Seasonality and infestation pattern of epibiosis in the beach mysid Archaeomysis articulata

• Published in: Hydrobiologia Vol. 427; no. 1-3; pp. 121 - 127
• Main Author: HANAMURA, Y
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer 01.06.2000; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal populations; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Archaeomysis; Autoecology; Beaches; Biological and medical sciences; Ciliata; Crustaceans; Epibiosis; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Larvae; Marine; Marine biology; Natural populations; Peritricha; Protozoa. Invertebrata; Seasonal variations; Seasons; Asia; Japan; INW, Japan, Hokkaido, Ishikari Bay; Protozoa; Prevalence; Sex; Mysidacea; Crustacea; Marine environment; Intertidal zone; Seasonal variation; Arthropoda; Body size; Interindividual comparison; Ciliata; Developmental stage; Invertebrata; Epibiont; Interspecific relation
• ISSN: 0018-8158; 1573-5117
• DOI: 10.1023/a:1003946408565

Seasonal variation and the infestation pattern of epibiosis in the beach mysid Archaeomysis articulata Hanamura, 1997, were studied based on intertidal samples over 1 year on a sandy beach in Ishikari Bay, northern Japan. The mysid-peritrich ciliate association was a year-round phenomenon in Ishikari Bay and the prevalence of infestation varied from 49 to 100% (average: 92%) during the investigation; no significant seasonal trend was noted. Incidence of infestation in smaller mysids (<5 mm) was significantly lower than in larger mysids (>5 mm). The number of ciliates carried by adult, mostly ovigerous, females was greater than that by adult males. Last stage embryonic larvae were occasionally infested by ciliates, but early stage larvae were absolutely free from epibionts. Dense infestation of epibionts was not correlated with the abundance of mysids, hence the impact of ciliates on natural populations of mysids is assumed to be insignificant.