Taxonomy of myxobolid parasites of fishes

本文研究了北美洲淡水鱼类和部分海鱼组织中黏液虫（Myxobolus）的分类和生活史。这组寄生虫（目前有118个名义种）是鱼类中寄生虫种类最多的谱系之一，但也是了解最少的一个。有人认为，我们要了解由这些寄生虫组成的丰富群落的性质，必须有一个健全的分类系统，而且非专家也可以使用。这项研究将通过重新检查从模式寄主和其他鱼类收集的材料，对上世纪早期描述的许多物种进行分类修订。它还将在其他鱼类中进行广泛的搜索，寻找需要正式描述和文件的寄生虫种类。该计划的一个重要方面是让本科生和研究生接触到动物命名法和基于形态和分子（18S rDNA）的分类学。一名研究生将检验我们低估黏液体多样性的假设——这将通过对来自不同鲤科宿主物种的Thelohanellus notatus的修订来检验（是否存在一个单一物种或单独的隐物种在各种宿主物种中独立循环？）另一名研究生将在新斯科舍省沿海地区研究寄生于不同淡水和海洋栖息地的粘虫种群的分类和生活史，以及这两种物种的杂交后代。这项工作将包括精心设计的实地研究、实验传播以及对三个宿主种群物种状况的严格形态学和分子评估。一个长期目标是制作一个以生态学为基础的北美鱼类黏液体寄生虫地图集

The proposed reseach examines the taxonomy and life history of species of Myxobolus (Myxozoa) parasitic in tissues of freshwater and some marine fishes of North America. This group of parasites (currently having 118 nominal species) is one of the most speciose lineages parasitic in fishes yet one of the poorest understood. It is argued that our understanding of the nature of the rich communities formed by these parasites cannot be achieved until a sound system of taxonomy is available, and one useable by non-specialists. The research will undertake taxonomic revisions of numerous species described earlier in the last century, through reexamination of material collected from type hosts and other fishes. It will also conduct extensive searches in other fishes for species of parasites needing formal description and documentation. An important aspect of the program is the exposure of undergraduate and graduate students to zoological nomenclature and morphologically and molecularly (18S rDNA) based taxonomy. One graduate student will examine the hypothesis that we have underestimated myxobolid diversity - this will be tested through a revision of Thelohanellus notatus from different cyprinid host species (Is there a single species or separate cryptic species cycling independently through the various host species?). A second graduate student will examine the taxonomy and life history of assemblages of species of Myxobolus parasitizing populations Fundulus diaphanus and Fundulus heteroclitus in their respective freshwater and marine habitats, as well as with hybrids of the two species in replicate coastal sites in Nova Scotia. This work will involve a blend of designed field studies, experimental transmissions, and rigorous morphological and molecular assessments of species status in the three host groups. A long term goal is to produce an ecologically-based atlas of myxobolid parasites of fishes of North America