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Ecosystem energetic implications of parasite and free-living biomass in three estuaries

Author

Listed:
  • Armand M. Kuris

    (Evolution and Marine Biology and Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, USA)

  • Ryan F. Hechinger

    (Evolution and Marine Biology and Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, USA)

  • Jenny C. Shaw

    (Evolution and Marine Biology and Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, USA)

  • Kathleen L. Whitney

    (Evolution and Marine Biology and Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, USA)

  • Leopoldina Aguirre-Macedo

    (Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados del IPN, C.P. 97310, Mérida, Mexico)

  • Charlie A. Boch

    (Evolution and Marine Biology and Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, USA)

  • Andrew P. Dobson

    (Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544-1003, USA)

  • Eleca J. Dunham

    (Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA)

  • Brian L. Fredensborg

    (University of Texas Pan-American, Edinburg, Texas 78539, USA)

  • Todd C. Huspeni

    (University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point, Stevens Point, Wisconsin 54481, USA)

  • Julio Lorda

    (Evolution and Marine Biology and Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, USA)

  • Luzviminda Mababa

    (Evolution and Marine Biology and Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, USA)

  • Frank T. Mancini

    (Pacific Islands Fisheries Research Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, USA)

  • Adrienne B. Mora

    (University of California, Riverside, California 92521, USA)

  • Maria Pickering

    (Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, 75 North Eagleville Rd. Unit 3043, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, USA)

  • Nadia L. Talhouk

    (Evolution and Marine Biology and Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, USA)

  • Mark E. Torchin

    (Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado 0843, Ancon, Balboa 03092, Panama, Republic of Panama)

  • Kevin D. Lafferty

    (Western Ecological Research Center, US Geological Survey, Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, USA)

Abstract

Parasites count too Parasites — and other infectious agents — can have a major impact on an ecosystem, by targeting a prominent prey or predator species. But a study of the biomass of free-living and parasitic species in three estuaries on the Pacific coast of California and Baja California suggests that parasite ecology should be given more weighty consideration in food-web analysis and ecosystem modelling in future. The surprise finding was that parasites have substantial biomass in these ecosystems, even exceeding that of top predators. For instance the biomass of trematodes — parasitic flukes — was particularly high, comparable to that of birds, fish, burrowing shrimps and polychaetes.

Suggested Citation

  • Armand M. Kuris & Ryan F. Hechinger & Jenny C. Shaw & Kathleen L. Whitney & Leopoldina Aguirre-Macedo & Charlie A. Boch & Andrew P. Dobson & Eleca J. Dunham & Brian L. Fredensborg & Todd C. Huspeni & , 2008. "Ecosystem energetic implications of parasite and free-living biomass in three estuaries," Nature, Nature, vol. 454(7203), pages 515-518, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:454:y:2008:i:7203:d:10.1038_nature06970
    DOI: 10.1038/nature06970
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