The parasitic barnacle, Anelasma squalicola, is a rare and evolutionary fascinating organism. Unlike most other filter-feeding barnacles, A. squalicola has evolved the capability to uptake nutrient from its host, exclusively parasitizing deepwater sharks of the families Etmopteridae and Pentanchidae. The physiological mechanisms involved in the uptake of nutrients from its host are not yet known. Using stable isotopes and elemental compositions, we followed the fate of nitrogen, carbon and sulphur through various tissues of A. squalicola and its host, the Southern lanternshark Etmopterus granulosus, to better understand the trophic relationship between parasite and host. Like most marine parasites, A. squalicola is lipid-rich and clear differences were found in the stable isotope ratios between barnacle organs. It is evident that the deployment of a system of ‘rootlets’, which merge with host tissues, allows A. squalicola to draw nutrients from its host. Through this system, proteins are then rerouted to the exterior structural tissues of A. squalicola while lipids are used for maintenance and egg synthesis. The nutrient requirement of A. squalicola was found to change from protein-rich to lipid-rich between its early development stage and its definitive size.

The relationships between populations of the Deer Mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) and the White-footed Mouse (P. leucopus) and their respective Cuterebra parasites were examined. Population genetic structure of hosts and parasites was inferred using cytochrome oxidase mitochondrial sequences of specimens from 7 populations. Genetic analyses revealed that isolation-by-distance applies for P. maniculatus and its associated parasite (C. grisea). A significant correlation was also observed between the genetic distances of these host and parasite species. Furthermore, populations of P. maniculatus and C. grisea from the North and South shores of the St Lawrence River were found to be significantly different. This structure may be explained by the St Lawrence River being a dispersal barrier for both species. A robust analysis of the other species pair (P. leucopus and C. fontinella) could not be performed because of limited sample sizes.