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DAO 115:121-128 (2015)  -  DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/dao02893

Consistent isotopic differences between Schistocephalus spp. parasites and their stickleback hosts

Antti P. Eloranta1,2,*, Rune Knudsen3, Per-Arne Amundsen3, Juha Merilä

1Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, PO Box 5685 Sluppen, 7485 Trondheim, Norway
2University of Jyväskylä, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, PO Box 35, 40014 Jyväskylä, Finland
3UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, 9037 Tromsø, Norway
4University of Helsinki, Department of Biosciences, Ecological Genetic Research Unit, PO Box 65, 00014 University of Helsinki, Finland
*Corresponding author:

ABSTRACT: Parasite-host systems show markedly variable patterns in isotopic fractionation: parasites can be either depleted or enriched in 15N and 13C as compared to their hosts. However, it remains unknown whether isotopic fractionation patterns are similar in comparable parasite-host systems from markedly different ecosystems. Results of this study show that large-sized Schistocephalus spp. endoparasites are consistently depleted in 15N (by on average -2.13 to -2.20‰) as compared to their nine-spined stickleback Pungitius pungitius and three-spined stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus hosts. The differences between parasites and host for both δ15N and δ13C were consistent in both study systems despite marked biogeographical differences between the study localities. Although the stable isotope values in general were strongly correlated between the hosts and their parasites, Schistocephalus specimens occupying the same nine-spined stickleback host showed sometimes substantial individual variation in δ13C. This might be due to selective use of different carbon sources, or different metabolic or feeding rates. Further studies on selective feeding, physiology and metabolism of parasites are needed to better understand the role of parasites in the structure and functioning of aquatic food webs.


KEY WORDS: Endoparasite · Pungitius pungitius · Gasterosteus aculeatus · Tapeworm · Platyhelminth · Stable isotope analysis · Nutrient assimilation


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Cite this article as: Eloranta AP, Knudsen R, Amundsen PA, Merilä J (2015) Consistent isotopic differences between Schistocephalus spp. parasites and their stickleback hosts. Dis Aquat Org 115:121-128. https://doi.org/10.3354/dao02893

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