Parasite recruitment by stocked walleye, Stizostedion vitreum vitreum (Mitchill), fry in a small boreal lake in central Canada.
Six species of parasites were recovered 4 mo after walleye fry were stocked in Heming Lake, Manitoba. The species of parasites acquired most rapidly were those that were non-host-specific and common to the indigenous populations of both walleye and yellow perch (Perca flavescens). Parasite species overlap (Jaccard's indices) was greatest within age groups of walleye and yellow perch, but was also high between older walleye and yellow perch. The higher numbers of parasites recruited by stocked walleye, particularly ones known to induce pathology, raises questions on the success of walleye introductions to aquatic systems with a diverse indigenous parasite fauna and a fish population with a large proportion of yellow perch.
D000818:Animals; D002170:Canada; D005399:Fishes / Q000469:parasitology*; D005618:Fresh Water