Decreased movement related to parasite infection in a diel migratory coral reef fish

摘要: Risk of infection by parasites may be an important contributing cause or consequence animal movement patterns. The diel patterns French grunt, a common Caribbean coral reef fish, are well documented and known to connect seagrass habitat. In the northeastern Caribbean, grunts infected Anilocra haemuli, one largest most conspicuous ectoparasitic isopods. Studies on have demonstrated that reduces host swimming performance condition alter behavior. We tested predictions hypothesis A. haemuli influences specifically whether short-distance daytime movements and/or reef–seagrass migration at dusk was associated with infection. conducted focal observations uninfected fish during both resting migration periods. also nocturnal surveys in habitat, documenting changes in proportion individuals. found move significantly less than conspecifics day observed 100 % 37.5 % departing dusk. habitat, the Anilocra was greater at night compared daytime. suggest alters parasitism therefore indirectly influence trophic connectivity between ecosystems.