Symbiotic interactions on middle Cambrian echinoderms reveal the oldest parasitism on deuterostomes
Abstract Biotic interactions are considered as major drivers of evolutionary changes, but their identification in the fossil record is extremely rare and controversial. Based on qualitative and quantitative analyses, we report evidence of a biotic interaction between an echinoderm host and its symbi...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-97932-1 |
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| author | Iban Goñi Claude Monnet Kenneth De Baets Timothy P. Topper Sylvie Régnier Laurenz Schröer Veerle Cnudde Peter A. Jell Sébastien Clausen |
| author_facet | Iban Goñi Claude Monnet Kenneth De Baets Timothy P. Topper Sylvie Régnier Laurenz Schröer Veerle Cnudde Peter A. Jell Sébastien Clausen |
| author_sort | Iban Goñi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Biotic interactions are considered as major drivers of evolutionary changes, but their identification in the fossil record is extremely rare and controversial. Based on qualitative and quantitative analyses, we report evidence of a biotic interaction between an echinoderm host and its symbiont, probably a parasitic epibiont, from the Cambrian Wuliuan Stage of Australia. The echinoderm plates bear external outgrowths with a median pit at their distal end. These unusual structures have not been previously documented from Cambrian echinoderms and their lack of consistency across various morphological parameters, supports the interpretation that a biotic interaction generated these unique structures. Perturbations in plate microstructure and the overproduction of skeletal material in specific regions, together with reduced size, negatively impact the host’s growth suggesting a parasitic interaction. This reaction by the echinoderm host may represent the progressive embedment of the invasive epibiont. This record represents the oldest evidence of parasitism among deuterostomes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2df7c05c5f814213a80efb1d8a61a073 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-2df7c05c5f814213a80efb1d8a61a0732025-08-20T03:24:22ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-04-0115111110.1038/s41598-025-97932-1Symbiotic interactions on middle Cambrian echinoderms reveal the oldest parasitism on deuterostomesIban Goñi0Claude Monnet1Kenneth De Baets2Timothy P. Topper3Sylvie Régnier4Laurenz Schröer5Veerle Cnudde6Peter A. Jell7Sébastien Clausen8Univ. Lille, CNRS, UMR 8198 – Evo-Eco-PaleoUniv. Lille, CNRS, UMR 8198 – Evo-Eco-PaleoInstitute of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biology, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw State Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Early Life & Environments and Department of Geology, Northwest UniversityUniv. Lille, CNRS, UMR 8198 – Evo-Eco-PaleoPProGRess-UGCT, Department of Geology, Ghent UniversityPProGRess-UGCT, Department of Geology, Ghent UniversitySchool of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of QueenslandUniv. Lille, CNRS, UMR 8198 – Evo-Eco-PaleoAbstract Biotic interactions are considered as major drivers of evolutionary changes, but their identification in the fossil record is extremely rare and controversial. Based on qualitative and quantitative analyses, we report evidence of a biotic interaction between an echinoderm host and its symbiont, probably a parasitic epibiont, from the Cambrian Wuliuan Stage of Australia. The echinoderm plates bear external outgrowths with a median pit at their distal end. These unusual structures have not been previously documented from Cambrian echinoderms and their lack of consistency across various morphological parameters, supports the interpretation that a biotic interaction generated these unique structures. Perturbations in plate microstructure and the overproduction of skeletal material in specific regions, together with reduced size, negatively impact the host’s growth suggesting a parasitic interaction. This reaction by the echinoderm host may represent the progressive embedment of the invasive epibiont. This record represents the oldest evidence of parasitism among deuterostomes.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-97932-1 |
| spellingShingle | Iban Goñi Claude Monnet Kenneth De Baets Timothy P. Topper Sylvie Régnier Laurenz Schröer Veerle Cnudde Peter A. Jell Sébastien Clausen Symbiotic interactions on middle Cambrian echinoderms reveal the oldest parasitism on deuterostomes Scientific Reports |
| title | Symbiotic interactions on middle Cambrian echinoderms reveal the oldest parasitism on deuterostomes |
| title_full | Symbiotic interactions on middle Cambrian echinoderms reveal the oldest parasitism on deuterostomes |
| title_fullStr | Symbiotic interactions on middle Cambrian echinoderms reveal the oldest parasitism on deuterostomes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Symbiotic interactions on middle Cambrian echinoderms reveal the oldest parasitism on deuterostomes |
| title_short | Symbiotic interactions on middle Cambrian echinoderms reveal the oldest parasitism on deuterostomes |
| title_sort | symbiotic interactions on middle cambrian echinoderms reveal the oldest parasitism on deuterostomes |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-97932-1 |
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