Evol Ecol Res 7: 1191-1199 (2005)     Full PDF if your library subscribes.

Local adaptation in a crustacean parasite–molluscan host interaction: a field experiment

Mari Saarinen1* and Jouni Taskinen2

1Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, PO Box 35, FI-40014 Jyväskylä and  2Department of Ecology, University of Joensuu, PO Box 111, FI-80101 Joensuu, Finland

Author to whom all correspondence should be addressed.
e-mail: marisaar@bytl.jyu.fi

ABSTRACT

Hypothesis: The Red Queen hypothesis predicts that parasites are locally adapted to their most common host genotypes.

Organisms: The parasitic copepod Paraergasilus rylovi and its host, the freshwater clam Anodonta piscinalis.

Sites of research: Lake Saravesi and River Kuusaankoski, which are 4 km apart.

Methods: We expelled parasites from wild hosts. Then we performed a reciprocal transplant experiment: we returned hosts to their natural environment at two transplant sites, and allowed clams to become infected naturally.

Results: At both sites, local hosts, the home-clams, harboured more P. rylovi than the away-clams. In addition, at both transplant sites the reproductive performance of the parasite (proportion of females carrying egg sacs) was higher in the home-clams. The results indicate that P. rylovi is both genetically specialized and locally adapted to its host population.

Keywords: Anodonta piscinalis, Ergasilidae, freshwater, host–parasite interactions, local adaptation, Paraergasilus rylovi, Unionidae.

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        © 2005 Mari Saarinen. All EER articles are copyrighted by their authors. All authors endorse, permit and license Evolutionary Ecology Ltd. to grant its subscribing institutions/libraries the copying privileges specified below without additional consideration or payment to them or to Evolutionary Ecology, Ltd. These endorsements, in writing, are on file in the office of Evolutionary Ecology, Ltd. Consult authors for permission to use any portion of their work in derivative works, compilations or to distribute their work in any commercial manner.

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