Parasites in Emsian-Eifelian Favosites (Anthozoa, Tabulata) from the Holy Cross Mountains (Poland): changes of distribution within colony

Abstract

AbstractOrganisms of unknown biological affinities, assigned to the genusChaetosalpinx, are known to infest Palaeozoic tabulate corals and stromatoporoids. Analysis of distribution of these parasites, performed on Emsian–Eifelian material ofFavosites goldfussi(Anthozoa, Tabulata) from the Northern Region of the Holy Cross Mountains (Poland), shows that parasites were absent in the early astogenetical stages, and that during astogeny both the absolute number of parasites per colony and the number of parasites per polyp were increasing. The latter can reach 2.7 parasites per polyp. Preferred settling places are in corallite corners (junction of three individuals), but dense infestation also produced settlement in the corallite walls (between two individuals). Probable causes of the increase are insufficient protection by host's cnidae, insufficient immune system response, and parasite ability to adapt to the host's defences.