Spatial Distribution of Eudactylina sp. (Copepoda: Siphonostomatoida: Eudactylinidae) Infecting Gill of Angel Sharks (Squatina sp.) Captured in the Northeastern Gulf of Mexico

dc.contributor.advisorBergemann, Sarahen_US
dc.contributor.authorSalmon, Eric Rayen_US
dc.contributor.committeememberMullen, Dennisen_US
dc.contributor.committeememberBullard, Stephenen_US
dc.contributor.departmentBiologyen_US
dc.date.accessioned2015-06-12T19:06:15Z
dc.date.available2015-06-12T19:06:15Z
dc.date.issued2015-04-03en_US
dc.description.abstractParasite spatial distribution studies shed light on host-parasite relationships especially in regards to host and site specificity. This is especially true for parasitic copepods that infect demersal fishes. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between the angel shark, Squatina sp. within the Gulf of Mexico and an unnamed species of parasitic copepod (Eudactlyina sp.) that infects its gills. Infection prevalence was 88.5% and the population of copepods is overdispersed (aggregated) in its host and not uniformly distributed between male and female sharks. Copepods were found to infect particular hemibranchs and exhibited regional attachment across horizontal and longitudinal positions on hemibranchs and across vertical positions of the gill lamellae. Additionally, copepods were attached perpendicular to or facing water flow. The number of eggs per copepod was similar across all attachment regions and hemibranch positions. In summary, my results indicate a high level of microhabitat site specificity by copepods and copepod orientation relative to respiratory water flow is similar to that reported for other parasitic copepods inhabiting? sharks.en_US
dc.description.degreeM.S.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://jewlscholar.mtsu.edu/handle/mtsu/4477
dc.publisherMiddle Tennessee State Universityen_US
dc.subjectCopepodsen_US
dc.subjectEudactylinaen_US
dc.subjectGillsen_US
dc.subjectParasiteen_US
dc.subjectSpatial distributionen_US
dc.subject.umiBiologyen_US
dc.subject.umiBiostatisticsen_US
dc.thesis.degreegrantorMiddle Tennessee State Universityen_US
dc.thesis.degreelevelMastersen_US
dc.titleSpatial Distribution of Eudactylina sp. (Copepoda: Siphonostomatoida: Eudactylinidae) Infecting Gill of Angel Sharks (Squatina sp.) Captured in the Northeastern Gulf of Mexicoen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US

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