Parasitic anemone infects the invasive ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi in the North East Atlantic

Erik Selander, Lene Friis Møller, Per Sundberg, Peter Tiselius

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

Abstract

We report of the first finding of parasitic sea anemone larvae infecting the invasive ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi in the North East Atlantic. Parasitic anemone larvae are common in the native habitat of Mnemiopsis, but have not previously been reported from any of the locations where Mnemiopsis has been introduced. General morphology and 18S rRNA sequences support the identification of the larvae as Edwardsiella sp. Excised anemone larvae were reared through metamorphosis and confirmed the identification of the parasite. Both Mnemiopsis and Edwardsiella larvae were monitored weekly during 2007 and 2008 and parasitic larvae were recorded from September to November both years. The highest density was observed in September 2008 when Edwardsiidae larvae reached 2.3 ind m(-3). In 2008 total density of the parasite occasionally exceeded 40% of the host density and the potential consequences for Mnemiopsis population dynamics are discussed.
Original languageEnglish
JournalBiological Invasions
Volume12
Issue number5
Pages (from-to)1003-1009
ISSN1387-3547
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2010

Keywords

  • Edwardsiella lineata
  • Edwardsiella carnea
  • Mnemiopsis leidyi
  • Invasive species
  • Enemy release hypothesis
  • DNA barcoding

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