Barnacles (Cirripedia, Thoracica) and associated epibionts from sea turtles in the central Mediterranean
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The association patterns and ecology of sea turtle epibionts, and especially obligate epibionts, are still poorly known. Epibiont communities were investigated in the central Mediterranean Sea in relation to the host habitat and seven species of barnacles, three amphipods, one crab, and one tanaid were found on 117 loggerhead sea turtles, Caretta caretta. Particular attention was given to barnacles, some of them being obligate turtle epibionts, with a total of 3330 individuals examined, among which high intraspecific aggregation was observed. Results indicate that (i) the species composition of barnacles varies among turtles frequenting not only different geographic areas but also different habitats in the same area, (ii) different species have marked preferences for hosts frequenting pelagic vs. benthic habitats, and also (iii) for body parts of the host representing microhabitats with different features and trophic opportunities, (iv) settlement is favoured by the presence of conspecific individuals and possibly also (v) by individuals of related species, notably Chelonibia testudinaria that may act as a pioneer species, and finally (vi) barnacles show rapid turnover on turtles, with relatively short lives, rapid growth, and high juvenile mortality.
Le associazioni e l’ecologia degli epibionti di tartaruga marina e in particolare degli epibionti obbligati, sono ancora poco conosciute. Comunità di ebibionti sono state studiate nel Mediterraneo centrale in relazione all’habitat dell’ospite e sette specie di cirripedi, tre di anfipodi, un granchio e un tanaidaceo sono stati osservati su 117 tartarughe comuni Caretta caretta. Particolare attenzione è stata posta sui cirripedi, alcuni di essi epibionti obbligati, con un totale di 3330 individui osservati e con alta aggregazione intraspecifica. I risultati indicano che (i) la composizione delle specie di cirripedi varia tra le tartarughe in base non solo all’area geografica ma anche a habitat differenti nella stessa area, (ii) specie diverse hanno una marcata preferenza per ospiti che frequentano habitat pelagici o neritici e anche (iii) per parti del corpo dell’ospite che rappresentano microhabitat con differenti caratteristiche e opportunità trofiche, (iv) l’insediamento è favorito dalla presenza di individui conspecifici e forse anche (v) da individui di specie affini, in particolare Chelonibia testudinaria che potrebbe agire da specie pioniera, (vi) i balani hanno un rapido ricambio sulle tartarughe, con vita relativamente breve, accrescimento rapido ed elevata mortalità giovanile.
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Barnacles (Cirripedia, Thoracica) and associated epibionts from sea turtles in the central Mediterranean
In: CrustaceanaSearch for other papers by P. Casale in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by M. D’Addario in
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PubMed
Search for other papers by D. Freggi in
Current site
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PubMed
Search for other papers by R. Argano in
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PubMed
The association patterns and ecology of sea turtle epibionts, and especially obligate epibionts, are still poorly known. Epibiont communities were investigated in the central Mediterranean Sea in relation to the host habitat and seven species of barnacles, three amphipods, one crab, and one tanaid were found on 117 loggerhead sea turtles, Caretta caretta. Particular attention was given to barnacles, some of them being obligate turtle epibionts, with a total of 3330 individuals examined, among which high intraspecific aggregation was observed. Results indicate that (i) the species composition of barnacles varies among turtles frequenting not only different geographic areas but also different habitats in the same area, (ii) different species have marked preferences for hosts frequenting pelagic vs. benthic habitats, and also (iii) for body parts of the host representing microhabitats with different features and trophic opportunities, (iv) settlement is favoured by the presence of conspecific individuals and possibly also (v) by individuals of related species, notably Chelonibia testudinaria that may act as a pioneer species, and finally (vi) barnacles show rapid turnover on turtles, with relatively short lives, rapid growth, and high juvenile mortality.
Le associazioni e l’ecologia degli epibionti di tartaruga marina e in particolare degli epibionti obbligati, sono ancora poco conosciute. Comunità di ebibionti sono state studiate nel Mediterraneo centrale in relazione all’habitat dell’ospite e sette specie di cirripedi, tre di anfipodi, un granchio e un tanaidaceo sono stati osservati su 117 tartarughe comuni Caretta caretta. Particolare attenzione è stata posta sui cirripedi, alcuni di essi epibionti obbligati, con un totale di 3330 individui osservati e con alta aggregazione intraspecifica. I risultati indicano che (i) la composizione delle specie di cirripedi varia tra le tartarughe in base non solo all’area geografica ma anche a habitat differenti nella stessa area, (ii) specie diverse hanno una marcata preferenza per ospiti che frequentano habitat pelagici o neritici e anche (iii) per parti del corpo dell’ospite che rappresentano microhabitat con differenti caratteristiche e opportunità trofiche, (iv) l’insediamento è favorito dalla presenza di individui conspecifici e forse anche (v) da individui di specie affini, in particolare Chelonibia testudinaria che potrebbe agire da specie pioniera, (vi) i balani hanno un rapido ricambio sulle tartarughe, con vita relativamente breve, accrescimento rapido ed elevata mortalità giovanile.
| All Time | Past Year | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 989 | 159 | 17 |
| Full Text Views | 301 | 15 | 2 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 90 | 24 | 5 |