| To obtain a better understanding of the evolutionary interactions between host and parasite, we use as a model gill parasites belonging to the genus Gyrodactylus and living on gobies from the genus Pomatoschistus Gill, 1864. Monogenea show a direct lifecycle and display a strong host specificity, thus forming an ideal model for testing coevolution. An inventory of Gyrodactylus parasiting Pomatoschistus gobies in the North Sea shows a strong tendency towards phylogenetic host specificity. Three new species have been found, one described as Gyrodactylus longidactylus Geets, Malmberg 1998. However, identification based on morphometry alone is difficult because of intraspecific variations induced by climate and habitat. Hence, a first important contribution of genetic analysis lies in further determining the phylogeny of Gyrodactylus and defining the interspecific evolutionary relationships and relatedness. |
