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Effects of parasites on larval and juvenile stages of the coral reef fish Pomacentrus moluccensis

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Abstract

The ecological role of parasites in the early life-history stages of coral reef fish is far from clear. Parasitism in larval, recently settled and juvenile stages of a coral reef fish damselfish (Pomacentridae) was therefore investigated by quantifying the ontogenetic change in parasite load and comparing the growth rates of parasitized juvenile fish to those of unparasitized ones. Parasite prevalence in two lunar pulses of Pomacentrus moluccensis was 4 and 0% for larval stage fish, 34 and 56% for recently settled fish and 42 and 49% for juveniles. A significant increase in parasite prevalence with age group was found; the most marked increase occurred immediately after larval fish had settled. Standard length did not model prevalence well; as length is a proxy for age, this indicates that the higher prevalence in recently settled and juvenile fish compared with larvae was not a simple result of parasites accumulating with age. In one of three cohorts, there was some evidence that parasitism affected the growth rate of juveniles, as measured by otolith width. The study suggests that settling on the reef exposes young fish to potentially harmful parasites. This supports the idea that the pelagic phase may have the effect of reducing the exposure of young fish to the debilitating effects of parasites.

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Acknowledgments

We thank L. Curtis, C. M. Jones, J. G. Rumney, S. Walker and the Lizard Island Research Station Staff for their assistance in the field; C. M. Jones, G. Muñoz and J. Nicholls for comments on the manuscript; D. Meritt and T. Gorringe for assisting with imaging equipment, C. Cazier for preparing the gill sections, and J. Moore for the otolith work. An Australian Research Council Discovery Grant funded this study.

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Author notes

  1. H. McCallum

    Present address: School of Zoology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7001, Australia

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia

    A. S. Grutter, H. McCallum & J. L. Pickering

  2. School of Molecular and Microbial Sciences and Centre for Marine Studies, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia

    T. H. Cribb

  3. ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia

    M. I. McCormick

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  1. A. S. Grutter
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  4. J. L. Pickering
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  5. M. I. McCormick
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Correspondence to A. S. Grutter.

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Communicated by Biology Editor Dr. Clay Cook

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Grutter, A.S., Cribb, T.H., McCallum, H. et al. Effects of parasites on larval and juvenile stages of the coral reef fish Pomacentrus moluccensis . Coral Reefs 29, 31–40 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-009-0561-1

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