Description
Taxonomy: Potentially Misidentified Species- The ancyrocephalids listed have been reported from Micropterus spp. in the Chesapeake watershed (Deutsch 1977; Hargis 1952).
Taxonomy
| Kingdom | Phylum | Class | Order | Family | Genus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Animalia | Platyhelminthes | Trematoda | Monogenea | Ancyrocephalidae | Actinocleidus |
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
Actinocleidus fergusoni is a monogenean trematode which most freqeuently parasitizes Lepomis macrochirus (Bluegill, 21 published records) but is also known from L. cyanellus (Green Sunfish, 3 records), L. humilis (Orange-Spotted Sunfish, 5 records), L. gulosus (Warmouth, 2 records), L. microlophus (Redear Sunfish, 1 record) and Micropterus salmoides (Largemouth Bass, 2 records) (Beverly-Burton 1986b). All these fish species are native to the Missisippi and Gulf drainages and the native ranges of all except L. humilis include the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Basin. Micropterus salmoides and L. gulosus, also probably occurred naturally on the Atlantic slope of the southeastern United States into NC or VA (Jenkins and Burkhead 1993; Lee et al. 1980; Page and Burr 1991). Actinocleidus fergusoni has been found throughout much of this range, from FL, AL, LA, TX, and OK in the south to IL and WA 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.
Lepomis macrochirus 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. The other hosts have 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). Actinocleidus fergusoni has been introduced into CA with its fish hosts (Crane and Mizelle 1967).
Lepomis gulosus may be native to the James drainage, where it was first collected in 1867 (Cope 1869), but is a probable introduction in other Chesapeake tributaries (Jenkins and Burkhead 1993). The first verified collection of L. macrochirus in the James drainage was in 1945 (Jenkins and Burkhead 1993), but it may have been introduced much earlier. In the watershed as a whole, L. macrochirus was first recorded in the Potomac in 1900 (Jenkins and Burkhead 1993). The strong preference of A. fergusoni for L. macrochirus compared to L. gulosus (Beverly-Burton 1986) indicates that it was probably introduced with L. macrochirus. [The only published records of A. fergusoni on L. gulosus are from Westhampton Lake, Richmond VA (Beverly-Burton 1986; Hargis 1952; Hargis 1953)].
In the Chesapeake Bay region, Actinocleidus fergusoni has been reported from Westhampton Lake, Richmond VA, in the James River drainage, where it was found on L. gulosus and L. macrochirus (Hargis 1952). However, this is one of only two sites in the Chesapeake watershed where helminth parasites of freshwater fishes have been extensively studied. Since L. macrochirus (together with other potential host species) is now found throughout the Bay drainage in nontidal and low-salinity estuarine waters (Lee et al. 1980; Jenkins and Burkhead 1993), this parasite is probably widespread. Additional studies of fish parasites in the region would be needed to confirm this.
History References - Beverly-Burton 1986b; Cope 1869; Crane and Mizelle 1967; Hargis 1952; Hargis 1953; Hoffman 1967; Jenkins and Burkhead 1993; Lee et al. 1980; Page and Burr 1991
Invasion Comments
Invasion Status - Of the two host species in the watershed, Lepomis macrochirus is considered to beintroduced to the James River drainage, including Westhampton Lake and definitely introduced to more northern tributaries, while L. gulosus is probably native to the James basin (Jenkins and Burkhead 1993). However, Actinocleidus fergusoni has been recorded 21 times from L. macrochirus, and only twice from L. gulosus (Beverl-Burton 1986b). Consequently, we consider Actinocleidus fergusoni's invasion status to be a probable invader in the James River drainage. In other Bay drainages, Actinocleidus fergusoni would be 'definite' if found.
Residency- We have not yet found any studies of trematodes of introduced fish species in the tidal waters of Chesapeake Bay. Inclusion of Actinocleidus fergusoni is based on its presence in the Chesapeake watershed at Westhampton Lake, Richmond VA (as Actinocleidus unguis) (Hargis 1952). However, since the host species, Lepomis macrochirus (Bluegill), and L. gulosus (Warmouth) are regular residents in tidal tributaries (Jenkins and Burkhead 1993), 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) | 0.3 | 0.3 |
| Typical Adult Size (mm) | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| Maximum Adult Size (mm) | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| 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 Actinocleidus fergusoni are not known in the Chesapeake Bay region, but its most frequent host, Lepomis macrochirus (Bluegill) is an economically important gamefish in tributaries of the Bay (Jenkins and Burkhead 1993).
References- 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 Actinocleidus fergusoni on wild or cultured sunfish are not known.
References- Hoffman 1967
Ecological Impacts on Chesapeake Native Species
Since Actinocleidus fergusoni, like most other monogeneans, is highly host-specific (Beverly-Burton 1986b; Hoffman 1967), and its preferred host (Lepomis macrochirus) is introduced to the region, it has had no direct impacts on native Chesapeake biota. Indirect impacts of A. fergusoni, through effects on populations of Lepomis spp., can't 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
Actinocleidus fergusoni is a fairly specific gill parasite whose most frequent host (Lepomis macrochirus, Bluegill) is introduced in the Chesapeake watershed. Another host, Lepomis gulosus (Warmouth), may be native to the James River drainage, though its introduced in the rest of the Chesapeake basin (Jenkins and Burkhead 1993). Actinocleidus fergusoni was collected from L. macrochirus and L. gulosus in Westhampton Lake, Richmond VA (Hargis 1952; Hargis 1953). Beverly-Burton (1986b) lists 21 records for A. fegusoni occurring on L. macrochirus, but only 2 records for L. gulosus as host (the 2 Westahampton Lake papers, Hargis 1952; Hargis 1953). Lepomis cyanellus (Green Sunfish, 3 records), and L. microlophus (Redear sunfish, 1 record) are also potential hosts in the Chesapeake region (Beverly-Burton 1986b).
Parasitism - We have not found information on specific effects of A. fergusoni 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).
Competition - Mizelle and Crane (1964) suggested competition among species as a possible mechanism limiting the diversity of gill trematodes on a specific host 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.
References - Beverly-Burton 1986b; Deutsch 1977; Hargis 1952; Hargis 1953; Hoffman 1967; Mizelle and Crane 1964
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
Crane, John W.; Mizelle, John D. (1967) Studies on monogenetic trematodes. XXIX. Species from the bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) and size relationships of three species from different areas, Ichthyologica 39: 135-144
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.
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.
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
Page, Lawrence M.; Burr, Brooks M. (1991) Freshwater Fishes., , Boston. Pp.
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
Schwartz, Frank J. (1965) Natural salinity tolerances of some freshwater fishes, Underwater Naturalist 2: 13-15
Smith, Barry A. (1971) The fishes of four low-salinity tidal tributaries of the Delaware River estuary., In: (Eds.) An Ecological Study of the Delaware River in the Vicinity of Artificial Island. , Ithaca, N.Y.. Pp.
Wang, Johnson, C. S.; Kenehahan, Ronnie (1979) Fishes of the Delaware estuaries: a guide to the early life histories, , Towson MD. Pp.