Journal
PARASITOLOGY
Volume 135, Issue 12, Pages 1417-1435Publisher
CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS
DOI: 10.1017/S0031182008004812
Keywords
parasite diversity; community similarity; biogeography; phylogeny; distance decay; favourable centre
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Funding
- Grant Agency of the Czech Republic [524/07/0188]
- Masaryk University, Brno [MSM 0021622 416]
- Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic [LC 522]
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The diversity and similarity of parasite communities is a result of many determinants widely considered in parasite ecology. In this study, the metazoan parasite communities of 15 chub Populations (Leuciscus cephalus) were sampled across a wide geographical range. Three hypotheses of biogeographical gradients in species diversity were tested: (1) latitudinal gradient, (2) a 'favourable centre' versus 'local oasis' model, and (3) decay of similarity with distance. We found that the localities in marginal zones of chub distribution showed lower parasite species richness and diversity. A latitudinal gradient, with increasing abundance of larvae of Diplostomum species, was observed. There was a general trend for a negative relationship between relative prevalence or abundance and the distance from the locality with maximum prevalence or abundance for the majority of parasite species. However, statistical support for a 'favourable centre' model was found only for total abundance of Monogenea and for larvae of Diplostomum species. The phylogenetic relatedness of host populations inferred an important role when the 'favourable centre' model was tested. Testing of the hypothesis of 'decay of similarity with geographical distance' showed that phylogenetic distance was more important as a determinant of similarity in parasite communities than geographical distance between host populations.
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