Duration of the parasitic phase determines subsequent performance in juvenile freshwater pearl mussels (Margaritifera margaritifera).

ABSTRACT: Host-parasite systems have been useful in understanding coevolutionary patterns in sympatric species. Based on the exceptional interaction of the long-lived and highly host-specific freshwater pearl mussel (FPM; Margaritifera margaritifera) with its much shorter-lived host fish (Salmo trutta or Salmo salar), we tested the hypotheses that a longer duration of the parasitic phase increases fitness-related performance of mussels in their subsequent post parasitic phase, and that temperature is the main factor governing the duration of the parasitic phase. We collected juvenile mussels from naturally and artificially infested fish from eight rivers in Norway. Excysted juvenile mussels were maintained separately for each collection day, under similar temperature and food re

SUBMITTER: Marwaha J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5330927 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature