Description
Potentially Misidentified Species - The ancyrocephalids listed have been reported from Micropterus spp. in the Chesapeake watershed (Deutsch 1977; Hargis 1952). Additional species are known from Lepomis spp. (Hoffman 1967).
Taxonomy
| Kingdom | Phylum | Class | Order | Family | Genus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Animalia | Platyhelminthes | Trematoda | Monogenea | Ancyrocephalidae | Onchocleidus |
Synonyms
Invasion History
Chesapeake Bay Status
| First Record | Population | Range | Introduction | Residency | Source Region | Native Region | Vectors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | Established | Unknown | Introduced | Unconfirmed | North America | North America | Fisheries(Fisheries Accidental) |
History of Spread
Onchocleidus principalis is a monogenean trematode which most frequently parasitizes Micropterus salmoides (Largemouth Bass), but was first described from M. punctulatus (Spotted Bass) in IL (Mizelle 1936). Wheeler and Beverly-Burton (1989) list 28 published records from M. salmoides, 9 from M. punctulatus (Spotted Bass), 8 from M. dolomieu (Smallmouth Bass), and 1 each from from Lepomis cyanellus (Green Sunfish,) and L. macrochirus (Bluegill). All these fish species are native to the Missisippi and Gulf drainages. The native range of M. salmoides, M. dolomieu, and L. cyanellus, and L. macrochirus also includes the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Basin. In addition, M. salmoides and L. macrochirus also occurred naturally on the Atlantic slope of the southeastern United States into NC (Jenkins and Burkhead 1993; Lee et al. 1980; Page and Burr 1991). O. principalis has been found throughout much of this range, from FL, AL, LA, TX, and OK in the south to OH and Ontario in the north (Hoffman 1967; Beverly-Burton 1986b), and is presumed to be native through most of the combined native ranges of the host species.
Micropterus salmoides (Largemouth Bass) has been stocked and is now established through most of temperate North America, beginning in the 19th century, and has also been introduced to every continent except Antarctica. M. dolomieu and L. macrochirus are now equally widespread. The other hosts have also been introduced to many locations in North America and a few overseas (Jenkins and Burkhead 1993; Lee et al. 1980; Page and Burr 1991). Onchocleidus prinicipalis has been reported from a number of sites where it has been introduced with its fish hosts, including CA (Mizelle and Crane 1964), WA (Wheeler and Beverly-Burton 1989), England (Maitland and Price 1969), and Spain (Pellitero et al. 1981).
In the Chesapeake Bay region, Onchocleidus prinicipalis has been reported only from Westhampton Lake, Richmond VA, in the James River drainage, where it was found on M. salmoides (Hargis 1952). However, this is one of only two sites in the Chesapeake watershed where helminth parasites of freshwater fishes have been extensively studied. Since M. salmoides (together with other host species) is now found throughout the Bay drainage in nontidal and low-salinity estuarine waters, this parasite is probably equally widespread. However, additional studies of fish parasites in the region would be needed to confirm this.
In the James River drainage, the status of Micropterus salmoides has been debated. It was collected near Richmond in the first freshwater fish survey in the Chesapeake region (Cope 1869), but historical data suggest that it was probably introduced there in the early 1800's, and gradually spread by unofficial means to the Potomac by 1876 (Jenkins and Burkhead 1993). Jenkins and Burkhead (1993) consider the probable northward border of the native range of M. salmoides, on the Atlantic Coast, to be the Tar River, NC. North of the Potomac, M. salmoides was definitely introduced and well-established in most Chesapeake tributaries by 1900 (see the species account for M. salmoides).
Although there are no other parasite studies for M. salmoides in the drainage, besides Hargis' (1952), O.principalis and other parasites are likely to have been transported throughout the Chesapeake basin with stocked fish. Deutsch (1977) did not report it from M. dolomieu in the Susquehanna River PA, but O. principalis appears to infect this species of fish less often than M. salmoides (Wheeler and Beverly-Burton 1989).
History References - Cope 1869; Deutsch 1977; Hargis 1952; Hoffman 1967; Hoffman 1970; Jenkins and Burkhead 1993; Lee et al. 1980; Maitland and Price 1969; Mizelle 1936; Mizelle and Crane 1964; Page and Burr 1991; Pellitero et al. 1981; Pomales and Williams 1980; Wheeler and Beverly-Burton 1989
Invasion Comments
Chesapeake Regions Invaded - Reported only from Westhampton Lake, Richmond VA (Hargis 1952), the only location where the parasite fauna of its most frequent host, Micropterus salmoides, has been extensively studied. Based on the distribution of M. salmoides, Onchocleidus principalis is considered likely to occur in all tidal fresh and oligohaline tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay.
Invasion Status - The one site where Onchocleidus principalis has been studied is in the James River drainage, where Jenkins and Burkhead (1993) consider the primary host fish, Micropterus salmoides to be probably introduced. In river basins, north of the James, they regard M. salmoides as a definite introduction (Jenkins and Burkhead 1993). Given the late development of taxonomic studies of trematodes, and limited information on geographical distribution (Mizelle 1936; Wheeler and Beverly-Burton 1988), the parasite is assumed to have the same invasion status as M. salmoides.
Residency- Inclusion of Onchocleidus principalis is based on its presence in the Chesapeake watershed in Westhampton Lake, Richmond VA (Hargis 1952) and the occurrence of the host, Micropterus salmoides (Largemouth Bass) (Jenkins and Burkhead 1993). In other locations, O. furcatus has also been reported from M. dolomieu, Lepomis cyanellus (Green Sunfish), and L. macrochirus (Bluegill) (Wheeler and Beverly-Burton 1989), all of which are regular residents of the Bay (Jenkins and Burkhead 1993).
Ecology
Environmental Tolerances
| For Survival | For Reproduction | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum | Maximum | Minimum | Maximum | |
| Temperature (ºC) | ||||
| Salinity (‰) | 0.0 | 0.0 | ||
| Oxygen | ||||
| pH | ||||
| Salinity Range | fresh-oligo |
Age and Growth
| Male | Female | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Adult Size (mm) | 0.2 | 0.2 |
| Typical Adult Size (mm) | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| Maximum Adult Size (mm) | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| Maximum Longevity (yrs) | ||
| Typical Longevity (yrs |
Reproduction
| Start | Peak | End | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reproductive Season | |||
| Typical Number of Young Per Reproductive Event |
|||
| Sexuality Mode(s) | |||
| Mode(s) of Asexual Reproduction |
|||
| Fertilization Type(s) | |||
| More than One Reproduction Event per Year |
|||
| Reproductive Startegy | |||
| Egg/Seed Form |
Impacts
Economic Impacts in Chesapeake Bay
Specific impacts of Onchocleidus principalis are not known in the Chesapeake Bay region, but its most frequent host, Micropterus salmoides (Largemouth Bass) is an economically important gamefish in tributaries of the Bay (Fewlass 1980; Jenkins and Burkhead 1993).
References- Fewlass 1980; Jenkins and Burkhead 1993
Economic Impacts Outside of Chesapeake Bay
Monogenean trematodes as a group, are considered potential pests of fishes in hatcheries, and may cause mortality of wild fish populations under naturally occurring conditions of crowding or stress (Hoffman 1967). However, specific impacts of Onchocleidus principalis on wild or cultured bass are not known.
References- Hoffman 1967
Ecological Impacts on Chesapeake Native Species
Since Onchocleidus principalis, like most other monogeneans, is highly host-specific (Hoffman 1967; Wheeler and Beverly-Burton 1989), and all its known hosts are introduced to the region, it has had no direct impacts on native Chesapeake biota. Indirect impacts of O. principalis, through effects on populations of Micropterus spp., can't be ruled out, since the impacts of gill trematode parasites on this genus has not been studied.
References - Hoffman 1967; Wheeler and Beverly-Burton 1989
Ecological Impacts on Other Chesapeake Non-Native Species
Onchocleidus principalis is a fairly specific gill parasite of several centrarchid fishes, all of which are introducd to the Chesapeake Bay watershed. In the Chesapeake watershed, O. principalis was collected from Micropterus salmoides (Largemouth Bass) in Westhampton Lake, Richmond VA (Hargis 1952; Hargis 1953), which is its most common host over the range of the parasite (29 records, Wheeler and Beverly-Burton 1989). Micropterus punctulatus (Spotted Bass, 8 records), M. dolomieu (Smallmouth Bass, 7 record), Lepomis cyanellus (Green Sunfish, 1 record), L. macrochirus (Bluegill, 1 record) are also potential hosts in the Chesapeake region (Wheeler and Beverly-Burton 1989).
Parasitism - We have not found information on specific effects of O. principalis on its hosts. Some monogeneans (Gyrodactylus spp., Dactylogyrus spp.) are known as serious pests of cultured fishes (Hoffman 1967). 'Other Monogenea probably are potential threats of fish culture but have not been adequately studied. In fish populations that have become crowded in nature, similar hardships have been known to occur' (Hoffman 1967). The prevalence of O. principalis on M. salmoides and M. punctulatus has been studied in several natural populations in AL, and CA (Mizelle and Crane 1964; Rawson and Rogers 1973), but impacts of the parasite on these populations are not known.
Competition - Mizelle and Crane (1964) noted that although 7 monogenean gill parasites of Micropterus spp. were known, no more than 4 occurred at any one locality. They suggested competition among species as a possible mechanism limiting the diversity of gill trematodes on a specific host in any one body of water. Rawson and Rogers (1972) suggested that competition, together with different temperature optima for different species could play a part in seasonal fluctuations in parasite abundance.
References - Hargis 1952; Hargis 1953; Hoffman 1967; Mizelle and Crane 1964; Rawson and Rogers 1972; Wheeler and Beverly-Burton 1989
References
Beverley-Burton, Mary (1986) Taxonomic status of Actinocleidus Mueller, 1937; Anchoradiscus Mizelle, 1941; Clavunculus syncleithrium Price, 1967 and Crinicleidus N. Gen.: North America ancyrocephalids (monogenea) with articulating haptoral bars., The Journal of Parasitology 72: 22-24Beverley-Burton, Mary (1986) Guide to the parasites of fishes of Canada Part I: Monogenea and Turbellaria, Canadian Special Publication of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 74: 5-209
Beverley-Burton, Mary; Klassen, Gregory J. (1990) New approaches to the systematics of the ancyrocephalid monogenea from nearartic freshwater fishes, The Journal of Parasitology 76: 1-21
Carlander, Kenneth D. (1977) Handbook of Freshwater Fishery Biology. , In: (Eds.) Handbook of Freshwater Fishery Biology, Volume Two: Life History Data on Centrarchid Fishes of the U.S & Canada. , Ames. Pp. Ames
Cope, Edward Drinker (1869) On the distribution of fishes in the Allegheny region of southwestern Virginia, Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 6: 207-249
Deutsch, William G. (1977) Fish parasites from the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania, with new host records, Proceedings of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science 51: 122-124
Fewlass, Leon (1980) Life history and management of the largemouth bass in upper Chesapeake Bay, F-20-R , Annapolis MD. Pp.
Hardy, Jerry D., Jr. (1978) Development of fishes of the Mid-Atlantic Bight. Vol. 3. Aphredoderidae through Rachycentridae., In: (Eds.) . , Washington DC. Pp.
Hargis, William J., Jr. (1952) Monogenetic trematodes of Westhampton Lake fishes. II. A list of species and key to the genera encountered, The Virginia Journal of Science 3: 112-115
Hargis, William J., Jr. (1953) Monogenetic trematodes of Westhampton Lake fishes. III. Part I: Comparative morphology of the species encountered, The Journal of Parasitology 39: 88-105
Hoffman, Glenn L. (1967) Parasites of North American freshwater fishes, In: (Eds.) . , Berkeley. Pp.
Hoffman, Glenn L. (1970) Intercontinental and transcontinental dissemination and transfaunation of fish parasites with emphasis on whirling disease (Myxosoma cerebralis), American Fisheries Society Special Publication 5: 69-81
Jenkins, Robert E.; Burkhead, Noel M. (1993) Freshwater fishes of Virginia., , Bethesda, MD. Pp.
Lee, David S.; Gilbert, Carter R.; Hocutt, Charles H.; Jenkins, Robert E.; McAllister, Don E.; Stauffer, Jay R. (1980) Atlas of North American Freshwater Fishes, , Raleigh. Pp.
Maitland, Peter S.; Price, Charles E. (1969) Urocleidus principalis (Mizelle, 1936), a North American monogenetic Tremtoda new to the British Isles, probably introduced with the largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides (Lacepede, 1802), Journal of Fish Biology 1: 17-18
Meador, M. R.; Kelso, W. E. (1990) Physiological responses of largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides, exposed to salinity, Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 47: 2358-2363
Mizelle, John D.; Crane, John W. (1964) Studies on monogenetic trematodes, XXIII. Gill parasites of Micropterus salmoides (Lacépède) from California ponds., Transactions of the American Microscopical Society 83: 343-348
Mizelle, John D.; Hughes, R. Chester (1938) North American fresh-water Tetraonchinae, American Midland Naturalist 20: 341-353
Nack, Steven B.; Bunnell, Donald; Green, David M.; Forney, John M. (1993) Spawning and nursery habits of largemouth bass in the tidal Hudson River, Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 122: 208-216
Page, Lawrence M.; Burr, Brooks M. (1991) Freshwater Fishes., , Boston. Pp.
Pellitero, Alvarez; Vicente, Simon; Lanza, Gonzalez (1981) Nuevas aportaciones sobre Dactylogyridae (Monogenea) de la cuenca del duero (No. de espana), con descripcion de Dactylogyrus polylepidis n. sp. y D. bocageii n. sp., Revista Iberica Parasitologia 241: 225-249
Pomales, Angelina D.; Williams, Ernest H., Jr. (1980) Yearly parasite variation in the temperate centrarchid, Micropterus salmoides (Lacépède), largemouth bass, twenty-eight years after introduction into a tropical environment, The Journal of Parasitology 66: 81
Rawson, Rogers; Wilmer A. (1972) The seasonal abundance of the Ancyrocephalinae (Monogenea) on largemouth bass in the Walter F. George Reservoir, Proceedings of the Helminthological Society of Washington 39: 159-162
Wheeler, Terry A.; Beverley-Burton, Mary (1989) Systematics of Onchocleidus Mueller, 1936 (Monogenea: Ancyrocephalidae): generic revision, Canadian Journal of Zoology 67: 136-157