Biodiversity of monogeneans (Platyhelmintes) parasites of fish from the Pardo River, São Paulo

• Grant number: 22/04715-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: May 01, 2023
• End date: April 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Fishery Resources and Fishery Engineering - Inland Water Fishery Resources
• Principal Investigator: Reinaldo José da Silva
• Grantee: Julio Cesar Cenci de Aguiar
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IBB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Parasites play important roles in the ecosystems they occupy, which contribute to the diversification and structuring of communities formed by their hosts. Due to this importance, understanding the process of the historical association between parasites and their hosts is fundamental, as this understanding is the basis for monitoring changes in the patterns of parasitic associations, especially those resulting from environmental disturbances, which are an opportunity for epizootic outbreaks to occur and damage natural ecosystems. However, monitoring at this level requires that integrative taxonomy studies (i.e. using basic and advanced tools for morphological analysis, phylogeny, biogeography, ecology, among others) be carried out. The study model of the present proposal focuses on the integrative taxonomy of monogenetic flatworms. These parasites occur worldwide, with some lineages restricted to South America, they are endowed with modified structures for the parasitic lifestyle (e.g. hooks, anchors, bars, staples) and can eventually cause disease and lead their hosts to death. The objective is to highlight an unknown fauna of monogeneans, but also to understand the relationships of historical associations that led to the current distribution pattern of these organisms in the ecosystem formed by the Rio Pardo, Middle Paranapanema. The material to be studied is being collected in a project approved by Fapesp (2020/05412-9) and the laboratory in which this study will be developed has all the infrastructure and resources necessary for the development of this project. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

EMMERICH, ENZO; DE AGUIAR, JULIO CESAR CENCI; DA SILVA, REINALDO JOSE. Origin and diversification of Dicrocoeliidae (Neodermata, Trematoda) with the description of a new species of Euparadistomum, a parasite of Tropidurus torquatus (Squamata, Tropiduridae) in South America. Parasitology International, v. 108, p. 12-pg., 2025-10-01. (20/05412-9, 22/04715-3)