Relationship between a parasite, their ghost shrimp host, and sturgeon in US west coast estuaries

Authors: BROCKMAN, JOE - Oregon State University; Dumbauld, Brett; MILLER, JESSICA - Oregon State University

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/11/2023
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Burrowing activities of ghost shrimp, Neotrypaea californiensis, negatively affect Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas, aquaculture by suffocating oysters through burial. Increased scrutiny of the use of chemical controls on burrowing shrimp has prompted research into alternative control methods. Using parasites to control burrowing shrimp populations is not well understood, and there is a lack of supporting research in this area. One such parasite, a species of Spirurid nematode (Ascarophis sp.), infects ghost shrimp on the US West Coast as an intermediate host. We conducted surveys in Willapa Bay, Washington and Yaquina Bay, Oregon to examine the relationship between Ascarophis sp. abundance in ghost shrimp populations and the feeding activity of one potential definitive host for this nematode, sturgeon (Acipenser spp.). Mean Ascarophis sp. abundances in ghost shrimp populations were positively correlated with sturgeon feeding pit densities, and ghost shrimp that were at least 12.5 mm carapace length had higher mean parasite abundance compared to smaller shrimp. We conducted a study to investigate whether Ascarophis sp. infection alters the burrowing rates of their ghost shrimp host and found no evidence for this behavior alteration. While parasite abundance in ghost shrimp populations is linked to sturgeon feeding activity, the parasite may not improve transmission to this potential final host. While this precludes the use of the parasite as a means of controlling shrimp populations for oyster aquaculture, further research is needed to ascertain the nematode’s life cycle, and its impact on shrimp populations.