Microhabitat specificity of Gyrodactylus species Nordmann, 1832 on stone sloach (Barbatula barbatula L., 1758) in the Haná river.
| Authors | |
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| Year of publication | 2005 |
| Type | Article in Proceedings |
| Conference | Helminthologia |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Zoology |
| Keywords | microhabitat specificity; Gyrodactylus; Barbatula barbatula |
| Description | Microhabitat specificity of 8 Gyrodactylus species parasitising gills, fins and body surface of stone loach (Barbatula barbatula) originating from River Haná, Czech Republic, were investigated during the period from January 2001 to December 2002. A total of 10484 gyrodactylids were collected from 300 specimens of the host fish infected with range of 1-202 parasites. At low intensities (1-10 parasites per fish), the ventral fins were preferred site of attachement (in 41%), followed by the pectoral and dorsal fins. With increasing intensity (11-50 parasites and more), parasites mainly on the ventral and pectoral fins were located. However, the distribution of parasites on the fish varied during the year with infection intensity. Also preferred sites of each species parasitising stone loach were analysed. Specimens of G. nemachili and G. menschikowi occur on the gills of the host, very rarely on the external sites. In 51%, the specimens of G. barbatuli, as the species with the biggest and most massive central hooks of attachment aparatus from all species parasitising B. barbatula, were present on the body surface. The presence of G. jiroveci, G. papernai, G. pseudonemachili, G. sedelnikowi and G. pavlovskyi was restricted on the external sites with slight differences in the preferred location of each species, the moving on the gills was found exceptionally. In relation to the size and shape of parasite opisthaptoral hard parts microhabitat specificity of particular parasite species were analysed. |
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