Bronte Wells
Brine shrimp are key players in the ecosystem, eaten by many water birds, including flamingos. They can also ferry pollutants and parasites into the birds. A new study has found that brine shrimp infected with cestodes, a type of parasitic flatworm, have an increased ability to survive in waters laced with toxic arsenic. The parasites boost the brine shrimp's ability to survive toxic and warm waters.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Parasites | Can help brine shrimp survive in toxic waters |
| Cestodes | A type of parasitic flatworm, also known as tapeworms |
| Antioxidant defences | Parasites help change the way brine shrimp deal with pollutants and the resulting stress |
| Lipid droplets | Infected brine shrimp have higher amounts of these, which are thought to sequester toxins |
What You'll Learn
- Parasites can help brine shrimp survive in toxic waters
- Brine shrimp infected with parasites turn red, making them more susceptible to being eaten by birds
- Brine shrimp are key players in the ecosystem
- Parasites boost brine shrimp's ability to survive in waters laced with toxic arsenic
- Brine shrimp infected with parasites have higher amounts of lipid droplets that are thought to sequester toxins
Parasites can help brine shrimp survive in toxic waters
A new study by Marta Sánchez of the Spanish National Research Council in Seville found that Artemia brine shrimp in Spain infected with cestodes – a type of parasitic flatworm also known as tapeworms – have an increased ability to survive in waters laced with toxic arsenic. When the researchers compared infected and uninfected brine shrimp, they found differences in the antioxidant defences that protect an organism against the damaging effects of reactive oxygen species.
Infected brine shrimp had higher amounts of lipid droplets that are thought to sequester toxins. They also turn red, from an increase in carotenoid pigments, which makes them especially attractive to birds.
Causing a quick death is not a good strategy for a parasite. That’s because a parasite needs its host to stay alive long enough for the parasite to reproduce, leave and find a new host. If the host dies too quickly, then the parasite dies with it. So, for cestodes, giving brine shrimp some help in surviving polluted waters may be in the parasites’ best interest.
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Brine shrimp infected with parasites turn red, making them more susceptible to being eaten by birds
Brine shrimp are key players in the ecosystem. They are eaten by many water birds, including flamingos, and can ferry pollutants and parasites into the birds.
When brine shrimp are infected with parasites, their tissue turns red due to an increase in carotenoid pigments. This makes them more susceptible to being eaten by birds, as they are easier to see. Birds are also on the lookout for the carotenoid pigments responsible for the colour.
The parasites boost the brine shrimp's ability to survive toxic and warm waters. This is because the parasites need their host to stay alive long enough for the parasite to reproduce, leave, and find a new host. If the host dies too quickly, the parasite dies with it.
Infected brine shrimp also had higher amounts of lipid droplets that are thought to sequester toxins.
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Brine shrimp are key players in the ecosystem
Brine shrimp are susceptible to pollutants such as toxic heavy metals. However, when infected with parasites, they are better able to survive in waters laced with toxic arsenic. This is because the parasites boost the brine shrimp's ability to survive in toxic and warm waters. The parasites change the way the brine shrimp deal with pollutants and the resulting stress. For example, infected brine shrimp had higher amounts of lipid droplets that are thought to sequester toxins.
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Parasites boost brine shrimp's ability to survive in waters laced with toxic arsenic
Sánchez notes that infected brine shrimp are more susceptible to predation by birds, which contributes to pollutant levels in the birds. When brine shrimp become infected with parasites, they turn red, which makes them more attractive to birds. This is because the tissue of brine shrimp turns red from an increase in carotenoid pigments, which birds are on the lookout for.
The study also found that infected brine shrimp had higher amounts of lipid droplets that are thought to sequester toxins. Additionally, the parasites change the way the brine shrimp deal with pollutants and the resulting stress. When researchers compared infected and uninfected brine shrimp, they found differences in the antioxidant defences that protect an organism against the damaging effects of reactive oxygen species.
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Brine shrimp infected with parasites have higher amounts of lipid droplets that are thought to sequester toxins
Brine shrimp are key players in the ecosystem; they are eaten by many water birds, including flamingos, and can ferry pollutants and parasites into the birds. When brine shrimp are infected with parasites, they turn red, which makes them more susceptible to being eaten by birds. This is because the birds are on the lookout for the carotenoid pigments responsible for the colour.
The parasites boost the brine shrimp's ability to survive toxic and warm waters. This is because a parasite needs its host to stay alive long enough for the parasite to reproduce, leave and find a new host. If the host dies too quickly, then the parasite dies with it.
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Frequently asked questions
Brine shrimp are susceptible to pollutants such as toxic heavy metals.
Pollutants cause stress in brine shrimp, which can lead to death.
Brine shrimp turn red due to an increase in carotenoid pigments.
Parasites boost the brine shrimp's ability to survive in toxic waters.
