Haunted by the past: evidence for dormant stage banks of microparasites and epibionts of Daphnia

Decaestecker, Ellen; Lefever, Christophe; De Meester, Luc; Ebert, Dieter

doi:10.4319/lo.2004.49.4_part_2.1355

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Journal article

Haunted by the past: evidence for dormant stage banks of microparasites and epibionts of Daphnia

Decaestecker, Ellen Laboratory of Aquatic Ecology, Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium
Lefever, Christophe Laboratory of Aquatic Ecology, Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium
De Meester, Luc Laboratory of Aquatic Ecology, Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium
Ebert, Dieter Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Switzerland

2004

Published in:

Limnology and Oceanography. - 2004, vol. 49, no. 4, p. 1355-1364

English Microparasites and epibionts have important implications for the ecology and evolution of their zooplankton host populations. Many parasites and epibionts produce resistant spores that infect new hosts upon intake. We explored the hypothesis that these spores build up dormant stage banks that remain infective for several years (decades). In laboratory experiments, we exposed Daphnia magna to sediments taken from different depths in sediment cores from four different shallow water bodies. All samples analyzed contained infective stages of epibionts, suggesting that dormant stage banks remain infective for decades. Microparasite infections from old sediments were only obtained in one of the four ponds studied. We found mainly the bacterium Pasteuria ramosa but also a yet undescribed microsporidium. We discuss the implications of long-lasting spore banks for the disease dynamics and coevolution in the Daphnia–microparasite system.

Faculty

Faculté des sciences et de médecine

Department

Département de Biologie

Language