Increased abundance of snails and trematode parasites of Fundulus heteroclitus (L.) in restored New Jersey wetlands |
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Authors: | Celine Santiago Bass Judith S. Weis |
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Affiliation: | (1) Graduate Program in Ecology & Evolution, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA;(2) Great Eastern Ecology, Inc, 2231 Broadway, New York, NY 10024, USA;(3) Department of Biological Science, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ 07102, USA |
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Abstract: | The Hackensack Meadowlands District is a large heavily degraded, brackish marsh system in the urbanized northeastern region of New Jersey, USA. Six study sites were used, three of which were restored (Mill Creek, Skeetkill Creek and Vince Lombardi), and three others were unrestored (Richard DeKorte Park, Cedar Creek and Kingsland Creek). Highly significant differences were found with respect to snail abundance and gill parasite abundance. In the three restored sites, significantly more Littoridinops tenuipes were found, and Fundulus heteroclitus had significantly more digenean trematode metacercariae gill infections than at unrestored sites. As habitat quality improves following restoration, the number of suitable digenean trematode parasite hosts multiplies as substrate for benthic invertebrates (first intermediate host) increases and usage by other species, such as Fundulus spp. (second intermediate host), is encouraged, which then attracts more wading birds (definitive host). Though the restoration process enhances trophic complexity, including primary consumers (gastropods), secondary consumers (fish) and tertiary consumers (wading birds), and ultimately parasite diversity, restoration also helps facilitate parasite life cycles. |
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Keywords: | Ascocotyle (Phagicola) diminuta Digenean trematode metacercariae Echinochasmus schwartzi Hackensack Meadowlands Littoridinops tenuipes |
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