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Caste formation in larval Himasthla elongata (Trematoda) infecting common periwinkles Littorina littorea

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 April 2014

Sigrid S. Nielsen ,
Malan Johansen  and
Kim N. Mouritsen
Sigrid S. Nielsen
Affiliation:
Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Ole Worms Allé 1, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
Malan Johansen
Affiliation:
Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Ole Worms Allé 1, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
Kim N. Mouritsen*
Affiliation:
Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Ole Worms Allé 1, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: K.N. Mouritsen, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Ole Worms Allé 1, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark email: kim.mouritsen@biology.au.dk
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Abstract

Reproductive division of labour is well-known in several animal groups but the ecological factors driving the evolution of such social organization are still being discussed. Recent studies have discovered social organization in four marine species of trematode parasites having two distinct castes specialized for reproduction and defence of the clonal intra-molluscan larval colony, respectively. Here, we provide novel evidence for social structure also in colonies of the trematode Himasthla elongata infecting the common periwinkle Littorina littorea. We found two types of rediae, the parthenogenetic larval offspring of the parasite: small non-reproductive rediae and considerably larger reproductive rediae. Both redial types possessed a digestive system, collar and posterior appendages and, hence, aside from dimensions, were morphologically similar. However, in vitro experiments showed that non-reproductive morphs attacked heterospecific competing parasites at a higher rate (2–3 fold) than reproductive morphs did. No within-colony antagonism was observed. In contrast to a previous study on a congeneric trematode species, our findings suggest a relatively weak caste formation in H. elongata, possibly resulting from a corresponding weaker level of interspecific competition.

Keywords

altruismHimasthla elongatadivision of labourLittorina littoreaparasite–parasite antagonismredia
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 94 , Issue 5 , August 2014 , pp. 917 - 923
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2014 

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