Factors Affecting Re-infection by <i>Hypermastus tokunagai</i> (Caenogastropoda: Eulimidae) of Its Host, the Sand Dollar <i>Scaphechinus mirabilis</i> (Clypeasteroida: Scutellidae)

  • Matsuda Haruna
    Study Support Center, Shikoku University Graduate School of Biosphere Science, Hiroshima University
  • Hamano Tatsuo
    Department of Applied Aquabiology, National Fisheries University Institute of Socio-Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokushima
  • Nagasawa Kazuya
    Graduate School of Biosphere Science, Hiroshima University

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Other Title
  • ハスノハカシパンに寄生するトクナガヤドリニナの宿主発見機構
  • Factors Affecting Re-infection by Hypermastus tokunagai (Caenogastropoda: Eulimidae) of Its Host, the Sand Dollar Scaphechinus mirabilis (Clypeasteroida: Scutellidae)

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Abstract

Hypermastus tokunagai is a eulimid ectoparasitic on Scaphechinus mirabilis, a sand dollar mainly found in the Seto Inland Sea. This eulimid species is mostly found on its host but free-living individuals are often observed in the sediment. In this study, we investigated whether solitary individuals of H. tokunagai re-infect S. mirabilis following detachment in the field and tested the factors affecting re-infection in the laboratory. The field experiment demonstrated that H. tokunagai is capable of re-infecting its host after detachment. The laboratory experiments suggested that H. tokunagai were not apparently attracted by chemical stimuli from their hosts. They tended to prefer light over dark regions and white over black regions, but when placed on glass beads and exposed to light, many individuals submerged and moved under a black plate. More individuals of H. tokunagai preferred dark regions when in the presence of chemical stimuli from their hosts. Our results suggest that the ability of H. tokunagai to locate its host cannot be ascribed entirely to sensory receptor response to chemical stimuli, and that they also rely on vision to approach a host-resembling object in the process of re-infection. Once in close proximity, other factors, such as olfactory and/or tactile stimuli, are likely to play a role in host recognition.

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