The corallivorous flatworm Amakusaplana acroporae: an invasive species threat to coral reefs?
Year: 2013
Type: article
Abstract: Fatal infestations of land-based Acropora cultures with so-called Acropora - eating flatworms (AEFWs) are a global phenomenon. We evaluate the hypothesis that AEFWs represent a risk to coral reefs by studying the biology and the invasive potential of an AEFW strain from the UK. Molecular analyses identified this strain as Amakusaplana acroporae , a new species described from two US aquaria and one natural location in Australia. Our molecular data together with life history strategies described here suggest that this species accounts for most reported cases of AEFW infestations. We show that local parasitic activity impairs the light-acclimation capacity of the whole host colony. A. acroporae acquires excellent camouflage by harbouring photosynthetically competent, host-derived zooxanthellae and pigments of the green-fluorescent protein family. It shows a preference for Acropora valida but accepts a broad host range. Parasite survival in isolation (5–7 d) potentially allows for an invasion when introduced as non-native species in coral reefs.
Source: Coral Reefs
Authors: Benjamin C. C. Hume, Cecilia D’Angelo, Anna Cunnington, Edward G. Smith, Jörg Wiedenmann
Language: English
Subfield: Ecology
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Life below water
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,190
Awards: Host pigments of hermatypic corals as indicators of environmental stress in reef communities, G3207356259, Environmentally regulated genes as basis for coral reef resilience, Understanding the exceptional heat tolerance of reef corals from the Persian/Arabian Gulf, Influence of nutrient starvation on corals' susceptibility to bleaching, G7546946110, G896728979
OpenAlex ID: W2004950782