The parasitism of coral reef fish. Reflection of habitat?

Coral reef habitats are characterized by heterogeneity in their structures, trophic balance and their ecology. Parasitism seems to reflect this habita t variability. To study habitat influence, the parasitic faunas of two popu lations of the dameselfish Stegastes nigricans from fringing reef and barri er reef systems of Tiahura, Moorea island, French Polynesia, were compared. The endoparasite species observed in our study were digeneans of the famil y Hemiuridea (Lecithaster sp. and Aponurus sp.). Prevalence, abundances and mean intensities were significantly higher in the host population from the barrier reef than in the host population from the fringing reef. Other dat a concerning the coral reef fishes Epinephelus merra and Zebrasoma scopas s eem to confirm the influence of habitat on parasite communities. Combined e ffects of several biotic and abiotic factors particular to each of the habi tats are likely to be the causes of the differences in the observed parasit e communities. ((C) Academie des sciences / Elsevier, Paris.)