Description
Potentially Misidentified Species - The ancyrocephalids listed have been reported from Micropterus spp. in the Chesapeake watershed (Deutsch 1977; Hargis 1952).
Taxonomy
| Kingdom | Phylum | Class | Order | Family | Genus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Animalia | Platyhelminthes | Trematoda | Monogenea | Ancyrocephalidae | Syncleithrium |
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
Syncleithrium fusiformis is a monogenean trematode which most freqeuently parasitizes Micropterus salmoides (Largemouth Bass), but was first reported from M. dolomieu (Cooper and Bensley 1915) in Ontario (as Ancyrocephalus cruciatus) (Beverly-Burton 1986b). Beverly-Burton (1986b) lists 29 published records from M. salmoides, 4 from M. punctulatus (Spotted Bass), 12 from M. dolomieu (Smallmouth Bass), and 1 each from from Lepomis cyanellus (Green Sunfish), L. gulosus (Warmouth), L. macrochirus (Bluegill), and L. megalotis (Longear Sunfish). All these fish species are native to the Missisippi and Gulf drainages. The native range of M. salmoides, M. dolomieu, and L. cyanellus, L. gulosus, and L. macrochirus also includes the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Basin. Micropterus salmoides. L. macrochirus, also probably occurred naturally on the Atlantic slope of the southeastern United States into NC or VA (Jenkins and Burkhead 1993; Lee et al. 1980; Page and Burr 1991). Syncleithrium fusiformis has been found throughout much of this range, from FL, AL, LA, TX, and OK in the south to OH, Ontario, and Manitoba in the north (Hoffman 1967; Beverly-Burton 1986a; Beverly-Burton 1986b), and is presumed to be native through most of the combined native range of the host species.
The black basses of the genus Micropterus, particularly M. dolomieu and M. salmoides, have been stocked and are now established through most of temperate North America, beginning in the 19th century, and has also been introduced to every continent except Antarctic. 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).
Syncleithrium fusiformis has been reported from a number of sites where it has been introduced with its fish hosts, including CA (Mizelle and Crane 1964), WA (Beverly-Burton 1986b), and Puerto Rico (Pomales and Williams 1980).
In the Chesapeake Bay region, Syncleithrium fusiformis has been reported from Westhampton Lake, Richmond VA, in the James River drainage, where it was found on M. salmoides (Hargis 1952), and from the Susquehanna river in Wyoming and Luzerne Counties PA (Deutsch 1977). However, these are the 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, and M. dolomieu also enters tidal waters (Jenkins and Burkhead 1993; Pavol and Davis 1982), this parasite is probably widespread. 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).
Micropterus dolomieu is definitely introduced to the whole Chesapeake Bay watershed, beginning with the Potomac River in 1854, and was established in the Bay tributaries on the western shore of the Bay by 1900 (Jenkins and Burkhead 1993). This species is less inclined to enter Coastal Plain and estuarine waters than M. salmoides, but does occur regularly in the uppermost parts of the Bay (Pavol and Davis 1983). (Also, see the species account for M. dolomieu).
Although there are only two extensive parasite studies for freshwater fishes in the Chesapeake drainage, (Deutsch 1977; Hargis 1952), S. fusiformis and other parasites are likely to have been transported throughout the Chesapeake basin with stocked fish.
History References - Cooper 1915; Cope 1869; Beverly-Burton 1986a; Beverly-Burton 1986b; Deutsch 1977; Hargis 1952; Hoffman 1967; Hoffman 1970; Jenkins and Burkhead 1993; Lee et al. 1980; Mizelle and Crane 1964; Page and Burr 1991; Pavol and Davis 1982; Pomales and Williams 1980
Invasion Comments
Chesapeake Regions Invaded - Reported from Westhampton Lake, Richmond VA (Hargis 1952) and the Susquehanna River in Wyoming and Luzerne Counties PA (Deutsch 1977), the only locations where helminth parasites of fishes have been been extensively studied. Based on the distribution of its most common hosts, Micropterus salmoides, and M. dolomieu, Syncleithrium fusiformis is considered likely to occur in all tidal fresh and oligohaline tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay.
Invasion Status - Of the two most common host species, M. salmoides is considered to be probably introduced to the James River drainage, including Westhampton Lake and definitely introduced to more northern tributaries, while M. dolomieu is a definite introduction to the Chesapeake watershed as a whole Jenkins and Burkhead (1993). Consequently, we consider Syncleithrium fusiformis' invasion status to be 'probable' in the James River, and 'definite' in more northern tributaries, including the Susquehanna.
Residency - We have not yet found any studies of trematodes of introduced fish species in the tidal waters of Chesapeake Bay. Inclusion of Syncleithrium fusiformis is based on its presence in the Chesapeake watershed at Westhampton Lake, Richmond VA (as Actinocleidus unguis) (Hargis 1952) and in the Susquehanna River, central PA (Deutsch 1977). However, since the host species, Micropterus salmoides (Largemouth Bass), and M. dolomieu (Smallmouth Bass) are regular residents in tidal tributaries (Jenkins and Burkhead 1993), this parasite is considered likely to be present with them.
Ecology
Environmental Tolerances
| For Survival | For Reproduction | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum | Maximum | Minimum | Maximum | |
| Temperature (ºC) | ||||
| Salinity (‰) | 0.0 | 0.0 | ||
| Oxygen | hypoxic | |||
| pH | ||||
| Salinity Range | fresh-oligo |
Age and Growth
| Male | Female | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Adult Size (mm) | 0.6 | 0.6 |
| Typical Adult Size (mm) | 0.7 | 0.7 |
| Maximum Adult Size (mm) | 0.8 | 0.8 |
| 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 Syncleithrium fusiformis are not known in the Chesapeake Bay region, but its most frequent hosts, Micropterus salmoides (Largemouth Bass) and M. dolomieu (Smallmouth Bass) are economically important gamefishes in tributaries of the Bay (Fewlass 1980; Jenkins and Burkhead 1993; Pavol and Davis 1982).
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 Syncleithrium fusiformis on wild or cultured bass are not known.
Ecological Impacts on Chesapeake Native Species
Since Syncleithrium fusiformis, like most other monogeneans, is highly host-specific (Beverly-Burton 1986b; Hoffman 1967), and all its known hosts are introduced to the region, it has had no direct impacts on native Chesapeake biota. Indirect impacts of S. fusiformis, through effects on populations of Micropterus spp., can not be ruled out, since the impacts of gill trematode parasites on this genus has not been studied.
References - Beverly-Burton 1986b; Hoffman 1967
Ecological Impacts on Other Chesapeake Non-Native Species
Syncleithrium fusiformis is a fairly specific gill parasite of several centrarchid fishes, all of which are introduced to the Chesapeake Bay watershed. In the Chesapeake watershed, S. fusiformis 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, Beverly-Burton 1986b), and also, in the Susquehanna River PA (Deutsch 1977), from M. dolomieu (Smallmouth Bass) (13 records). Micropterus punctulatus (Spotted Bass, 4 records), Lepomis cyanellus (Green Sunfish, 1 record), L. macrochirus (Bluegill, 1 record) and L. microlophus (Redear Sunfish, 1 record) are also potential hosts in the Chesapeake region (Beverly-Burton 1986b).
Parasitism - We have not found information on specific effects of S. fusiformis 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 S. fusiformis on M. salmoides and M. punctulatus has been studied in several natural populations in AL, WV, CA, and Puerto Rico (Joy 1984; Mizelle and Crane 1964; Pomales and Williams 1980; 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 specifc 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 parastie abundance.
References - Beverly-Burton 1986; Deutsch 1977; Hargis 1952; Hargis 1953; Hoffman 1967; Joy 1984; Mizelle and Crane 1964 ;Pomales and Williams 1980; Rawson and Rogers 1972
References
Barnes, Robert D. (1983) Invertebrate Zoology., , Philadelphia. Pp. 883Beverley-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 (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: 22-24
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
Cooper, A. R.; Bensley, B. A. (1915) Trematodes from marine and fresh-water fishes, including one species of ectoparasitic turbellarian, Transactions of the Royal Society of Canada 9: 190-204
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.
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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
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