Parasites in these 200 old cans of salmon may spell good news for marine food webs
Parasites plague almost every creature on Earth, from ticks on dogs to lice on whales. But for marine ecologists, it’s hard to analyze the tiny creatures that lurk in big, elusive ones. Now, a new study uses a novel sample—commercially canned salmon—to do just that. The finding of more parasites in recent years may be good news for the health of salmon and other Pacific Ocean creatures, researchers say.
Although people “often think of [parasites] as being indicative of sickness … from an ecosystem perspective, they’re a sign of health,” says Jeb Byers, an ecologist at the University of Georgia who was n...
Source: Science of Aging Knowledge Environment - May 7, 2024 Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research
Mitochondrial genome fragmentation is correlated with increased rates of molecular evolution
by Tom áš Najer, Jorge Doña, Aleš Buček, Andrew D. Sweet, Oldřich Sychra, Kevin P. Johnson
While mitochondrial genome content and organization is quite diverse across all Eukaryotes, most bilaterian animal mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) exhibit highly conserved gene content and organisation, with genes typically encoded on a single circular chromosome. However, many species of parasitic lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) are among the notable exceptions, having mitogenomes fragmented into multiple circular chromosomes. To better understand the process of mitogenome fragmentation, we conducted a large-scale genomic st...
Source: PLoS Genetics - May 3, 2024 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Tom áš Najer Source Type: research
A spa session for humpback whales
Nature, Published online: 15 April 2024; doi:10.1038/d41586-024-01072-xThe gigantic animals have worked out an unusual way to exfoliate — a perfect way to deal with whale lice. (Source: Nature AOP)
Source: Nature AOP - April 15, 2024 Category: Research Source Type: research
Effects of regional coordination of salmon louse control in reducing negative impacts of salmonid aquaculture on wild salmonids
Int J Parasitol. 2024 Apr 10:S0020-7519(24)00073-0. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2024.04.003. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTParasitic salmon lice (Lepeoptheirus salmonis) are a constraint to the sustainable growth of salmonids in open net pens, and this issue has caused production to level off in recent years in the most aquaculture-intensive areas of Norway. The maximum allowed biomass at a regional level is regulated by using the so-called "traffic light" system, where salmon louse-induced mortality of migrating wild salmon post-smolts is evaluated against set targets. As a case study, we have investigated how a specific aquacu...
Source: International Journal for Parasitology - April 12, 2024 Category: Parasitology Authors: Leif Christian Stige Peder A Jansen Kari O Helgesen Source Type: research
Effects of regional coordination of salmon louse control in reducing negative impacts of salmonid aquaculture on wild salmonids
Int J Parasitol. 2024 Apr 10:S0020-7519(24)00073-0. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2024.04.003. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTParasitic salmon lice (Lepeoptheirus salmonis) are a constraint to the sustainable growth of salmonids in open net pens, and this issue has caused production to level off in recent years in the most aquaculture-intensive areas of Norway. The maximum allowed biomass at a regional level is regulated by using the so-called "traffic light" system, where salmon louse-induced mortality of migrating wild salmon post-smolts is evaluated against set targets. As a case study, we have investigated how a specific aquacu...
Source: International Journal for Parasitology - April 12, 2024 Category: Parasitology Authors: Leif Christian Stige Peder A Jansen Kari O Helgesen Source Type: research
Effects of regional coordination of salmon louse control in reducing negative impacts of salmonid aquaculture on wild salmonids
Int J Parasitol. 2024 Apr 10:S0020-7519(24)00073-0. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2024.04.003. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTParasitic salmon lice (Lepeoptheirus salmonis) are a constraint to the sustainable growth of salmonids in open net pens, and this issue has caused production to level off in recent years in the most aquaculture-intensive areas of Norway. The maximum allowed biomass at a regional level is regulated by using the so-called "traffic light" system, where salmon louse-induced mortality of migrating wild salmon post-smolts is evaluated against set targets. As a case study, we have investigated how a specific aquacu...
Source: International Journal for Parasitology - April 12, 2024 Category: Parasitology Authors: Leif Christian Stige Peder A Jansen Kari O Helgesen Source Type: research
Influence of grooming on permanent arthropod associates of birds: cattle egrets, lice, and mites
J Parasitol. 2024 Apr 1;110(2):143-149. doi: 10.1645/23-85.ABSTRACTBirds have a diverse community of "permanent" arthropods that complete their entire life cycle on the body of the host. Because some of these arthropods are parasites that reduce host fitness, birds control them by grooming, which consists of preening with the beak and scratching with the feet. Although preening is the primary component of grooming, scratching is essential for controlling arthropods on the head and neck, which cannot be preened. Several unrelated groups of birds have evolved comb-like pectinate claws on the middle toenail of each foot. We t...
Source: The Journal of Parasitology - April 1, 2024 Category: Parasitology Authors: Matthew M Waller Hannah M Warr Graham B Goodman Sarah E Bush Dale H Clayton Source Type: research
Influence of grooming on permanent arthropod associates of birds: cattle egrets, lice, and mites
J Parasitol. 2024 Apr 1;110(2):143-149. doi: 10.1645/23-85.ABSTRACTBirds have a diverse community of "permanent" arthropods that complete their entire life cycle on the body of the host. Because some of these arthropods are parasites that reduce host fitness, birds control them by grooming, which consists of preening with the beak and scratching with the feet. Although preening is the primary component of grooming, scratching is essential for controlling arthropods on the head and neck, which cannot be preened. Several unrelated groups of birds have evolved comb-like pectinate claws on the middle toenail of each foot. We t...
Source: The Journal of Parasitology - April 1, 2024 Category: Parasitology Authors: Matthew M Waller Hannah M Warr Graham B Goodman Sarah E Bush Dale H Clayton Source Type: research
Influence of grooming on permanent arthropod associates of birds: cattle egrets, lice, and mites
J Parasitol. 2024 Apr 1;110(2):143-149. doi: 10.1645/23-85.ABSTRACTBirds have a diverse community of "permanent" arthropods that complete their entire life cycle on the body of the host. Because some of these arthropods are parasites that reduce host fitness, birds control them by grooming, which consists of preening with the beak and scratching with the feet. Although preening is the primary component of grooming, scratching is essential for controlling arthropods on the head and neck, which cannot be preened. Several unrelated groups of birds have evolved comb-like pectinate claws on the middle toenail of each foot. We t...
Source: The Journal of Parasitology - April 1, 2024 Category: Parasitology Authors: Matthew M Waller Hannah M Warr Graham B Goodman Sarah E Bush Dale H Clayton Source Type: research
Influence of grooming on permanent arthropod associates of birds: cattle egrets, lice, and mites
J Parasitol. 2024 Apr 1;110(2):143-149. doi: 10.1645/23-85.ABSTRACTBirds have a diverse community of "permanent" arthropods that complete their entire life cycle on the body of the host. Because some of these arthropods are parasites that reduce host fitness, birds control them by grooming, which consists of preening with the beak and scratching with the feet. Although preening is the primary component of grooming, scratching is essential for controlling arthropods on the head and neck, which cannot be preened. Several unrelated groups of birds have evolved comb-like pectinate claws on the middle toenail of each foot. We t...
Source: The Journal of Parasitology - April 1, 2024 Category: Parasitology Authors: Matthew M Waller Hannah M Warr Graham B Goodman Sarah E Bush Dale H Clayton Source Type: research
Influence of grooming on permanent arthropod associates of birds: cattle egrets, lice, and mites
J Parasitol. 2024 Apr 1;110(2):143-149. doi: 10.1645/23-85.ABSTRACTBirds have a diverse community of "permanent" arthropods that complete their entire life cycle on the body of the host. Because some of these arthropods are parasites that reduce host fitness, birds control them by grooming, which consists of preening with the beak and scratching with the feet. Although preening is the primary component of grooming, scratching is essential for controlling arthropods on the head and neck, which cannot be preened. Several unrelated groups of birds have evolved comb-like pectinate claws on the middle toenail of each foot. We t...
Source: The Journal of Parasitology - April 1, 2024 Category: Parasitology Authors: Matthew M Waller Hannah M Warr Graham B Goodman Sarah E Bush Dale H Clayton Source Type: research
Influence of grooming on permanent arthropod associates of birds: cattle egrets, lice, and mites
J Parasitol. 2024 Apr 1;110(2):143-149. doi: 10.1645/23-85.ABSTRACTBirds have a diverse community of "permanent" arthropods that complete their entire life cycle on the body of the host. Because some of these arthropods are parasites that reduce host fitness, birds control them by grooming, which consists of preening with the beak and scratching with the feet. Although preening is the primary component of grooming, scratching is essential for controlling arthropods on the head and neck, which cannot be preened. Several unrelated groups of birds have evolved comb-like pectinate claws on the middle toenail of each foot. We t...
Source: The Journal of Parasitology - April 1, 2024 Category: Parasitology Authors: Matthew M Waller Hannah M Warr Graham B Goodman Sarah E Bush Dale H Clayton Source Type: research
Influence of grooming on permanent arthropod associates of birds: cattle egrets, lice, and mites
J Parasitol. 2024 Apr 1;110(2):143-149. doi: 10.1645/23-85.ABSTRACTBirds have a diverse community of "permanent" arthropods that complete their entire life cycle on the body of the host. Because some of these arthropods are parasites that reduce host fitness, birds control them by grooming, which consists of preening with the beak and scratching with the feet. Although preening is the primary component of grooming, scratching is essential for controlling arthropods on the head and neck, which cannot be preened. Several unrelated groups of birds have evolved comb-like pectinate claws on the middle toenail of each foot. We t...
Source: The Journal of Parasitology - April 1, 2024 Category: Parasitology Authors: Matthew M Waller Hannah M Warr Graham B Goodman Sarah E Bush Dale H Clayton Source Type: research
Influence of grooming on permanent arthropod associates of birds: cattle egrets, lice, and mites
J Parasitol. 2024 Apr 1;110(2):143-149. doi: 10.1645/23-85.ABSTRACTBirds have a diverse community of "permanent" arthropods that complete their entire life cycle on the body of the host. Because some of these arthropods are parasites that reduce host fitness, birds control them by grooming, which consists of preening with the beak and scratching with the feet. Although preening is the primary component of grooming, scratching is essential for controlling arthropods on the head and neck, which cannot be preened. Several unrelated groups of birds have evolved comb-like pectinate claws on the middle toenail of each foot. We t...
Source: The Journal of Parasitology - April 1, 2024 Category: Parasitology Authors: Matthew M Waller Hannah M Warr Graham B Goodman Sarah E Bush Dale H Clayton Source Type: research
Influence of grooming on permanent arthropod associates of birds: cattle egrets, lice, and mites
J Parasitol. 2024 Apr 1;110(2):143-149. doi: 10.1645/23-85.ABSTRACTBirds have a diverse community of "permanent" arthropods that complete their entire life cycle on the body of the host. Because some of these arthropods are parasites that reduce host fitness, birds control them by grooming, which consists of preening with the beak and scratching with the feet. Although preening is the primary component of grooming, scratching is essential for controlling arthropods on the head and neck, which cannot be preened. Several unrelated groups of birds have evolved comb-like pectinate claws on the middle toenail of each foot. We t...
Source: The Journal of Parasitology - April 1, 2024 Category: Parasitology Authors: Matthew M Waller Hannah M Warr Graham B Goodman Sarah E Bush Dale H Clayton Source Type: research
