Abstract
Snakeheads (Channa sp.) are invasive fishes native to Asia and Africa that are now ubiquitous in South Florida waterways. Their invasion of Florida waters is of concern because they are aggressive, territorial, predatory, air breathing fishes; these features have allowed them to disperse widely and adapt to a range of temperatures and environmental conditions. Their spread threatens native fishes and aquatic ecosystems throughout South Florida. Invasive species often benefit from parasite release, having fewer parasites than conspecifics in their native range and / or fewer parasites than ecologically equivalent competitors in their introduced range. To assess the possible contribution of parasite release to their invasiveness, snakeheads were collected from Fort Lauderdale canals and examined for parasites. The structure and composition of their parasite community were compared to those of conspecifics within their native range, and with an ecological competitor, the largemouth bass. Preliminary results indicated that the parasite community in introduced snakeheads had only two parasites: a nematode (Eustrongylides sp.) and an as-yet unidentified acanthocephalan. This was in stark contrast to the parasite community in ecologically equivalent native fishes such as bass, which previously published work indicated was far more diverse (>50 species). This suggested that invasive snakeheads may be benefiting to some extent from parasite release relative to native fishes.
Faculty Sponsors
Dr. Christopher Blanar
Project Type
Event
Location
Alvin Sherman Library
Start Date
4-12-2013 1:00 PM
End Date
4-12-2013 5:30 PM
Parasites of Invasive Snakeheads (Channa sp.) in Fort Lauderdale Canals
Alvin Sherman Library
Snakeheads (Channa sp.) are invasive fishes native to Asia and Africa that are now ubiquitous in South Florida waterways. Their invasion of Florida waters is of concern because they are aggressive, territorial, predatory, air breathing fishes; these features have allowed them to disperse widely and adapt to a range of temperatures and environmental conditions. Their spread threatens native fishes and aquatic ecosystems throughout South Florida. Invasive species often benefit from parasite release, having fewer parasites than conspecifics in their native range and / or fewer parasites than ecologically equivalent competitors in their introduced range. To assess the possible contribution of parasite release to their invasiveness, snakeheads were collected from Fort Lauderdale canals and examined for parasites. The structure and composition of their parasite community were compared to those of conspecifics within their native range, and with an ecological competitor, the largemouth bass. Preliminary results indicated that the parasite community in introduced snakeheads had only two parasites: a nematode (Eustrongylides sp.) and an as-yet unidentified acanthocephalan. This was in stark contrast to the parasite community in ecologically equivalent native fishes such as bass, which previously published work indicated was far more diverse (>50 species). This suggested that invasive snakeheads may be benefiting to some extent from parasite release relative to native fishes.
