Morphological and molecular analyses of parasitic barnacles (Crustacea: Cirripedia: Rhizocephala) in Korea: preliminary data for the taxonomy and host ranges of Korean species

Morphological and molecular analyses of Korean rhizocephalan barnacle species were performed to examine their host ranges and taxonomy. Morphological examination and molecular analysis of mtDNA cox1, 16S, and nuclear 18S rRNA sequences revealed nine rhizocephalan species from three genera of the two families, Sacculinidae and Polyascidae. Phylogenetic analysis of molecular sequences revealed two new species candidates in the genus Parasacculina, and three Sacculina species (S. pilosella, S. pinnotherae, and S. imberbis) were transferred to the genus Parasacculina. Examination of host ranges revealed higher host specificity and lower infestation rates in Korean rhizocephalan species than rhizocephalans from other geographic regions. This is the first report of the taxonomy, species diversity, and host ranges of Korean parasitic rhizocephalan barnacles based on their morphological and molecular analyses. More information from extensive sampling of parasitic barnacles from a wide range of crustacean host species is necessary to fully understand their taxonomy, prevalence on decapod hosts, and phylogenetic relationships among major rhizocephalan taxa.

Life cycles of the rhizocephalan Boschmaella japonica Deichmann & Høeg, 1990 (Cirripedia: Chthamalophilidae) and its host barnacle Chthamalus challengeri Hoek, 1883 (Cirripedia: Chthamalidae)

Although parasitic castration is widespread among rhizocephalan barnacles, Boschmaella japonica Deichmann & Høeg, 1990 does not completely sterilise the host barnacle Chthamalus challengeri Hoek, 1883. As little information is available on the relationships with the host in “barnacle-infesting parasitic barnacles” (family Chthamalophilidae), we studied the life cycles of both B. japonica and C. challengeri and the effects of the parasite on the host reproduction. Specimens of C. challengeri were collected from an upper intertidal shore at Shirahama, Wakayama, western Japan from April 2017 to September 2018 at 1–3 mo intervals. We recorded the body size, number of eggs, egg volume, and the presence of the parasite for each host. Moreover, settlement and growth of C. challengeri were followed in two fixed quadrats. Chthamalus challengeri brooded from February to June. The prevalence of B. japonica was high (often exceeded 10%) from April to July, and was rarely observed from September to next spring. The life cycle of the parasite matched well with that of the host. The parasite reduced the host’s brooding rate and brood size, to the extent that no hosts brooded in 2018.

Crustaceans as hosts of parasites throughout the Phanerozoic

The fossil record of crustaceans as hosts of parasites has yielded three confirmed associations: epicaridean isopod-induced swellings on Jurassic-Recent decapod crustaceans, feminization of Cretaceous and Miocene male crabs possibly caused by rhizocephalan barnacles, and presumed pentastomids on/in Silurian ostracods. Cestode platyhelminth hooks and swellings by entoniscid isopods may be recognized in the future. Relative to 2014, we report an increase of 41% to 124 fossil decapod species with epicaridean-induced swellings in the branchial chamber (ichnotaxon Kanthyloma crusta). Furthermore, using a Late Jurassic (Tithonian) decapod assemblage from Austria, we find (1) no correlation between genus abundance and prevalence of K. crusta, (2) host preference for some galatheoid taxa (as for a mid-Cretaceous assemblage from Spain), and (3) a larger median size of parasitized versus non-parasitized specimens for two selected species. The latter result may be caused by infestation throughout ontogeny rather than exclusively in juveniles and/or possible selection for the larger sex.

Infestation of parasitic rhizocephalan barnacles Sacculina beauforti (Cirripedia, Rhizocephala) in edible mud crab, Scylla olivacea

Screening of mud crab genus Scylla was conducted in four locations (Marudu Bay, Lundu, Taiping, Setiu) representing Malaysia. Scylla olivacea with abnormal primary and secondary sexual characters were prevalent (approximately 42.27% of the local screened S. olivacea population) in Marudu Bay, Sabah. A total of six different types of abnormalities were described. Crabs with type 1 and type 3 were immature males, type 2 and type 4 were mature males, type 5 were immature females and type 6 were mature females. The abdomen of all crabs with abnormalities were dented on both sides along the abdomen’s middle line. Abnormal crabs showed significant variation in their size, weight, abdomen width and/or gonopod or pleopod length compared to normal individuals. The mean body weight of abnormal crabs (type 1–5) were higher than normal crabs with smaller body size, while females with type 6 abnormality were always heavier than the normal counterparts at any given size. Sacculinid’s externa were observed in the abdomen of crabs with type 4 and type 6 abnormalities. The presence of embryos within the externa and subsequent molecular analysis of partial mitochondrial COI region confirmed the rhizocephalan parasite as Sacculina beauforti. Future in-depth descriptions of the life cycle and characteristics of S. beauforti are recommended as it involves a commercially important edible crab species and the effect on human health from the consumption of crabs is of crucial concern.

Absence of gregarious settling Behaviour by female cypris larvae of British parasitic rhizocephalan barnacles

Barnacle cypris larvae, the specialized settlement stage of the life-cycle, are classical examples of larvae showing gregarious settlement. Gregarious settlement is shown when the larva is induced to settle by established individuals of its own or of a closely related species, reflecting the ability of the larva to recognize its own type, usually by chemo-tactile detection of a particular settlement inducing factor (see Crisp (1974) for review). Sessile barnacles such as species of Balanus or Chthamalus are typically hermaphrodite and gregarious settlement is of selective advantage in promoting the possibility of cross-fertilization, in addition to allowing a settling larva to identify a habitat providing all the necessary conditions for barnacle growth and development.