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High prevalence of dermal parasites among coral reef fishes of Curaçao

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Abstract

During expeditions to Curaçao in August and October of 2013, a large number of fish infected with dermal parasites was observed. Infected individuals presented black spots and white blemishes on their skin and fins that were easily observed by divers, and which have been associated with infections by trematodes, turbellarians, and protozoans (Cryptocaryon). In order to compare rates of infection across localities in the Caribbean, we conducted visual censuses of reef fish communities along 40 m2 belt transects in Belize (n = 35), Curaçao (n = 82), and Mexico (n = 80) over a 4-week period. Three affected individuals were recorded in Belize, 75 in Curaçao, and none in Mexico. Approximately 68 % of the infected individuals in Curaçao were surgeonfishes (Acanthuridae). There was no correlation between incidence of infection and species abundance (r 2 = 0.03), or with functional traits (diet, mobility, schooling behavior, or position in the water column). The causes of the strikingly high incidence of dermal parasites in Curaçao and its consequences remain unknown. However, considering that parasites with complex life cycles have several hosts throughout their lives, and that past disease outbreaks have had severe consequences on communities of the Caribbean, we caution that coral reef ecosystems of Curaçao should be closely monitored.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Freeland Dunker, Alexandra Grutter, Paul Sikkel, Alistair Dove, Mark Hay, Juan Pablo Quimbayo, the staff of CARMABI (Caribbean Marine Biological Institute), and one anonymous reviewer for their help with the manuscript. Funding was provided by a California Academy of Sciences grant to MAB, MRG, and LAR; Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) grant to SRF; Secretaría Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (SENACYT) to MAB; and Brazilian Marine Biodiversity Network (SISBIOTA-Mar) through CNPq (563276/2010-0) and Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa e Inovação do Estado de Santa Catarina (FAPESC) (6308/2011-8).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Texas Marine Science Institute, 750 Channel View Dr., Port Aransas, TX, 78373, USA

    Moisés A. Bernal

  2. Institute for Biodiversity, Science and Sustainability, Department of Ichthyology, California Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse Dr, San Francisco, CA, 94118, USA

    Moisés A. Bernal, Michelle R. Gaither & Luiz A. Rocha

  3. Laboratório de Biogeografia e Macroecologia Marinha, Departamento de Ecologia e Zoologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, 88040-900, Brazil

    Sergio R. Floeter, Guilherme O. Longo & Renato Morais

  4. School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Durham University, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK

    Michelle R. Gaither

  5. Departamento de Biologia Marinha, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ, 24001-970, Brazil

    Carlos E. L. Ferreira

  6. Carmabi Foundation, Willemstad, Curaçao

    Mark J.A. Vermeij

  7. Aquatic Microbiology, Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, 1090, GE, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Mark J.A. Vermeij

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  1. Moisés A. Bernal
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  2. Sergio R. Floeter
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  3. Michelle R. Gaither
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  4. Guilherme O. Longo
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  5. Renato Morais
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  7. Mark J.A. Vermeij
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  8. Luiz A. Rocha
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Correspondence to Moisés A. Bernal.

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Communicated by B. W. Hoeksema

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Bernal, M.A., Floeter, S.R., Gaither, M.R. et al. High prevalence of dermal parasites among coral reef fishes of Curaçao. Mar Biodiv 46, 67–74 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12526-015-0322-z

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