POTENTIAL INTERACTIONS BETWEEN THE INTESTINAL HELMINTHS OF THE CICHLID FISH CICHLASOMA SYNSPILUM FROM SOUTHEASTERN MEXICO

This study presents and analyzes positional data on 18 helminth species forming the intestinal infracommunities of 59 Cichlasoma synspilum from southeastern Mexico. Interspecific interactions were found between 4 pairs of host specialists: Crassicutis cichlasomae (Digenea) with Neoechinorhynchus golvani (Acanthocephala), Spirocamallanus rebecae (Nematoda) with N. golvani, and Raillietnema kritscheri (Nematoda) with N. golvani. The interactions were expressed as negative correlations, positional shifts, and reductions in realized distribution. It is suggested that N. golvani produces unsuitable habitats for C. cichlasomae, S. rebecae, and R. kristscheri. All interactions were found among phylogenetically unrelated helminth specialists of cichlids.