Sitka periwinkle grazing behaviour related to trematode infection: a multi-site study

Abstract

MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections MEPS 632:123-130 (2019) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps13149 Sitka periwinkle grazing behaviour related to trematode infection: a multi-site study Mónica Ayala-Díaz1,3,*, Jean M. L. Richardson1, Bradley R. Anholt1,2 1Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre, Bamfield, BC V0R 1B0, Canada 2University of Victoria, Department of Biology, Victoria, BC V8W 3N5, Canada 3University of Alberta, Biological Sciences Department, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada *Corresponding author: ayaladia@ualberta.ca ABSTRACT: Parasites are known to affect several aspects of the ecology, physiology and behaviour of their hosts. The intertidal periwinkle Littorina sitkana (Gastropoda: Mollusca) is host to a diverse assemblage of parasites, the best studied of which are within the Class Trematoda. Following sampling of L. sitkana from 4 sites in Barkley Sound, British Columbia, Canada we show that trematode prevalence and species richness differ among sites. We assessed the effects of trematode infection on grazing behaviour in periwinkles, behaviour commonly affected by the presence of trematodes. We observed decreased grazing activity in parasite-infected L. sitkana and the strength of this effect varied among collection sites. This has important implications because most experimental studies consider snails from a single location. KEY WORDS: Sitka periwinkle · Littorina sitkana · Snail ecology · Parasites · Trematode community · Barkley Sound Full text in pdf format PreviousNextCite this article as: Ayala-Díaz M, Richardson JML, Anholt BR (2019) Sitka periwinkle grazing behaviour related to trematode infection: a multi-site study. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 632:123-130. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps13149 Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 632. Online publication date: December 12, 2019 Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599 Copyright © 2019 Inter-Research.