Community structure of intestinal adult trematodes (Platyhelminthes) in six species of Haemulon (Osteichthyes) in Puerto Morelos Reef National Park, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Abstract

Haemulids (grunts) represent one of the most diverse families of marine fishes. Even though haemulids are well represented in Mexico along the Pacific and Gulf of Mexico coasts, as well as in the Caribbean Sea, their trematode fauna has been scarcely studied. Here, 8 species of Haemulon from the Puerto Morelos Reef National Park (PMRNP), Quintana Roo were analyzed to describe their trematode species composition and the patterns of their community structure at both, infracommunity and component community levels. Eleven species of trematodes from the gastrointestinal tract of their hosts were identified. Overall, 16 new host records are reported in this study. Eight of the 11 trematode species are reported in the PMRNP for the first time. All trematode species were considered as rare species, with prevalence values < 20%. Species accumulation curves showed that 3 of the 6 host species, i.e., H. flavolineatum, H. plumierii, and H. sciurus , reached an asymptote, and only their trematode community structure was analyzed. Communities were species-poor and dominated by a single trematode species, with low diversity values at both, infracommunity and component community levels. Trematode communities differ among species of grunts analyzed in this study, indicating that ecological factors such as feeding habits, geographic distribution, and host vagility play a major role structuring these communities.