Le parasitisme des poissons coralliens. Reflet de l'habitat?

Abstract

Coral reef habitats are characterized by heterogeneity in their structures, trophic balance and their ecology. Parasitism seems to reflect this habitat variability. To study habitat influence, the parasitic faunas of two populations of the dameselfish Stegastes nigricans from fringing reef and barrier reef systems of Tiahura, Moorea island, French Polynesia, were compared. The endoparasite species observed in our study were digeneans of the family Hemiuridea ( Lecithastersp. and Aponurus sp.). Prevalence, abundances and mean intensities were significantly higher in the host population from the barrier reef than in the host population from the fringing reef. Other data concerning the coral reef fishes Epinephelus merra and Zebrasoma scopas seem to confirm the influence of habitat on parasite communities. Combined effects of several biotic and abiotic factors particular to each of the habitats are likely to be the causes of the differences in the observed parasite communities.