Description
Potentially Misidentified Species - The ancyrocephalids listed have been reported from Micropterus spp. ('black basses' in the Chesapeake watershed (Deutsch 1977; Hargis 1952).
Taxonomy
| Kingdom | Phylum | Class | Order | Family | Genus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Animalia | Platyhelminthes | Trematoda | Monogenea | Ancyrocephalidae | Clavunculus |
Synonyms
Invasion History
Chesapeake Bay Status
| First Record | Population | Range | Introduction | Residency | Source Region | Native Region | Vectors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | Established | Unknown | Introducted | Unconfirmed | North America | North America | Fisheries(Fisheries Accidental) |
History of Spread
Clavunculus bursatus is a monogenean trematode which most frequently parasitizes Micropterus salmoides (Largemouth Bass), which has been introduced to Chesapeake Bay. It also parasitizes other centrarchid ('black basses' and sunfishes) fishes which have been introduced to the Bay. Clavunculus bursatus was described from M. salmoides in OH (Mueller 1936). Beverly-Burton (1986b) lists 18 published records from this species, 5 from M. punctulatus (Spotted Bass), 4 from M. dolomieu (Smallmouth Bass), and 4 from Lepomis macrochirus (Bluegill). All these fish species are native to the Mississippi and Gulf drainages, with some ranging into the Great Lakes Basin and southeastern Atlantic drainages as well. Clavunculus bursatus has been found throughout much of this range, from FL, AL, and AR in the south to WI and Ontario in the north (Hoffman 1967; Beverly-Burton 1986b), and is presumed to be native through most of the combined native range of the host species.
All of the host fishes have been widely stocked, spreading Clavunculus bursatus and other parasites along with the fishes. Micropterus salmoides 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. Micropterus punctulatus has 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). Clavunculus bursatus has been reported from a number of sites where it has been introduced with its fish hosts, including Pacific states [WA, CA (Mizelle and Crane 1964)], New England (ME, Beverly-Burton 1986b), and Puerto Rico (Pomales and Williams 1980).
In the Chesapeake Bay region, Clavunculus bursatus has been reported only from Westhampton Lake, Richmond VA, in the James River drainage, where it was found on M. salmoides (as Actinocleidus unguis) (Hargis 1952). However, this is one of only two sites in the Chesapeake watershed where helminth parasites of freshwater fishes have been extensively studied. Deutsch (1977) did not report it from M. dolomieu in the Susquehanna River PA, but C. bursatus appears to infect this species of fish less often than M. salmoides. 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.
History References - Beverly-Burton 1986b; Cope 1867; Deutsch 1977; Hargis 1952; Hoffman 1967; Hoffman 1970; Jenkins and Burkhead 1993; Lee et al. 1980; Mizelle and Crane 1964; Mueller 1936; Page and Burr 1991; Pomales and Williams 1980
Invasion Comments
Invasion Status- The one site where Clavunculus bursatus 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. They regard M. salmoides as a definite introduction in river basins north of the James (Jenkins and Burkhead 1993). Given the late development of taxonomic studies of trematodes, and limited information on geographical distribution (Mueller 1934; Beverly-Burton 1986), the parasite is assumed to have the same invasion status as M. salmoides.
Residency- We have not yet found any studies of trematodes of introduced fish species in the tidal waters of Chesapeake Bay. Inclusion of Clavunculus bursatus is based on its presence in the Chesapeake watershed at Westhampton Lake, Richmond VA (as Actinocleidus unguis) (Hargis 1952). However, since the host species, Micropterus salmoides (Largemouth Bass), and also M. dolomieu (Smallmouth Bass) are regular residents in tidal tributaries (Jenkins and Burkhead 1991), 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 | ||||
| pH | ||||
| Salinity Range | fresh-oligo |
Age and Growth
| Male | Female | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Adult Size (mm) | 0.7 | 0.7 |
| Typical Adult Size (mm) | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| Maximum Adult Size (mm) | 1.2 | 1.2 |
| 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 Clavunculus bursatus 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 Clavunculus bursatus on wild or cultured bass are not known.
Ecological Impacts on Chesapeake Native Species
Since Clavunculus bursatus, 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 C. bursatus, 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
Clavunculus bursatus is a fairly specific gill parasite of several centrarchid fishes, all of which are introducd to the Chesapeake Bay watershed. In the Chesapeake watershed, C. bursatus 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 (18 records, Beverly-Burton 1986b). Micropterus punctulatus (Spotted Bass) (4 records), M. dolomieu (Smallmouth Bass) (3 records), and Lepomis macrochirus (Bluegill) (1 record) are also potential hosts in the Chesapeake region (Beverly-Burton 1986b).
Parasitism - We have not found information on specific effects of C. bursatus 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 C. bursatus 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;Rawson and Rogers 1973; Pomales and Williams 1980) 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 species 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.
Reference - Beverly-Burton 1986b; Hargis 1952; Hargis 1953; Hoffman 1967; Joy 1984; Mizelle and Crane 1964; Pomales and Williams 1980; Rawson and Rogers 1972
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.
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. (1940) Studies on monogenetic trematodes: Redescriptions and variations in known species., The Journal of Parasitology 26: 165-178
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
Mueller, Justus F. (1936) Studies on North American Gyrodactyloidea, Transactions of the American Microscopical Society 55: 55-72
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.
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