Enemies with benefits: parasitic endoliths protect mussels against heat stress. | - CCMAR -

Journal Article

TítuloEnemies with benefits: parasitic endoliths protect mussels against heat stress.
Publication TypeJournal Article
AuthorsZardi, GI, Nicastro, KR, McQuaid, CD, Ng, TPT, Lathlean, J, Seuront, L
Year of Publication2016
JournalSci Rep
Volume6
Date Published2016
Pagination31413
ISSN2045-2322
Abstract

Positive and negative aspects of species interactions can be context dependant and strongly affected by environmental conditions. We tested the hypothesis that, during periods of intense heat stress, parasitic phototrophic endoliths that fatally degrade mollusc shells can benefit their mussel hosts. Endolithic infestation significantly reduced body temperatures of sun-exposed mussels and, during unusually extreme heat stress, parasitised individuals suffered lower mortality rates than non-parasitised hosts. This beneficial effect was related to the white discolouration caused by the excavation activity of endoliths. Under climate warming, species relationships may be drastically realigned and conditional benefits of phototrophic endolithic parasites may become more important than the costs of infestation.

DOI10.1038/srep31413
Sapientia

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27506855?dopt=Abstract

Alternate JournalSci Rep
PubMed ID27506855
PubMed Central IDPMC4979024
CCMAR Authors