The evolution of body size in the Monogenea: the role of host size and latitude

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Abstract
Monogeneans form a diverse group of parasitic platyhelminths that show substantial interspecific variation in body size, though this variation remains largely unexplained. The relationships between monogenean body size and both host body size and latitude were examined in comparative analyses using data from 613 monogenean species. First, phylogenetically independent contrasts among 39 monogenean families revealed no relationship between host size and parasite size. However, large parasite size was consistently associated with high latitude, suggesting that larger body size in monogeneans may result more from external factors such as temperature than from host-related factors. The potential effects of other variables (site of attachment on the host, host taxonomy, and type of aquatic habitat) could not be assessed in the analysis. Second, analyses among genera within families failed to show any consistent relationships between monogenean body size and either host size or latitude. The results of this study suggest that latitude had an evolutionary influence on monogenean body size, though this may be only visible in comparisons among higher taxonomic levels, and that monogenean body size has not simply adjusted to host body size following host-switching events.

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