Alternative life cycle strategies of Megalodiscus temperatus in tadpoles and metamorphosed anurans
Megalodiscus temperatus (Stafford, 1905) is a common paramphistome trematode of North American amphibians with a two host life cycle and has been reported to infect frogs and rarely tadpoles. In this study we document the alternative life cycle strategy of M. temperatus in tadpoles and metamorphosed...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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EDP Sciences
2008-09-01
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| Series: | Parasite |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/parasite/2008153396 |
| _version_ | 1797427503035318272 |
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| author | Bolek M.G. Janovy J. |
| author_facet | Bolek M.G. Janovy J. |
| author_sort | Bolek M.G. |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Megalodiscus temperatus (Stafford, 1905) is a common paramphistome trematode of North American amphibians with a two host life cycle and has been reported to infect frogs and rarely tadpoles. In this study we document the alternative life cycle strategy of M. temperatus in tadpoles and metamorphosed anurans. We show through field work and experimental infections that M. temperatus can establish in both anuran life stages and worms become gravid and release eggs in both tadpoles and metamorphosed frogs. However, worms exhibit differences in route of infection, development, egg production, and diet in tadpoles and metamorphosed anurans. These alternative life history strategies of M. temperatus suggest different selective pressures on the development and reproductive success of these worms in tadpoles and metamorphosed anurans, and we discuss the evolutionary avenues for and constraints on amphibian trematode life cycles presented by these two different anuran life stages. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T08:45:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-895bbb0ab06647d7b0beab591b475d2e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1252-607X 1776-1042 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T08:45:58Z |
| publishDate | 2008-09-01 |
| publisher | EDP Sciences |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Parasite |
| spelling | doaj.art-895bbb0ab06647d7b0beab591b475d2e2023-12-02T15:30:34ZengEDP SciencesParasite1252-607X1776-10422008-09-0115339640110.1051/parasite/2008153396parasite2008153p396Alternative life cycle strategies of Megalodiscus temperatus in tadpoles and metamorphosed anuransBolek M.G.Janovy J.Megalodiscus temperatus (Stafford, 1905) is a common paramphistome trematode of North American amphibians with a two host life cycle and has been reported to infect frogs and rarely tadpoles. In this study we document the alternative life cycle strategy of M. temperatus in tadpoles and metamorphosed anurans. We show through field work and experimental infections that M. temperatus can establish in both anuran life stages and worms become gravid and release eggs in both tadpoles and metamorphosed frogs. However, worms exhibit differences in route of infection, development, egg production, and diet in tadpoles and metamorphosed anurans. These alternative life history strategies of M. temperatus suggest different selective pressures on the development and reproductive success of these worms in tadpoles and metamorphosed anurans, and we discuss the evolutionary avenues for and constraints on amphibian trematode life cycles presented by these two different anuran life stages.http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/parasite/2008153396Megalodiscus temperatustrematodaalternative life cyclelife cycle evolutiontadpolesanurans |
| spellingShingle | Bolek M.G. Janovy J. Alternative life cycle strategies of Megalodiscus temperatus in tadpoles and metamorphosed anurans Parasite Megalodiscus temperatus trematoda alternative life cycle life cycle evolution tadpoles anurans |
| title | Alternative life cycle strategies of Megalodiscus temperatus in tadpoles and metamorphosed anurans |
| title_full | Alternative life cycle strategies of Megalodiscus temperatus in tadpoles and metamorphosed anurans |
| title_fullStr | Alternative life cycle strategies of Megalodiscus temperatus in tadpoles and metamorphosed anurans |
| title_full_unstemmed | Alternative life cycle strategies of Megalodiscus temperatus in tadpoles and metamorphosed anurans |
| title_short | Alternative life cycle strategies of Megalodiscus temperatus in tadpoles and metamorphosed anurans |
| title_sort | alternative life cycle strategies of megalodiscus temperatus in tadpoles and metamorphosed anurans |
| topic | Megalodiscus temperatus trematoda alternative life cycle life cycle evolution tadpoles anurans |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/parasite/2008153396 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT bolekmg alternativelifecyclestrategiesofmegalodiscustemperatusintadpolesandmetamorphosedanurans AT janovyj alternativelifecyclestrategiesofmegalodiscustemperatusintadpolesandmetamorphosedanurans |