Robin Gwen Agarwal, USA
Info
Ismaila belciki Ho, 1987
Ismaila copepods of the Splanchnotrophidae family are specialist parasites of sea slugs. Ismaila belciki infects Antiopella fusca (Synonymed name Janolus fuscus), a nudibranch found along the west coast of North America from Alaska to California, as well as the shores of northern Japan. In some areas, such as Coos Bay, Oregon , up to 80% of the slugs are infected with this odd creature.
"Given that Antiopella fusca usually only live for five months, by shorten their lives and severely reducing their reproductive capacity, I. belciki might actually be putting a natural check on the population growth of these flamboyant nudibranchs."
Ismaila copepods of the Splanchnotrophidae family are specialist parasites of sea slugs. Ismaila belciki infects Antiopella fusca (Synonymed name Janolus fuscus), a nudibranch found along the west coast of North America from Alaska to California, as well as the shores of northern Japan. In some areas, such as Coos Bay, Oregon , up to 80% of the slugs are infected with this odd creature.
"Given that Antiopella fusca usually only live for five months, by shorten their lives and severely reducing their reproductive capacity, I. belciki might actually be putting a natural check on the population growth of these flamboyant nudibranchs."
