The ciliate Orchitophrya cf. stellarum and other parasites and commensals of the northern Pacific seastar Asterias amurensis from Japan
Goggin, C.L.; Bouland, C. (1997). The ciliate Orchitophrya cf. stellarum and other parasites and commensals of the northern Pacific seastar Asterias amurensis from Japan. Int. J. Parasitol. 27(11): 1415-1418. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0020-7519(97)00103-3
In: International journal for parasitology. Pergamon: Oxford. ISSN 0020-7519; e-ISSN 1879-0135, more
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| Keywords |
Asterias amurensis Lutken, 1871 [WoRMS]; Orchitophrya stellarum Cépède, 1907 [WoRMS]
Marine/Coastal |
| Author keywords |
Orchitophrya cf stellarum; parasite; Asterias amurensis; seastar;biological control |
| Abstract |
To identify the pathogens and possible biological control agents for the introduced seastar Asterias amurensis, we examined seastars from source populations in central and northern Japan. In particular, we sought the scuticociliate Orchitophrya cf. stellarum. The ciliate was found in male A. amurensis from five sites. We also found the caprellid amphipod Caprella astericola on A. amurensis and Distolasterias nipon from Nemuro Bay. The copepod Scottomyzon gibberum was found on A. amurensis from Usujiri and polychaete scaleworms Arctonoe vittata were found on A. amurensis from Murohama and Nemuro Bay. Of these parasites and commensals, Orchitophrya cf. stellarum is the most likely agent for biological control of A. amurensis in Australian waters; however, its ability to regulate seastar populations is uncertain. |
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