Schistocephalus Solidus Essay
I. Introduction
The Schistocephalus solidus parasite was discovered and isolated from the cold areas of the Eastern and Western regions of North America (Poulin, 2000). This parasite is also common in the areas of Canada, Europe, and Eurasia. Schistocephalus solidus is a cestode that has been established to infect over 400 different types of bird species (Barber and Scharsack, 2010). The different types of the bird's species form the definitive hosts of the parasite. Schistocephalus solidus is also known to invade other species such as the mammals, fish, and Gasterosteus aceulatus (Poulin, 2010). This paper will focus on Schistocephalus solidus adaptations needed to ensure its survival such as mechanisms for manipulation and host preferences.
II. The physical description of the parasite
Schistocephalus solidus parasite exists in …show more content…
Studies indicate that the Schistocephalus solidus in a heavily infested infection has the ability to gain the same weight as the host. This limits the movement of the fish making it very vulnerable to predators (Parker, et.al, 2009). The enormous size of the parasites also leads to the change in the size of the host. The change in the size of the host makes it quite distinct from the other uninfected fish in a shoal (Barber, Walker, & Svensson, 2004). Another adverse effect by the infestation of the parasite is the change in color of the infected fish (Thomas, Poulin, & Brodeur, 2010). The infected fish acquire a new white body color with black eyes. These phenotypic changes make the infected fish more distinct from uninfected fish thus becoming more exposed to predators than the uninfected fish (Heins, Baker, & Martin, 2002). An experiment performed indicates that these changes in phenotypic characteristics make the infected fish more vulnerable to attack by a bird predator, the final host of Schistocephalus
The Schistocephalus solidus parasite was discovered and isolated from the cold areas of the Eastern and Western regions of North America (Poulin, 2000). This parasite is also common in the areas of Canada, Europe, and Eurasia. Schistocephalus solidus is a cestode that has been established to infect over 400 different types of bird species (Barber and Scharsack, 2010). The different types of the bird's species form the definitive hosts of the parasite. Schistocephalus solidus is also known to invade other species such as the mammals, fish, and Gasterosteus aceulatus (Poulin, 2010). This paper will focus on Schistocephalus solidus adaptations needed to ensure its survival such as mechanisms for manipulation and host preferences.
II. The physical description of the parasite
Schistocephalus solidus parasite exists in …show more content…
Studies indicate that the Schistocephalus solidus in a heavily infested infection has the ability to gain the same weight as the host. This limits the movement of the fish making it very vulnerable to predators (Parker, et.al, 2009). The enormous size of the parasites also leads to the change in the size of the host. The change in the size of the host makes it quite distinct from the other uninfected fish in a shoal (Barber, Walker, & Svensson, 2004). Another adverse effect by the infestation of the parasite is the change in color of the infected fish (Thomas, Poulin, & Brodeur, 2010). The infected fish acquire a new white body color with black eyes. These phenotypic changes make the infected fish more distinct from uninfected fish thus becoming more exposed to predators than the uninfected fish (Heins, Baker, & Martin, 2002). An experiment performed indicates that these changes in phenotypic characteristics make the infected fish more vulnerable to attack by a bird predator, the final host of Schistocephalus