Coral reef fish harbor an unexpectedly high biodiversity of...( IRD researchers (1) showed that Epineph...)

Date:9/5/2007

IRD researchers (1) showed that Epinephilus maculates, a fairly abundant species of grouper off New Caledonia, was parasitized by 12 species of microscopic monogenean worms. This diversity of parasites has just been confirmed also in the malabar grouper, Epinephilus malabaricus, another the coral reef species. If such a level of parasite diversity prevails in all coral-reef fish, tens of thousands of parasite species are in this ecosystem waiting to be discovered.

In the same way as the tropical rainforest, the coral reefs of warm seas are among the richest ecosystems of the world in terms of their biodiversity. In fact the best conserved areas harbour over 700 species of coral, 600 species of mollusc and nearly 4000 species of fish. These fish have been well studied by reef biodiversity specialists over the past few years, yet still little is known about their parasites. Two studies conducted by IRD researchers of Noumea have brought out evidence of this parasite species richness in two grouper species of the New Caledonian coral reef.

The new species described by the IRD taxonomists are microscopic animals less than 0.5 mm long. These tiny parasitic worms all belong to the class of monogeneans (Monogenea). They live on gills of marine fish where they find both refuge and food. Identification of each taxon is facilitated by the morphology of the genital apparatus which is characteristic for each species. In 2006, researchers from the research unit Systmatique, Adaptation, volution (UMR 148) at Noumea first studied Epinephelus maculatus, a grouper species commonly called loche grisette and quite common in the New Caledonia lagoon. Microscopic observation of nearly 800 specimens of monogeneans collected from gills of 10 individuals of this fish allowed biologists to identify 12 different species. By comparison, the Mediterranean grouper (Epinephelus marginatus) are host to just four species belonging to this class of gill parasite. At least 10 of th
'/>"/>

Contact: Gregory Flechet fichesactu@paris.ird.fr 33-014-803-7607 Institut de Recherche Pour le Dveloppement Source:Eurekalert

0 GOOD

Page: 1 2 3
Related biology news :

1. New Species of Coral Discovered Off Southern California
2. Tsunami-damaged coral reefs should be left to recover naturally, say scientists
3. Researchers appeal for new regulations to save coral reefs from live fish trade
4. Hidden sponges determine coral reefs nutrient cycle
5. Marine conservation organizations team up to conduct Indonesia coral reefs assessment
6. Health of coral reefs detected from orbit
7. Scientists look to the Bahamas as a model for coral reef conservation
8. Tiny polyps gorge themselves to survive coral bleaching
9. Too much sugar not good for coral reefs
10. Sea corals trick helps scientists tag proteins
11. How marine reserves are giving coral reefs a helping hand