Diversity and host specificity of ectoparasites in Tunisian elasmobranchs: A critical ecological perspective

Title : Diversity and host specificity of ectoparasites in Tunisian elasmobranchs: A critical ecological perspective

Abstract:

With more than 62 reported species, Tunisia has a rich diversity of elasmobranchs. However, investigations of their parasites in Tunisian waters remain rare and fragmented. Given the ongoing biodiversity crisis affecting most living species, studying parasites diversity is crucial. In this study we examined 2092 specimen of cartilaginous fishes (Chondrichthyes: Elasmobranchii) from eight species across five families collected along the Tunisian coast for their ectoparasite species. All host species were infected by at least one ectoparasite species. A total of 24 species of ectoparasites were collected and identified. Copepods showed the highest taxonomic diversity with eleven collected species followed by Monogenean and Isopods with six and five species respectively. Only two Hirudinae species were collected including a new species. To understand the diversification and host specificity of the collected ectoparasite species and their influencing factors, we analyzed parasitological indices, parasitic community composition, parasitic richness and seasonal variation. This study provides an important insight into elasmobranch-parasite interactions in Tunisian waters and underscores the complex ecological relationships that characterize marine biodiversity, offering crucial baseline data for conservation strategies in an era of increasing environmental challenges.

Biography:

Dr. Lamjed Mansour is a full professor at both King Saud University and Tunis El-Manar University. His academic carrier began at Tunis El-Manar University, where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in molecular parasitology. Driven by a passion for research, Dr. Mansour got his Ph.D. in 2007 from Tuns El-Manar and Blaise Pascal Universities (now Clermont-Ferrand), where he worked in the Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Parasitology under the mentorship of Professor Christian Vivares and Oum kalthoum Ben Hassine on the diversity of microsporidia parasites of the Mediterranean Sea. Throughout his career, Dr. Mansour has contributed significantly to the field of parasitology, particularly focusing on fish parasites. He has been involved in numerous national and international projects, enhancing our understanding of these organisms. His research has led to the publication of over 200 scientific papers, and he has described more than 30 new species of myxozoan, microsporidian, and metazoan fish parasites.