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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 56(4)

Patterns of digenean parasitism of bivalves from the Great Barrier Reef and associated waters

Nathan J. Bott A B D , John M. Healy C and Thomas H. Cribb A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Microbiology and Parasitology and Centre for Marine Studies, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld 4072, Australia.

B Current address: South Australian Research and Development Institute, GPO Box 397, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia.

C Malacology Section, Division of Invertebrate Zoology, PO Box 3300, Queensland Museum, South Brisbane, Qld 4101, Australia.

D Corresponding author. Email: bott.nathan@saugov.sa.gov.au

Marine and Freshwater Research 56(4) 387-394 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF04307
Submitted: 27 December 2004  Accepted: 10 March 2005   Published: 27 June 2005

Abstract

Digenean parasites of marine bivalves are relatively poorly known, particularly in Australia. We surveyed 2256 bivalve individuals (47 species, 17 families) from Queensland marine waters incorporating south-east Queensland, Heron Island (southern Great Barrier Reef) and Lizard Island (northern Great Barrier Reef). Infections of trematode species from three families, Bucephalidae, Gorgoderidae and Monorchiidae, were found. Overall prevalence of infection was 2.3%. The Bucephalidae was the most commonly found family; 11 species were found in Tellinidae, Ostreidae, Isognomonidae and Spondylidae – the latter two previously unknown as hosts for bucephalids. A single gorgoderid infection was found in a venerid, Lioconcha castrensis. Five species of monorchiids were found from Tellinidae and Lucinidae. All infections are new host/parasite records. No infections were found in 35 of the 47 bivalve species sampled. The generally low prevalence of infection by digeneans of bivalves suggests that it is unlikely that any of the species reported here are seriously damaging to bivalve populations in these waters. We deduce that, at best, we have some life-cycle information but no actual identifications for 10% of the species of trematodes that infect bivalves of Queensland marine waters.

Extra keywords: Bucephalidae, Digenea, Gorgoderidae, host–parasite association, Monorchiidae.


Acknowledgments

The authors thank the late Dr Kevin Lamprell for his invaluable assistance with the identifications of many bivalve species. We thank Trudy Burge for compiling the host–parasite database. We thank Eric Boel, Dr Alistair Dove, Prof. Delane Kritsky, Marlene Kritsky, Dr Gaines Tyler, Matt Nolan, Aaron Jex, Gabriela Munoz, Kate Hutson, Nicole Elphinstone, Sarah Shaw, Megan Tibaldi, Emma Ingram, Sita Balshaw and Ashley Roberts-Thomson for their assistance with collecting. Dr Rob Adlard (Queensland Museum) and Dr Craig Hayward (University of Tasmania) kindly read a draft of the manuscript. We thank the two anonymous referees for their helpful comments. We also thank the staff of the Heron Island and Lizard Island Research Stations for all their assistance.


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