Effects of parasitic freshwater mussels on their host fishes: a review.

ABSTRACT: Freshwater mussels in the order Unionida are highly adapted to parasitize fish for the primary purpose of dispersal. The parasitic larval stage affixes itself to the gills or fins of the host where it becomes encysted in the tissue, eventually excysting to develop into a free-living adult. Research on the parasitic interactions between unionids and their host fishes has garnered attention recently due to the increase in worldwide preservation efforts surrounding this highly endangered and ecologically significant order. With the exception of heavy infestation events, these mussels cause minor effects to their hosts, typically only observable effect in combination with other stressors. Moreover, the range of effect intensities on the host varies greatly with the species involved in the inte

SUBMITTER: Rock SL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10090606 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature