Methodology for Determining ASC Density in Relation to Black Spot Parasite Load

Abstract

It is generally thought that alarm substance cells (ASC) in the fish epidermis evolved as a means to warn other fish of nearby predation via release of the chemical substance these cells hold. It has been recently hypothesized, that the evolution and presence of ASC in fish may have more of a relationship with parasitism that predation. The goal of our study is to determine if an increased infestation of the black-spot parasite (Neasus pyriformis) in creek chub (Semotolis atromaculatus) also correlates with an increase in the density of ASC.