Contrasting parasite communities among allopatric colour morphs of the Lake Tanganyika cichlid Tropheus.

摘要: Adaptation to different ecological environments is thought drive speciation. This phenomenon culminates in the radiations of cichlid fishes African Great Lakes. Multiple characteristic traits cichlids, targeted by natural or sexual selection, are considered among driving factors these radiations. Parasites and pathogens have been suggested initiate accelerate speciation triggering both selection. Three prerequisites for parasite-driven can be inferred from theory. The first prerequisite that populations experience divergent infection levels. second levels cause selection facilitate adaptive divergence. third divergence facilitates evolution reproductive isolation. Here we investigate allopatric chromatically differentiated lineages rock-dwelling Tropheus spp. southern Lake Tanganyika (Central Africa). Macroparasite communities were screened eight belonging five colour morphs. Parasite mainly composed acanthocephalans, nematodes, monogeneans, copepods, branchiurans, digeneans. In two consecutive years (2011 2012), observed significant variation across with monogeneans genera Gyrodactylus Cichlidogyrus, copepod Ergasilus Overall, parasite community composition differed significantly between Differences stable time. genetic structure was strong showed a isolation-by-distance pattern, confirming spatial isolation limiting host dispersal. Correlations differentiation not significant, suggesting dispersal does influence diversification. Subject alternating episodes secondary contact because lake level fluctuations, morphs believed accumulate maintain through combination vicariance, philopatric behaviour mate discrimination. Provided contrasts parasitism allopatry (which current situation), promote during sympatry, parasites might this genus.