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Diel infestation dynamics of gnathiid isopod larvae parasitic on Caribbean reef fish

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Abstract

Infestation dynamics of parasitic gnathiid isopods on Caribbean reefs were studied throughout the 24-h diel cycle. Gnathiid infestation on caged longfin damselfish (Stegastes diencaeus) peaked strongly at dawn, remained low during the remainder of the day, and increased again at night until about midnight. Gnathiids were less abundant during the pre-dawn period. Peak loads on fish retrieved at dawn were the highest reported in any study thus far. The dawn peak consisted almost exclusively of individuals from the smallest size class, whereas nocturnal activity consisted almost exclusively of individuals of the largest size class. Because of the high rates of infestation at night and dawn, and the high variation in parasite loads on fish collected during that time, reduction of parasite infestation may play an important role in the selection of nocturnal and crepuscular shelter holes and settlement sites by reef fishes.

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Acknowledgments

We thank students from the 2003 and 2004 tropical marine biology course, Murray State University, and from the 2003 to 2005 Student Challenge Award Program, Earthwatch Institute. We also thank the staff of the Virgin Islands Environmental Resource Station (VIERS), and the Center for Marine and Environmental Studies (CMES). This work was generously supported by grants from Earthwatch Institute awarded to P. C. Sikkel and C. A. Fuller. It was also supported by VI-EPSCoR under National Science Foundation Grant 0346483. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in the material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

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  1. Department of Biology, Murray State University, Murray, KY, 42071, USA

    Paul C. Sikkel, Collin S. Schaumburg & Jeremy K. Mathenia

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  1. Paul C. Sikkel
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  2. Collin S. Schaumburg
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  3. Jeremy K. Mathenia
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Correspondence to Paul C. Sikkel.

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Communicated by Biology Editor M.I. McCormick.

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Sikkel, P.C., Schaumburg, C.S. & Mathenia, J.K. Diel infestation dynamics of gnathiid isopod larvae parasitic on Caribbean reef fish. Coral Reefs 25, 683–689 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-006-0154-1

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