Energetic costs to the eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica due to recent parasitism by the ectoparasitic gastropod Boonea impressa

Abstract

Past parasitism by B. impressa caused no significant long-term metabolic stress to oysters during periods of high food availability. B. impressa did not have a significant negative impact on oyster net production, clearance rate, respiration rate, ammonia excretion rate, gamete production, Perkinsus marinus infection intensity, nor condition index. Shell deposition rates were significantly reduced in oysters that had previously been parasitized by B. impressa, but these same oysters had a significantly greater net production rate after parasitism. Data support the premise that available energy, particulate inorganic and particulate organic matter can ultimately determine the ecological significance of B. impressa parasitism in oysters. Decreases in shell deposition rates are attributed more to physical hindrance and shell breakage rather than to diversions of energy already assimilated by C. virginica. -from Authors