Diet-tissue discrimination factors and turnover of carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes in tissues of an adult predatory coral reef fish, Plectropomus leopardus

AbstractStable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen characterize trophic relationships in predator-prey relationships, with clear differences between consumer and diet (discrimination factor, Δ13C, Δ15N). However, parasite-host isotopic relationships remain unclear, with Δ13C and Δ15N remaining incompletely characterized, especially for helminths. In this study, we used stable isotopes to determine discrimination factors for 13 parasite-host pairings of helminths in coral reef fish. Δ15N differences grouped according to phylogeny and attachment site on the hosts: Δ15N was positive for trematodes and nematodes from the digestive tract and varied for cestodes and nematodes from the general cavity. Δ13C showed more complex patterns with no effect of phylogeny or attachment site. A negative relationship was observed between Δ15N and host δ15N value among different host-parasite pairings as well as within 7 out of the 13 parings, indicating that host metabolic processing affects host-parasite discrimination values. In contrast, no relationships were observed for Δ13C. Our results indicate that host phylogeny, attachment site and host stable isotope value drive Δ15N of helminths in coral reef fish while Δ13C is more idiosyncratic. These results call for use of taxon- or species-specific and scaled framework for bulk stable isotopes in the trophic ecology of parasites.

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Temporal tracking of a strong cohort in the population of a coral reef fish, the coral trout, (Plectropomus leopardus) Serranidae: Epinephelinae, in the central Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences ◽

10.1139/f96-233 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 53 (12) ◽

pp. 2745-2751 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

G R Russ ◽

D C Lou ◽

B P Ferreira

Keyword(s):

Coral Reef ◽

Great Barrier Reef ◽

Reef Fish ◽

Coral Reef Fish ◽

Barrier Reef ◽

Coral Trout ◽

Temporal Tracking ◽

Plectropomus Leopardus

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In situ swimming and settlement behaviour of larvae of an Indo-Pacific coral-reef fish, the coral trout Plectropomus leopardus (Pisces: Serranidae)

Marine Biology ◽

10.1007/s002270050524 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 134 (1) ◽

pp. 51-64 ◽

Cited By ~ 67

Author(s):

J. M. Leis ◽

B. M. Carson-Ewart

Keyword(s):

Coral Reef ◽

Reef Fish ◽

Coral Reef Fish ◽

Coral Trout ◽

Plectropomus Leopardus ◽

Settlement Behaviour

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Isotopic discrimination in helminths infecting coral reef fishes depends on parasite group, habitat within host, and host stable isotope value

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-84255-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Philip M. Riekenberg ◽

Marine J. Briand ◽

Thibaud Moléana ◽

Pierre Sasal ◽

Marcel T. J. van der Meer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stable Isotopes ◽

Coral Reef ◽

Stable Isotope ◽

Reef Fish ◽

Coral Reef Fish ◽

Trophic Ecology ◽

Negative Relationship ◽

Reef Fishes ◽

Trophic Relationships ◽

Host Parasite

AbstractStable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen characterize trophic relationships in predator–prey relationships, with clear differences between consumer and diet (discrimination factor Δ13C and Δ15N). However, parasite–host isotopic relationships remain unclear, with Δ13C and Δ15N remaining incompletely characterized, especially for helminths. In this study, we used stable isotopes to determine discrimination factors for 13 parasite–host pairings of helminths in coral reef fish. Differences in Δ15N values grouped according to parasite groups and habitat within the host with positive Δ15N values observed for trematodes and nematodes from the digestive tract and variable Δ15N values observed for cestodes and nematodes from the general cavity. Furthermore, Δ13C values showed more complex patterns with no effect of parasite group or habitat within host. A negative relationship was observed between Δ15N and host δ15N values among different host-parasite pairings as well as within 7 out of the 13 pairings, indicating that host metabolic processing affects host-parasite discrimination values. In contrast, no relationships were observed for Δ13C values. Our results indicate that parasite group, habitat within host, and host stable isotope value drive Δ15N of helminths in coral reef fish while their effect on Δ13C is more idiosyncratic. These results call for use of taxon- or species-specific and scaled framework for bulk stable isotopes in the trophic ecology of parasites.

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