The dilution effect in a freshwater mutualism: Impacts of introduced host species on native symbionts

Abstract

The dilution effect was originally proposed to describe the negative effect of increased host diversity on parasite or pathogen abundance; with greater host diversity, parasite or pathogen levels per host are predicted to be lower due to a higher probability of dispersing parasites or pathogens encountering noncompetent hosts. Dilution effects could occur in many mutualisms if dispersing symbionts encounter hosts that vary in their competence. Introduced, non-native hosts can change the community competence of a local group of host species. Crayfish introductions are occurring world-wide and these introductions are likely disrupting native crayfish-symbiont systems. Branchiobdellidan symbionts declined on native Cambarus crayfish co-occurring with non-native Faxonius crayfish in the New River watershed, USA. We performed an experiment investigating the effect of host density (1 vs. 2 native hosts) and host diversity (1 native host and 1 introduced host) on branchiobdellidan abundance. The introduced Faxonius cristavarius is a noncompetent host for these worms. Six C. ingens were stocked on a Cambarus chasmodactylus in each treatment and worm numbers were followed over 34 days. Worm numbers decreased over time on C. chasmodactylus alone and in the treatment in which a C. chasmodactylus was paired with an F. cristavarius. Worm numbers remained highest in the 2 C. chasmodactylus treatment. There was no effect of host diversity on worm reproduction. Crayfish invasions may have negative effects on mutualistic symbionts depending on the competence of introduced hosts. Loss of native symbionts is one of the potential hidden, negative effects of invasions on native freshwater diversity.