Molecular systematics of the digenean community parasitising the cerithiid gastropod Clypeomorus batillariaeformis Habe & Kusage on the Great Barrier Reef

Abstract

A rich fauna of digenetic trematodes has been documented from the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), yet little is known of the complex life-cycles of these parasites which occur in this diverse marine ecosystem. At Heron Island, a small coral cay at the southern end of the GBR, the intertidal marine gastropod Clypeomorus batillariaeformis Habe & Kusage (Cerithiidae) is especially abundant. This gastropod serves as an intermediate host for 12 trematode species utilising both fish and avian definitive hosts. However, 11 of these species have been characterised solely with morphological data. Between 2015 and 2018 we collected 4870C. batillariaeformis from Heron Island to recollect these species with the goal of using molecular data to resolve their phylogenetic placement. We found eight of the 12 previously known species and two new forms, bringing the total number of digenean species known to parasitise C. batillariaeformis to 14. The families of this trematode community now include the Atractotrematidae Yamaguti, 1939, Bivesiculidae Yamaguti, 1934, Cyathocotylidae Mühling, 1898, Hemiuridae Looss, 1899, Heterophyidae Leiper, 1909, Himasthlidae Odhner, 1910, Microphallidae Ward, 1901, and Renicolidae Dollfus, 1939. Molecular data (ITS and 28S rDNA) were generated for all trematode species, and the phylogenetic position of each species was determined. The digenean community parasitising C. batillariaeformis includes several common species, as well as multiple species which are uncommon to rare. Although most of those trematodes in the community which exploit fishes as definitive hosts have remained common, the composition of those which utilise birds appears to have shifted over time.