Experimental evidence for parasite-induced over-winter mortality in juvenile Rhodeus amarus.
In this study, the effects of the eye fluke Diplostomum pseudospathaceum (Trematoda) infection on over-winter survival of young-of-the-year (YOY) European bitterling Rhodeus amarus (Cyprinidae) were examined between September 2010 and April 2011. The fish were reared in semi-natural conditions to ensure that results were not confounded by other parasite infections. The cumulative mortality of R. amarus from November until April was significantly higher in D. pseudospathaceum-infected fish (57·3%) compared to controls (42·1%). Infection of the parental generation did not have any effect on the mortality of juveniles. The results indicate that D. pseudospathaceum infection increases over-winter mortality of YOY R. amarus. The possible mechanisms causing mortality are discussed.
Institute of Vertebrate Biology, v.v.i., Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Květná 8, 603 65, Brno, Czech Republic; Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 611 37, Brno, Czech Republic.
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V
Michálková
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M
Ondračková
D000818:Animals; D003530:Cyprinidae / Q000469:parasitology*; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000401:mortality* / Q000469:parasitology; D012621:Seasons; D014200:Trematoda
Diplostomum pseudospathaceum; Trematoda; bitterling; metacercariae; parasite infection