Issue |
Parasite
Volume 15, Number 3, September 2008
Xth European Multicolloquium of Parasitology (EMOP-10, Paris, August 24-28, 2008)
|
|
---|---|---|
Page(s) | 396 - 401 | |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/parasite/2008153396 | |
Published online | 15 September 2008 |
Xth EMOP, August 2008
Alternative life cycle strategies of Megalodiscus temperatus in tadpoles and metamorphosed anurans
1
Department of Biology, University of Nebraska, Kearney, Nebraska 68849, USA
2
School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588, USA
* Correspondence: Matthew G. Bolek. Tel.: 1 308 865 8690 – Fax: 1 308 865 8045. E-mail: bolekmg@unk.edu
Megalodiscus temperatus (Stafford, 1905) is a common paramphistome trematode of North American amphibians with a two host life cycle and has been reported to infect frogs and rarely tadpoles. In this study we document the alternative life cycle strategy of M. temperatus in tadpoles and metamorphosed anurans. We show through field work and experimental infections that M. temperatus can establish in both anuran life stages and worms become gravid and release eggs in both tadpoles and metamorphosed frogs. However, worms exhibit differences in route of infection, development, egg production, and diet in tadpoles and metamorphosed anurans. These alternative life history strategies of M. temperatus suggest different selective pressures on the development and reproductive success of these worms in tadpoles and metamorphosed anurans, and we discuss the evolutionary avenues for and constraints on amphibian trematode life cycles presented by these two different anuran life stages.
Key words: Megalodiscus temperatus / trematoda / alternative life cycle / life cycle evolution / tadpoles / anurans
© PRINCEPS Editions, Paris, 2008, transferred to Société Française de Parasitologie
Current usage metrics show cumulative count of Article Views (full-text article views including HTML views, PDF and ePub downloads, according to the available data) and Abstracts Views on Vision4Press platform.
Data correspond to usage on the plateform after 2015. The current usage metrics is available 48-96 hours after online publication and is updated daily on week days.
Initial download of the metrics may take a while.