope enrichment between parasites could be related to the feeding strategy of each parasite species collected. Geographic and spatial differences in enrichment of stable isotopes observed in hosts were mirrored by parasites. As parasites rely on a single host for meeting their nutritional demands, stable isotope variability in parasites relates to the dietary differences of host organisms and therefore variations in baseline stable isotope signatures of food items consumed by hosts. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T17:48:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-370f0e56a0b842099b0df88356ca9ba6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2213-2244 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T17:48:33Z |
| publishDate | 2020-08-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife |
| spelling | doaj.art-370f0e56a0b842099b0df88356ca9ba62022-12-21T18:55:24ZengElsevierInternational Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife2213-22442020-08-0112134141Stable isotope analysis spills the beans about spatial variance in trophic structure in a fish host – parasite system from the Vaal River System, South AfricaBeric M. Gilbert0Milen Nachev1Maik A. Jochmann2Torsten C. Schmidt3Daniel Köster4Bernd Sures5Annemariè Avenant-Oldewage6Department of Zoology, University of Johannesburg, 524 Auckland Park, Johannesburg, 2006, South Africa; Spectrum Analytical Facility, University of Johannesburg, 524 Auckland Park, Johannesburg, 2006, South AfricaAquatic Ecology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstr. 5, 45141, Essen, Germany; Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstr. 5, 45141, Essen, GermanyCentre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstr. 5, 45141, Essen, Germany; Instrumental Analytical Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstr. 5, 45141, Essen, GermanyCentre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstr. 5, 45141, Essen, Germany; Instrumental Analytical Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstr. 5, 45141, Essen, GermanyInstrumental Analytical Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstr. 5, 45141, Essen, GermanyDepartment of Zoology, University of Johannesburg, 524 Auckland Park, Johannesburg, 2006, South Africa; Aquatic Ecology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstr. 5, 45141, Essen, Germany; Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstr. 5, 45141, Essen, GermanyDepartment of Zoology, University of Johannesburg, 524 Auckland Park, Johannesburg, 2006, South Africa; Corresponding author.Stable isotope analysis offers a unique tool for comparing trophic interactions and food web architecture in ecosystems based on analysis of stable isotope ratios of carbon (13C/12C) and nitrogen (15N/14N) in organisms. Clarias gariepinus were collected from six sites along the Vaal River, South Africa and were assessed for ectoparasites and endoparasites. Lamproglena clariae (Copepoda), Tetracampos ciliotheca and Proteocephalus glanduligerus (Cestoda), and larval Contracaecum sp. (Nematoda) were collected from the gills, intestine and mesenteries, respectively. Signatures of δ13C and δ15N were analysed in host muscle tissue and parasites using bulk stable isotope analysis. Variable stable isotope enrichment between parasites and host were observed; L. clariae and the host shared similar δ15N signatures and endoparasites being depleted in δ13C and δ15N relative to the host. Differences in stable isotope enrichment between parasites could be related to the feeding strategy of each parasite species collected. Geographic and spatial differences in enrichment of stable isotopes observed in hosts were mirrored by parasites. As parasites rely on a single host for meeting their nutritional demands, stable isotope variability in parasites relates to the dietary differences of host organisms and therefore variations in baseline stable isotope signatures of food items consumed by hosts.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213224420300547LamproglenaCestodaCopepodaFood websNematodaTrophic interactions |
| spellingShingle | Beric M. Gilbert Milen Nachev Maik A. Jochmann Torsten C. Schmidt Daniel Köster Bernd Sures Annemariè Avenant-Oldewage Stable isotope analysis spills the beans about spatial variance in trophic structure in a fish host – parasite system from the Vaal River System, South Africa International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife Lamproglena Cestoda Copepoda Food webs Nematoda Trophic interactions |
| title | Stable isotope analysis spills the beans about spatial variance in trophic structure in a fish host – parasite system from the Vaal River System, South Africa |
| title_full | Stable isotope analysis spills the beans about spatial variance in trophic structure in a fish host – parasite system from the Vaal River System, South Africa |
| title_fullStr | Stable isotope analysis spills the beans about spatial variance in trophic structure in a fish host – parasite system from the Vaal River System, South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Stable isotope analysis spills the beans about spatial variance in trophic structure in a fish host – parasite system from the Vaal River System, South Africa |
| title_short | Stable isotope analysis spills the beans about spatial variance in trophic structure in a fish host – parasite system from the Vaal River System, South Africa |
| title_sort | stable isotope analysis spills the beans about spatial variance in trophic structure in a fish host parasite system from the vaal river system south africa |
| topic | Lamproglena Cestoda Copepoda Food webs Nematoda Trophic interactions |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213224420300547 |
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