THE EFFECTS OF MATING SYSTEM AND GENETIC VARIABILITY ON SUSCEPTIBILITY TO TREMATODE PARASITES IN A FRESHWATER SNAIL, LYMNAEA STAGNALIS

The amount and distribution of genetic variability in host populations can have significant effects on the outcome of host-parasite interactions. We studied the effect of mating system and genetic variability on susceptibility of Lymnaea stagnalis snails to trematode parasites. Mating system of snails from eight populations differing in the amount of genetic variability was manipulated, and self- and cross-fertilized offspring were exposed to naturally occurring trematode parasites in a controlled lake experiment. Susceptibility of snails varied between populations, but mating-system treatment did not have a significant effect. Heterozygosity of snails was negatively correlated with the pro…

Positive density-dependent growth supports costs sharing hypothesis and population density sensing in a manipulative parasite.

SUMMARYParasites manipulate their hosts’ phenotype to increase their own fitness. Like any evolutionary adaptation, parasitic manipulations should be costly. Though it is difficult to measure costs of the manipulation directly, they can be evaluated using an indirect approach. For instance, theory suggests that as the parasite infrapopulation grows, the investment of individual parasites in host manipulation decreases, because of cost sharing. Another assumption is that in environments where manipulation does not pay off for the parasite, it can decrease its investment in the manipulation to save resources. We experimentally infected rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss with the immature larva…

Factors affecting between-lake variation in the occurrence of epidermal papillomatosis in roach,Rutilus rutilus(L.)

The theory of island biogeography predicts that the probability of a species occupying an island depends on a dynamic equilibrium between extinction and colonization. Epidermal papillomatosis is a disease manifesting as skin tumours on fish. We studied the factors affecting the occurrence of the disease in roach, Rutilus rutilus (L.), in 34 lakes. The results of discrimination analysis suggest that maximum depth, percentage of the drainage area of the lake covered by lakes in the vicinity and altitude best identified diseased lakes. Comparison of diseased and non-diseased lakes revealed that lake area could also be regarded as a variable contributing to the occurrence of the disease. The sa…

Assessing the influence of confounding biological factors when estimating bioaccumulation of PCBs with passive samplers in aquatic ecosystems

Passive samplers are promising surrogates for organisms, mimicking bioaccumulation. However, several biological characteristics disturb the passive partitioning process in organisms by accelerating or restraining bioaccumulation, resulting in species-specific body residues of hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs). In addition to site-specific characteristics and HOC concentrations, age, sex, diet, biotransformation capability and habitat-specific characteristics may affect body residues. Two passive sampler types, polyethylene (PE) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) were deployed in a PCB-contaminated freshwater lake water and sediment, respectively, to assess their bioaccumulation predictio…

Effect of starvation on parasite-induced mortality in a freshwater snail (Potamopyrgus antipodarum).

The level of host exploitation is expected, under theory, to be selected to maximise (subject to constraints) the lifetime reproductive success of the parasite. Here we studied the effect of two castrating trematode species on their intermediate snail host, Potamopyrgus antipodarum. One of the trematode species, Microphallus sp., encysts in the snail host and the encysted larvae “hatch” following ingestion of infected snails by birds. The other species, Notocotylus gippyensis, by contrast, releases swimming larvae; ingestion of the snail host is not required for, and does not aid, transmission to the final host. We isolated field-collected snails for 3 months in the laboratory, and followed…

Parasites in sympatric populations of native and invasive freshwater bivalves

An increasing threat to local, native freshwater mussels (Unionida)—an ecologically important but globally alarmingly declining group— is the invasion by exotic bivalves. The Enemy Release Hypothesis predicts that introduced species should benefit from enemy-mediated competition because they are less likely to be harmed by natural enemies, such as parasites, than their native competitors. We investigated within-site differences in parasitism between sympatric native (tot. five spp.) and invasive (tot. three spp.) bivalves in eight northern European waterbodies, which harboured totally 15 parasite taxa. In paired comparisons using within-site averages, the mean number of parasite species in …

Variation in the COI gene of the freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera from River Vuokkijoki

The freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera L. is one of the most endangered freshwater mussels in the world. Effective conservation of threatened species requires not only ecological, but also genetic information from the target species and populations. Since low genetic diversity can reduce the ability of a species to adapt to environmental changes, maintaining genetic diversity has been identified as one of the key elements in successful conservation programs. We examined genetic variation of the freshwater pearl mussel from the River Vuokkijoki, Karelia, Russia. We sequenced a fragment of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene (COI) from 22 individuals and compared the data…

Visual conditions and habitat shape the coloration of the Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis L.): a trade-off between camouflage and communication?

In theory, selection for effective camouflage (i.e. dull coloration) in fish should be strongest when the conditions for visual predation are most favourable, such as in structurally simple pelagic habitats. By contrast, in more sheltered (e.g. littoral) habitats, selection may favour effective intra-specific communication (i.e. bright coloration) (at the expense of crypsis). Poor transparency, as in highly humic waters, should constrain colour adaptations. We investigated phenotypic variation in body coloration of Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis L.) in littoral and pelagic habitats of four humic boreal lakes. Perch from the most transparent lake had the lightest and less coloured belly a…

Cercarial Production of the Trematode Rhipidocotyle fennica in Clams Kept in the Field

The numbers of cercariae that trematodes produce have been previously investigated in the laboratory but not in the field. I studied cercarial production of the bucephalid trematode Rhipidocotyle fennica in the freshwater unionid clam Anodonta piscinalis kept under natural conditions. Naturally infected clams (n = 180) were collected and marked in early June 1996. Every 14 days, starting from the collection date and ending in October, these clams were taken to the laboratory where they were monitored for the emergence of trematode cercariae. Between monitoring dates, the clams were returned to the collection site. From a random subsample of infected clams (n = 12), the number of cercariae p…

Effect of substrate particle size on burrowing of the juvenile freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera

AbstractJuveniles of the endangered freshwater pearl mussel (FPM,Margaritifera margaritifera) live burrowed in stream substrate for the first years of their life. Fine sediments block water exchange within substrate and may cause juvenile mortality and recruitment failure. To better understand the connection between success of juvenile FPM and substrate particle size, it would be important to understand behavioural responses of FPM to varying substrate sizes at this critical life stage. We placed newly detached FPM juveniles in a 7-mm layer of sieved sand sorted into five sizes (< 120, 120–200, 200–250, 250–500 and 500–650 µm) each with 10 replicate dishes, 10 juveniles per dish, with bu…

Disappearance of malachite green residues in fry of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) after treatment of eggs at the hatching stage

Abstract The disappearance of malachite green (MG) residues was determined in fry of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) after six repeated treatments of the eggs at the hatching stage with MG oxalate at exposure levels of 1, 3 and 6 mg l− 1 for 30 min. Fry samples were taken from newly hatched fry (0 days post-hatch, d.p.h.) and at regular time intervals at 16, 31, 43, 57 and 96 d.p.h. The residues of MG and its major metabolite, leucomalachite green (LMG), were found to accumulate in the fry after MG treatments of eggs, with the highest residue levels being determined in the newly hatched fry. After exposures of 3 mg l− 1 MG, mean concentrations of 1170 ± 106 µg kg− 1 and 276 ± 38.6 µg kg…

Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and brown trout (Salmo trutta) differ in their suitability as hosts for the endangered freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) in northern Fennoscandian rivers

European populations of the freshwater pearl mussel (FPM, Margaritifera margaritifera) have collapsed across much of the species’ geographic range and, despite many types of conservation intervention, the number of successful restoration efforts has been low. The goal of this study was to determine whether there were population-specific differences in the suitability of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and brown trout (S. trutta) as hosts for the parasitic glochidium larvae of FPM. We predicted that such differences would depend on the historical occurrence of these salmonid species in FPM habitats. We studied the potential host specificity both in the field and in laboratory by exposing salmo…

Ergasilid copepods as parasites of perch Perca fluviatilis and roach Rutilus rutilus in Central Finland: seasonality, maturity and environmental influence

A total of 1255 roach Rutilus rutilus (L.) and 866 perch Perca fluviatilis (L.) from four interconnected lakes in Central Finland differing in trophic status and pollution level were studied for parasitic ergasilid copepods between August 1985 and December 1988. In addition, 109 whitefish (Coregonus sp.) were studied from one of the lakes. Four ergasilid species were found: (the prevalence and intensity/fish, respectively, for the whole material are given in parentheses) Ergasilus briani (16·9%, 0·5), Neoergasilus japonicus (15·6%, 0·4) and Paraergasilus longidigitus (2·1%, 0·02) on the roach and Ergasilus sieboldi (9·9%, 0·1) and P. longidigitus (4·9%, 0·05) on the perch. Logit analysis wa…

Interaction between the endangered freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera, the duck mussel Anodonta anatina and the fish host (Salmo) : acquired and cross-immunity

The common duck mussel Anodonta anatina can live in sympatry with—and use the same host, brown trout (Salmo trutta)—as the endangered freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera. Since the glochidia release of A. anatina takes place seasonally earlier than that of M. margaritifera, brown trout can be sequentially exposed first to A. anatina and then to M. margaritifera. Cross-immunity, an immune reaction induced in fish host against glochidia after the infection with glochidia of another mussel species, is possible. Thus, it was studied experimentally if brown trout can be cross immunized against M. margaritifera by earlier infection with A. anatina. In addition, the hypothesis that…

Allee effect in a manipulative parasite within poikilothermic host under temperature change

AbstractTemperature and intraspecific competition are important factors influencing the growth of all organisms, including parasites. The temperature increase is suggested to stimulate the development of parasites within poikilothermic hosts. However, at high parasite densities, this effect could be diminished, due to stronger intraspecific competition. Our study, for the first time, addressed the joint effects of warming and parasite abundances on parasite growth in poikilothermic hosts. The growth of the common fish parasite larvae (trematode Diplostomum pseudospathaceum) within the rainbow trout at different infection intensities and temperatures (15°C and 18°C) was experimentally invest…

Epizootic cutaneous papillomatosis in roach Rutilus rutilus: sex and size dependence, seasonal occurrence and between-population differences.

Epidemiology of epidermal papillomatosis in roach Rutilus rutilus was studied in 11 roach populations in Finland in 1999 and 2000 during the spawning period. In addition, the seasonal pattern of the disease was described in 1 population. Papilloma tumours were observed on the skin and fins of roach in 8 populations out of 11. Prevalence of papillomatosis varied from 0 to 62%, being higher in populations subject to industrial or sewage effluents. Males and large fish had higher prevalence of papilloma tumours. The disease outbreak peaked during the spawning period and signs of recovered skin on fish were observed later during the year. The gender dependence in the disease prevalence found in…

Effect of glochidia infection on growth of fish : freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera and brown trout Salmo trutta

AbstractEffect of freshwater mussels’ (Unionoida) glochidia on the growth of fish host has remained poorly studied. We compared the specific growth rate of the juvenile, PIT-marked brown trout (Salmo trutta) between uninfected controls to those experimentally infected (average initial intensity of infection 8000 fish−1) with Margaritifera margaritifera glochidia, kept in high and low feeding. Growth and mortality of fish were monitored for 10 months. Our hypothesis was that glochidiosis would impair the growth of fish. According to our hypothesis, infected fish gained statistically significantly less weight than the control fish throughout the experiment. A proportional increase in weight o…

Effect of epidermal papillomatosis on survival of the freshwater fish Rutilus rutilus.

Epidermal papillomatosis occurs in several marine and freshwater fish species. Previously, papillomatosis has been shown to induce mortality in juvenile carp. We studied the effect of epidermal papillomatosis on the survival of adult male roach Rutilus rutilus by caging naturally diseased, marked (by us) fish in the field. Within the constraints of the experimental design, there was no difference in survival between healthy, slightly diseased and heavily diseased fish. Therefore, we conclude that the possible effect of epidermal papillomatosis on the mortality of wild roach is relatively minor.

The joint adverse effects of aged nanoscale plastic debris and their co-occurring benzo[α]pyrene in freshwater mussel (Anodonta anatina)

Although the presence of small-scale plastics, including nanoscale plastic debris (NPD, size1 μm), is expected in the environment, our understanding of their potential uptake and biodistribution in organisms is still limited. This mostly is because of the limitations in analytical techniques to characterize NPD in organisms' bodies. Moreover, it is still debatable whether aged NPD can sorb and transfer chemicals into organisms. Here, we apply iron oxide-doped polystyrene nanoparticles (Fe-PS NPs) of 270 nm size to quantify the uptake and biodistribution of NPD in freshwater mussels (Anodonta anatina). The Fe-PS NPs were, first, oxidized using heat-activated potassium persulfate treatments t…

RESEARCH PAPER: Multiple Sexual Ornamentation Signals Male Quality and Predicts Female Preference in Minnows

Sexual ornamentation often consists of multiple components. Different sexual signals may indicate different aspects of mate quality or reflect quality in different time scales. On the other hand, same signals can have a dual function and are used both in male–male competition and courtship. Many fish species are capable of rapidly altering their colouration (ephemeral colour changes), but this capability is usually ignored in sexual selection studies. Here, we used experimentally manipulated social environments to study the ephemeral colour changes in multicomponent sexual signals of male minnows (Phoxinus phoxinus) during male–male competition and female choice. We found that the dominant …

Sex and sexual ornamentation associated with survival of the cyprinid fish, Rutilus rutilus, under disease stress

By conveying information of disease resistance, sexual signals may be used as cues for adaptive mate choice. Here we report observations on survival of laboratory-maintained, wild-collected, sexually mature, ready-to-spawn cyprinid fish, Rutilus rutilus (roach), under accidental epidemic attributed to Flavobacterium psychrophilum, diagnosed using species-specific PCR. The fish were maintained in a single tank. During the 27 days observation period, both the proportion of fish surviving the infection as well as the length-adjusted mean survival time of the fish that died was the highest among the high-ornamented males with large breeding tubercles, intermediary among the low-ornamented males…

Glochidia Infection of Endemic Fishes from Lake Prespa, N. Macedonia

Large freshwater mussels (Unionida) are long-lived, have large bodies, and produce thousands to millions of larvae (glochidia) that usually must attach to host fish tissue to complete their life cycle. This is an obligate parasitic stage of mussel larvae. However, less than one in onemillion find a suitable host and survive. The degree of host specificity varies among unionid species, from specialists that can successfully parasitize only one or a few closely related fish species to generalists that can complete development on a taxonomically broad range of fish species. In addition, freshwater mussels are among the most threatened groups of animals. This is due to habitat destruction, the …

In vitro efficacy of praziquantel against the cercariae of Diplostomum sp., Rhipidocotyle fennica and R. campanula.

Parasite transmission in aquatic ecosystems under climate change: joint effects of temperature, host behavior and elimination of parasite larvae by predators

AbstractA moderate raise in temperature was suggested to enhance the impact of parasites on aquatic ecosystems. Under higher temperatures, poikilothermic animals (e.g. fish), increase their activity, which can result in a more frequent encounter with parasites. However, temperature increase may also trigger processes counteracting an increased risk of parasitic infections. For instance, removal of free-living stages of parasites by filter-feeding organisms can increase with temperature and potentially mitigate disease risk in ecosystems under climate change.In our study, we aimed to find out whether an increased infection transmission under higher temperatures can be, at least, partly compe…

Henneguya zschokkei (Myxozoa) infection in cultured whitefish : Age-dependence, seasonality and distribution within host

Whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus) is an important species for European fisheries and aquaculture. Recently, the myxosporean Henneguya zschokkei has been observed to infect the muscles of whitefish in fish farms. Plasmodia of H. zschokkei prevent marketing of the fillet and cause economic losses. The factors associated with occurrence of the parasite in fish farms have not been investigated previously. We studied age-dependence, seasonality, and within-host distribution of H. zschokkei plasmodia in farmed whitefish by examining a total of 1599 fish. Distribution of plasmodia within the fish was not uniform. When the fillet was divided into parts, the number of plasmodia was positively correlat…

Grouping facilitates avoidance of parasites by fish

Background. Parasite distribution is often highly heterogeneous, and intensity of infection depends, among other things, on how well hosts can avoid areas with a high concentration of parasites. We studied the role of fish behaviour in avoiding microhabitats with a high infection risk using Oncorhynchus mykiss and cercariae of Diplostomum pseudospathaceum as a model. Spatial distribution of parasites in experimental tanks was highly heterogeneous. We hypothesized that fish in groups are better at recognizing a parasitized area and avoiding it than solitary fish. Methods. Number of fish, either solitary or in groups of 5, was recorded in different compartments of a shuttle tank where fish co…

Infectivity of trematode eye flukes in farmed salmonid fish — Effects of parasite and host origins

Abstract Parasites cause significant economic losses in fish farming, and knowledge of the mechanisms underlying their effects on hosts is an essential prerequisite of preventative procedures for the parasite problem in hatcheries. One such mechanism is local adaptation of parasites, which should lead to higher infectivity of parasites in sympatric host–parasite combinations compared to corresponding allopatric combinations. In this study, we investigated the infectivity of two ubiquitous species of trematode eye flukes, Diplostomum sp. and Tylodelphus clavata, in their farmed salmonid fish hosts with respect to origin of the parasite and the host. First, we exposed two anadromous and one l…

Maternal effects in vulnerability to eye-parasites and correlations between behavior and parasitism in juvenile Arctic charr

Hatchery-reared fish show high mortalities after release to the wild environment. Explanations for this include potentially predetermined genetics, behavioral, and physiological acclimation to fish farm environments, and increased vulnerability to predation and parasitism in the wild. We studied vulnerability to Diplostomum spp. parasites (load of eye flukes in the lenses), immune defense (relative spleen size) and antipredator behaviors (approaches toward predator odor, freezing, and swimming activity) in hatchery-reared juvenile Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) using a nested mating design. Fish were exposed to eye-fluke larvae via the incoming water at the hatchery. Fish size was positi…

The effects of treated effluents on the intensity of papillomatosis and HSP70 expression in roach.

Epidermal papillomatosis in fish has been proposed as an indicator of environmental stress but experimental evidence of connection between contaminants and papillomatosis in fish is scarce. We studied changes in the intensity of epidermal papillomatosis and the expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) in roach, Rutilus rutilus, exposed to treated pulp mill and municipal effluents. In male roach, the increase in papillomatosis intensity was higher in fish exposed to 15% than in fish exposed to 1.5% concentration of municipal effluent. No differences were observed in papillomatosis development in females, or in HSP70 expression. In all the experiments conducted, the increasing effect of ef…

Population structure, life cycle, and trophic niche of the glacial relict amphipod, Gammaracanthus lacustris, in a large boreal lake

Ecology of the glacial relict macrocrustacean Gammaracanthus lacustris, a rare inhabitant of deep Fennoscandian lakes, is poorly understood. We studied the life cycle and trophic position of this cold‐stenothermic amphipod in Lake Paasivesi, eastern Finland. The study is based on intensive sampling and analyses of fatty acid composition as well as stable carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotope ratios. Both day and night, the G. lacustris population occurred at depths below 25 m at temperatures 40 mm and live up to 4 years. The oldest and the largest individuals and females seemed to favour the deepest zones. In October, almost 100% of females with length at least 25 mm (i.e. females presu…

Studies on bucephalid digeneans parasitising molluscs and fishes in Finland. II. The description of Rhipidocotyle fennica n. sp. and its discrimination by principal components analysis

Rhipidocotyle fennica n. sp. (= Rhipidocotyle Type A of Taskinen et al., 1991) from the intestine of Esox lucius in central Finland is described and compared by means of a principal components analysis (PCA) with R. campanula (= Rhipidocotyle Type B of Taskinen et al., 1991). Its cercaria develops in the bivalve Anodonta anatina and the metacercaria occurs in the skin and fins of Rutilus rutilus. The metacercaria is discriminated from that of R. campanula by PCA and is described along with aspects of the chaetotaxy of the cercaria. The new species is distinguished from R. campanula, R. kovalae, R. papillosa and R. septpapillata.

Research priorities for freshwater mussel conservation assessment

Freshwater mussels are declining globally, and effective conservation requires prioritizing research and actions to identify and mitigate threats impacting mussel species. Conservation priorities vary widely, ranging from preventing imminent extinction to maintaining abundant populations. Here, we develop a portfolio of priority research topics for freshwater mussel conservation assessment. To address these topics, we group research priorities into two categories: intrinsic or extrinsic factors. Intrinsic factors are indicators of organismal or population status, while extrinsic factors encompass environmental variables and threats. An understanding of intrinsic factors is useful in monitor…

In vitro embryo survival and early viability of larvae in relation to male sexual ornaments and parasite resistance in roach, Rutilus rutilus L.

According to the ‘good genes’ hypothesis, sexual ornaments provide an indication of the ‘quality’ of the bearer. In roach, Rutilus rutilus, breeding tubercles (BTs) may signal resistance against the digenean parasite, Rhipidocotyle campanula. Life history theory predicts that there should be a trade-off between parasite resistance and other life history traits. In roach, this could imply a trade-off between parasite resistance in mature fish and some larval feature. We studied embryo survival and the early viability of larvae of male roach in relation to expression of BTs and parasite resistance in maternal half-sibling families. Highly ornamented males had higher resistance against R. camp…

Glochidial infection by the endangered Margaritifera margaritifera (Mollusca) increased survival of salmonid host (Pisces) during experimental Flavobacterium disease outbreak

AbstractCo-infections are common in host-parasite interactions, but studies about their impact on the virulence of parasites/diseases are still scarce. The present study compared mortality induced by a fatal bacterial pathogen, Flavobacterium columnare between brown trout infected with glochidia from the endangered freshwater pearl mussel, Margaritifera margaritifera, and uninfected control fish during the parasitic period and after the parasitic period (i.e. glochidia detached) in a laboratory experiment. We hypothesised that glochidial infection would increase host susceptibility to and/or pathogenicity of the bacterial infection. We found that the highly virulent strain of F. columnare c…

Signals of major histocompatibility complex overdominance in a wild salmonid population

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) contains the most variable genes in vertebrates, but despite extensive research, the mechanisms maintaining this polymorphism are still unresolved. One hypothesis is that MHC polymorphism is a result of balancing selection operating by overdominance, but convincing evidence for overdominant selection in natural populations has been lacking. We present strong evidence consistent with MHC-specific overdominance in a free-living population of Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) in northernmost Europe. In this population, where just two MHC alleles were observed, MHC heterozygous fish had a lower parasite load, were in better condition (as estimated by a…

Makroäyriäisten (Gammaracanthus lacustris, Mysis relicta, Monoporeia affinis, Pallaseopsis quadrispinosa) vuorokausivaellukset Saimaan Paasivedellä; Diel vertical migrations of the macroscopic crustaceans Gammaracanthus lacustris, Mysis relicta, Monoporeia affinis and Pallaseopsis quadrispinosa in Lake Paasivesi, Saimaa

We examined the diel vertical migrations of the macroscopic pelagic relict crustaceans Gammaracanthus lacustris, Mysis relicta, Monoporeia affinis and Pallaseopsis quadrispinosa in the deep Lake Paasivesi basin of the Saimaa lake complex. The samples were collected in October 2006 and 2007 using a Hydro-Bios Multi Plankton Sampler onboard the research vessel R/V Muikku. The study provides information about the day-and-night and year-to-year changes in the vertical distribution of these crustaceans. Regarding G. lacustris we explored if body size (length), sex or maturity have bearing on the individuals' depth preference or possible diel migrations. We noticed that G. lacustris females occur…

Population structure, life cycle, and trophic niche of the glacial relict amphipod, Gammaracanthus lacustris , in a large boreal lake

Innate antipredator behavior can promote infection in fish even in the absence of predators

Natural enemies—predators and parasites—largely shape the dynamics of ecosystems. It is known that antipredator and antiparasite defense can be mutually conflicting, however consequences of this trade-off for the regulation of infection burden in animals are still poorly understood. We hypothesize that even in the absence of cues from predators, innate antipredator behavior (“ghost of predation past”) interferes with defense against parasites and can enhance the infection risk. As a case study, we explore interactions between a commercial species, the rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss, and its parasite, the trematode eye-fluke Diplostomum pseudospathaceum. Fish–parasite interactions were te…

Does the freshwater mussel Anodonta anatina remove the fish pathogen Flavobacterium columnare from water?

AbstractGlobal decline of freshwater mussels (Unionoida) is threatening biodiversity and the essential ecosystem services that mussels provide. As filter-feeding organisms, freshwater mussels remove phytoplankton and suspended particles from the water. By filtering bacteria, freshwater mussels also decrease pathogen loads in the water. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the common freshwater bivalve Anodonta anatina (duck mussel) could remove the bacterial fish pathogen Flavobacterium columnare from the water. Mussels reduced bacteria in both of the two experiments performed, so that the bacterial concentration at the end of the 96-h monitoring in mussel treatments was only…

The information content of odour, colour and tactile cues in the mate choice of minnows

AbstractSexual displays often involve many different signal components, which may give information about the same or different mate qualities. We studied the information content of different signals in male minnows (Phoxinus phoxinus) and tested whether females are able to discriminate between males when only olfactory cues are present. We found that females preferred the odour of males with a more saturated (i.e., redder) belly, but only when the females had been in physical contact with the males before the experiments. Instead, when unfamiliar males were used, females did not discriminate between male odours and also the overall swimming activity (mate choice intensity) of the females wa…

Parasite-induced aggression and impaired contest ability in a fish host

Abstract Background Success of trophically transmitted parasites depends to a great extent on their ability to manipulate their intermediate hosts in a way that makes them easier prey for target hosts. Parasite-induced behavioural changes are the most spectacular and diverse examples of manipulation. Most of the studies have been focused on individual behaviour of hosts including fish. We suggest that agonistic interactions and territoriality in fish hosts may affect their vulnerability to predators and thus the transmission efficiency of trophically transmitted parasites. The parasite Diplostomum spathaceum (Trematoda) and juvenile rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, were used to study whe…

Influence of trematode parasitism on the growth of a bivalve host in the field.

Abstract Trematode-induced gigantism of molluscs, enhanced growth of trematode-parasitised individuals, has been observed in many laboratory studies. This study reports the effect of the sterilising trematode, Rhipidicotyle fennica , on the growth of the freshwater clam Anodonta piscinalis under field conditions. In addition to single infections (prevalence 44%), a few clams (3%) were infected with both R. fennica and Rhipidocotyle campanula . Parasite-induced gigantism was not found; parasites lowered host growth. The decrease in growth was correlated with the quantity of parasite material. Clams with double infections grew the least, although they did not differ significantly from hosts w…

Henneguya zschokkei (Myxozoa) infection in cultured whitefish: Age-dependence, seasonality and distribution within host

Abstract Whitefish ( Coregonus lavaretus ) is an important species for European fisheries and aquaculture. Recently, the myxosporean Henneguya zschokkei has been observed to infect the muscles of whitefish in fish farms. Plasmodia of H. zschokkei prevent marketing of the fillet and cause economic losses. The factors associated with occurrence of the parasite in fish farms have not been investigated previously. We studied age-dependence, seasonality, and within-host distribution of H. zschokkei plasmodia in farmed whitefish by examining a total of 1599 fish. Distribution of plasmodia within the fish was not uniform. When the fillet was divided into parts, the number of plasmodia was positive…

Myosporidium ladogensis n. comb. in burbot Lota lota from Finland: fine structure and microsporidian taxonomy.

Infections with microsporidian parasites are described in skeletal muscle of burbot Lota lota from Lake Haukivesi, Finland. Infected myocytes contained spores within sporophorous vesicles (SPVs) in contact with host cell cytoplasm, similar to Pleistophora ladogensis in L. lota and smelt Osmerus eperlanus in western Russia and northern Germany. Analysis of small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene sequences indicated identity with Myosporidium spraguei in burbot and pike-perch from this lake. The latter is considered a junior synonym of P. ladogensis. Phylogenetic analysis of SSU rRNA sequences resolved the burbot parasite apart from a clade containing the type species P. typicalis, but to…

Studies on bucephalid digeneans parasitising molluscs and fishes in Finland I. Ecological data and experimental studies

Two types of bucephalid cercariae are reported from the bivalve Anodonta anatina in two Finnish lakes. One, Type A, resembles in gross morphology the cercaria of Bucephalus polymorphus, and the other, Type B, resembles the cercaria of Rhipidocotyle campanula. Type A daughter-sporocysts develop more slowly, have a greater cercarial productivity and exhibit a differential diurnal rhythm to that of Type B. Cercariae of Type A have a shorter longevity than Type B and tend to encyst in the fins rather than the gill-arches of fish intermediate hosts. The main definitive host of Type A is pike Esox lucius and, in the case of Type B, perch Perca fluviatilis. Adults of Types A and B are morphologica…

Effect of resource availability on evolution of virulence and competition in an environmentally transmitted pathogen

Understanding ecological and epidemiological factors driving pathogen evolution in contemporary time scales is a major challenge in modern health management. Pathogens that replicate outside the hosts are subject to selection imposed by ambient environmental conditions. Increased nutrient levels could increase pathogen virulence by pre-adapting for efficient use of resources upon contact to a nutrient rich host or by favouring transmission of fast-growing virulent strains. We measured changes in virulence and competition in Flavobacterium columnare, a bacterial pathogen of freshwater fish, under high and low nutrient levels. To test competition between strains in genotype mixtures, we devel…

Doing Socially Engaged Science

Effect of low dissolved oxygen on the viability of juvenile Margaritifera margaritifera : Hypoxia tolerance ex situ

The decline of endangered freshwater pearl mussel (FPM, Margaritifera margaritifera) has been attributed to juvenile mortality caused by low concentrations of dissolved oxygen in the stream substrate resulting from fine sediments (siltation) that impede water exchange in the interstitial microhabitat of juveniles. If low oxygen concentration causes recruitment failure of FPMs, knowledge on the oxygen tolerance of juvenile FPMs is essential for the conservation of the species, as it will justify conservation efforts improving water exchange in the bottom gravel. However, the tolerance of low oxygen of FPM juveniles has not been directly studied. Juvenile FPMs (9–11 months old) were exposed i…

Measured immunocompetence relates to the proportion of dead parasites in a wild roach population

Summary 1. Although various methods are used to measure immunocompetence, their relationship with the actual parasite clearance or parasite load is seldom demonstrated in natural systems. 2. We combined nine measures of immune function using principal component analysis (PCA), and examined the relationship of the collective measures with (i) the proportion of parasites killed by the host, (ii) the burden of several parasite species and (iii) a viral disease in a wild population of the roach, Rutilus rutilus. We also studied if these variables were associated with the concentration of steroids (testosterone and oestradiol). 3. Most significant correlations between the loads of ecto- and gill…

Increased ventilation by fish leads to a higher risk of parasitism

Background: Fish are common intermediate hosts of trematode cercariae and their gills can potentially serve as important sites of penetration by these larval stages. We experimentally tested the hypothesis that volume of ventilation flow across the gills contributes to acquisition of these parasites by fish. We manipulated the intensity of ventilation by using different oxygen concentrations. Methods: Juvenile Oncorhynchus mykiss were individually exposed for 10 minutes to a standard dose of Diplostomum pseudospathaceum cercariae at three levels of oxygen concentration, 30, 60 and 90%. Ventilation amplitude (measured as a distance between left and right operculum), operculum beat rate, and …

Breeding-related seasonal changes in immunocompetence, health state and condition of the cyprinid fish, Rutilus rutilus, L.

Seasonal changes in immunocompetence are predicted by the hypothesized trade-off between reproduction and self-maintenance, whereby immune function is a measure of self-maintenance and reproductive effort is seasonally dependent. We examined seasonal patterns in immunological, haematological and body condition parameters for male and female freshwater fish. In two different populations, the relative size of the spleen and the chemotaxic migration activity of head kidney granulocytes decreased immediately before and after spawning, respectively. Those decreases were accompanied by an increase in haematocrit values shortly before and after spawning in both populations and a decrease in the re…

An alien fish threatens an endangered parasitic bivalve: the relationship between brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) and freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) in northern Europe

Host–parasite interactions may play a significant role in biological invasions: for example, an invader may benefit from lower infectivity by native parasites in competition against the native hosts (‘enemy release hypothesis’). The invasive North American brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) is replacing the native salmonid hosts of the freshwater pearl mussel (FPM, Margaritifera margaritifera) in northern Europe, but the suitability of brook trout as a host for FPM is poorly known. In this study its suitability was investigated using an array of laboratory and field experiments, and several FPM populations from a catchment in northern Finland. The occurrence of brook trout in FPM rivers in…

Increased Parasite Abundance Associated with Reproductive Maturity of the Clam Anodonta piscinalis

Several studies on vertebrates have demonstrated that reproductive activities may increase the parasite load, but this has not been shown in invertebrate hosts. We studied abundance of a potentially harmful gill parasite, the ergasilid copepod Paraergasilus rylovi, from the freshwater bivalve host Anodonta piscinalis in relation to reproductive maturity of the host in the field. Prevalence of this previously unstudied parasite varied from 90 to 100%, and the mean parasite abundance from 16.3 to 28.8 among 3 study populations. Abundance of P. rylovi increased with host size. In the maturating age groups (3-5 yr) the length-adjusted mean parasite abundance among mature, reproducing female cla…

The endangered freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera shows adaptation to a local salmonid host in Finland

1. The freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera (FPM) is an endangered unionid which has a glochidium larva that attaches to the gills of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar or brown trout S. trutta, although some FPM populations have been shown to exclusively attach to only one of these species. The origin of host fish populations may be crucial for conservation actions for this mussel species, but the relative suitability of local (sympatric) and non- local (allopatric) salmonid populations as the hosts for FPM has been studied only rarely. We hypothesised that FPM glochidia would show adaptation to local salmonid strains and, there-fore, that they would be more successful (abundant, l…

Immunocompetence, developmental stability and wingspot size in the damselflyCalopteryx splendensL.

Calopteryx splendens males exhibit a remarkable variation in wing pigmentation both within and between populations. In this study, we examined whether the wingspots of male C. splendens are related to male quality. We measured the nylon implant encapsulation rate for 85 males and found that males with larger wingspots had a faster encapsulation rate, indicating a better immunocompetence. We also found that the encapsulation rate was positively correlated with the density of haemocytes in the haemolymph. Another measurement of male quality, fluctuating asymmetry of wingspots, correlated negatively with the size of the wingspots. Males with asymmetrical wingspots also had lower encapsulation …

Jättikatkan (Gammaracanthus lacustris) ja jäännehalkoisjalkaisen (Mysis relicta) koko- ja tiheysjakaumat Saimaan Paasivedellä; Vertical size and density distributions of Gammaracanthus lacustris and Mysis relicta in Paasivesi, Lake Saimaa

The ecology of relict crustaceans in Finnish lakes is quite poorly known. In this study we investigated the vertical distributions of these species in Lake Saimaa in the depth zones between 30 m and 60 m. We found out that Gammaracanthus. lacustris lives mainly in the deepest parts of the lake, while Mysis relicta favours the shallowest zones. The average length of both species increased with the depth in the study area. There were some differences in distributions between years, but the main reasons for that are not known exactly. peerReviewed

Conservation status of freshwater mussels in Europe: state of the art and future challenges

Freshwater mussels of the Order Unionida provide important ecosystem functions and services, yet many of their populations are in decline. We comprehensively review the status of the 16 currently recognized species in Europe, collating for the first time their life-history traits, distribution, conservation status, habitat preferences, and main threats in order to suggest future management actions. In northern, central, and eastern Europe, a relatively homogeneous species composition is found in most basins. In southern Europe, despite the lower species richness, spatially restricted species make these basins a high conservation priority. Information on freshwater mussels in Europe is uneve…

Effect of pH, iron and aluminum on survival of early life history stages of the endangered freshwater pearl mussel, Margaritifera margaritifera

Glochidium larvae and juveniles of the endangered freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera may be sensitive to low pH and metal exposure, but to our knowledge, no tolerance tests have been performed. Therefore, we exposed glochidia, fish-attached glochidia, and juveniles of the pearl mussel to low pH and increased iron (Fe) and aluminum (Al) by using realistic pH (6.0–4.5), Fe (0.5–2.0 mg L−1), and Al (0.25–1.0 mg L−1) levels periodically observed in this study site. Survival of glochidia decreased with decreasing pH, increasing Fe, and increasing Al, as well as with increasing Fe + Al concentration in a 72 h exposure. All glochidia died within 24 h in pH 4.5 and Fe 2.0 mg L−1. W…

Morphological and molecular analysis of the freshwater bivalve Anodonta anatina in Iran and Finland

Duck mussel, Anodonta anatina is a habitat generalist inhabiting both lentic and lotic aquatic ecosystems. Due to high morphological similarity and phenotypic plasticity, A. anatina has sometimes been misidentified as A. cygnea. Here, morphological and molecular studies were conducted on Anodonta mussels inhabiting North Iran and Finland. The individuals were collected from Anzali Wetland, Tajan River (North Iran) and Jyväsjärvi Lake (Finland). The COI sequence analysis showed the existence of A. anatina in the sampling areas. The Iranian and Finland specimens showed three and two haplotypes, respectively. The Iranian haplotypes were placed in a single clade, while the Finland haplotypes we…

Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and brown trout (Salmo trutta) differ in their suitability as hosts for the endangered freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) in northern Fennoscandian rivers

1. European populations of the freshwater pearl mussel (FPM, Margaritifera margaritifera) have widely collapsed, and despite many types of conservation actions the number of successful restoration trials has remained limited. The goal of this study was to find new aspects for the conservation by investigating whether there are population-specific differences in suitability of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and brown trout (S. trutta) as the hosts for the parasitic glochidium larvae of FPM, depending probably on the historical occurrence of these salmonid species in FPM habitats. 2. We studied the potential host specificity both in the field and in laboratory by exposing salmonid fish to FPM …

Infection ecology of Philometra ovata (Nematoda: Philometridae) in a wild European minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus) population in Finland

SUMMARYSeasonal life cycle of body cavity dwelling (BCD) Philometra ovata (Nematoda: Philometridae) has been reported in southern and central European countries, but its swim bladder dwelling (SBD) stage and northern populations have remained unstudied. In this study, we investigated the seasonal life cycle and infection ecology of P. ovata in both swim bladder and body cavity in the European minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus) in Finland. The larval P. ovata infected the swim bladder of minnows mainly in August. Female SBD P. ovata emigrated to body cavity mostly in September, grew to their full size by the end of the next June, and evacuated from minnows in July. In addition, female SBD P. ovata r…

Effect of Short-Term Temperature Change on Cercarial Release by Rhipidocotyle fennica (Trematoda, Bucephalidae) from the Freshwater Bivalve Host, Anodonta anatina

Cercarial release from the first intermediate host is an important stage in the transmission of trematode parasites. Besides long-term (seasonal) temperature fluctuations, short-term temperature changes can also influence cercarial emergence. We tested the response of the bucephalid trematode, Rhipidocotyle fennica (R. fennica), acclimatized to 17 °C, to an abrupt temperature change. As the natural cercarial shedding by this parasite takes place annually during the warmest season, we expected a positive effect of temperature increase. Monitoring during one hour after the transfer from 17 °C to 20 °C revealed a significant increase in R. fennica cercarial release compared to the preceding on…

REDUCTION IN THE LEVEL OF INFECTION OF THE BIVALVE ANODONTA PISCINALIS BY THE COPEPOD PARAERGASILUS RYLOVI USING HIGH TEMPERATURE AND LOW OXYGEN

The aim of this study was to develop a method to kill or expel the gill-dwelling crustacean parasite Paraergasilus rylovi from a common freshwater clam, Anodonta piscinalis. Naturally infected clams were exposed to different water-quality treatments and monitoring in the laboratory. In a high-temperature treatment (26 C vs. control 18 C), the mean abundance of the parasite decreased to near zero in 7 days. Because only 2 clams of 72 died in this treatment during the 14-day experiment, the survival of the host was not seriously at risk at the high temperature. 'Low oxygen, no water change' (18 C) was the second most effective treatment, followed by a 'low-oxygen, water-flow' (18 C) treatment…

Trematode cercariae as prey for zooplankton: effect on fitness traits of predators.

AbstractRemoval of parasite free-living stages by predators has previously been suggested an important factor controlling parasite transmission in aquatic habitats. Experimental studies of zooplankton predation on macroparasite larvae are, however, scarce. We tested whether trematode cercariae, which are often numerous in shallow waters, are suitable prey for syntopic zooplankters. Feeding rates and survival of freshwater cyclopoids (Megacyclops viridis, Macrocyclops distinctus), calanoids (Arctodiaptomus paulseni), cladocerans (Sida crystallina) and rotifers Asplanchna spp., fed with cercariae of Diplostomum pseudospathaceum, a common fish trematode, were studied. In additional long-term e…

Interactions between two parasites of brown trout (Salmo trutta): Consequences of preinfection

Preinfection by one parasitic species may facilitate or by contrast hamper the subsequent penetration and/or establishment of other parasites in a host. The biology of interacting species, timing of preinfection, and dosage of subsequent parasite exposure are likely important variables in this multiparasite dynamic infection process. The increased vulnerability to subsequent infection can be an important and often overlooked factor influencing parasite virulence. We investigated how the preinfection by freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera glochidia could influence the success of subsequent infection by the common trematode Diplostomum pseudospathaceum in brown trout Salmo tru…

Ethanol preservation effects on stable carbon, nitrogen and hydrogen isotopes in the freshwater pearl mussel

AbstractChemical preservatives can alter stable isotope ratios in animal tissues. The effects of preservation on δ13C and δ15N values have been investigated in a variety of species, but not on δ2H values or on the freshwater pearl mussel (FPM, Margaritifera margaritifera) tissues. We evaluated the effect of ethanol preservation (unpreserved vs preserved tissues) over 6 months on the δ13C, δ15N and δ2H values of FPM foot and gonad tissues. Ethanol preservation significantly increased δ13C values (foot 0.4 ‰; gonad 0.3 ‰), whereas it did not significantly affect δ15N values (foot 0.2 ‰; gonad − 0.1 ‰). The positive effect of ethanol preservation on δ2H values (foot 7.1 ‰; gonad 14.5 ‰) and th…

Electrofishing as a new method to search for unknown populations of the endangered freshwater pearl musselMargaritifera margaritifera

1. The freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera is threatened throughout its Holarctic range, but the occurrence of this species is insufficiently mapped. For the conservation of M. margaritifera, it is important to identify populations more comprehensively. 2. Traditionally mussels have been searched for visually using techniques such as diving and aquascope, both of which are potentially time-consuming and demanding survey methods. 3. In this study, a new search method is presented. As glochidia of M. margaritifera are larval parasites on the gills of salmonid fish, electrofishing and non-destructive examination of salmonids with the naked eye may reveal the presence of glochid…

Pulsed flow-through cultivation of Margaritifera margaritifera : effects of water source and food quantity on the survival and growth of juveniles

AbstractConservation of the endangered freshwater pearl mussel (FPM) includes artificially rearing juveniles, but the pulsed flow-through (PFT) method, enabling the continuous renewal of water and food in culture containers, has not been applied to FPM. This study tested the PFT method in culture of FPM juveniles, and the effect of water source (tap vs well water) and food concentration (mixture of commercial phytoplankton products) on the survival and growth of juveniles. Beaker-specific survival rates varied from 0 to 100% (mean: 34%) and from 0 to 58% (mean: 16%) in the 1st (2-week) and 2nd (10-week) experiment, respectively. In the 1st experiment, juveniles attained statistically signif…

Do highly ornamented and less parasitized males have high quality sperm? - an experimental test for parasite-induced reproductive trade-offs in European minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus)

Parasites take their resources from hosts and thus directly reduce available resources for hosts’ own body functions, such as growth and reproduction. Furthermore, parasite infections cause significant indirect costs to their hosts in terms of increased investments on immune defense. In this study, we investigated the impact of parasite infection on the sperm quality and expression of secondary sexual ornamentation (saturation of the red abdominal colouration and number of breeding tubercles) in the Eurasian minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus). We exposed minnows to a high and low dose of common nonspecific fish ectoparasite, the glochidia larvae of duck mussel (Anodonta anatina) and tested whether …

Contrasting temperature responses in seasonal timing of cercariae shedding by Rhipidocotyle trematodes

AbstractGlobal warming is likely to lengthen the seasonal duration of larval release by parasites. We exposed freshwater mussel hosts, Anodonta anatina, from 2 high-latitude populations to high, intermediate and low temperatures throughout the annual cercarial shedding period of the sympatric trematodes Rhipidocotyle fennica and R. campanula, sharing the same transmission pathway. At the individual host level, under warmer conditions, the timing of the cercarial release in both parasite species shifted towards seasonally earlier period while its duration did not change. At the host population level, evidence for the lengthening of larvae shedding period with warming was found for R. fennica…

Freshwater mussels (Anodonta anatina) reduce transmission of a common fish trematode (eye fluke, Diplostomum pseudospathaceum)

SUMMARYRecent results suggest that bivalves can play an important role in restraining the spread of various aquatic infections. However, the ability of mussels to remove free-living stages of macroparasites and reduce their transmission is still understudied, especially for freshwater ecosystems. We investigated the influence of the common freshwater mussel (Anodonta anatina) on the transmission of a trematode (eye fluke, Diplostomum pseudospathaceum), which frequently infects fish in farms and natural habitats. In our experiments, mussels caused a significant decrease (P < 0·001) in the abundance of trematode free-living stages, from 6520 to 1770 cercariae L−1 on average (about 4-fold i…

Parasite transmission in aquatic ecosystems under temperature change: effects of host activity and elimination of parasite larvae by filter‐feeders

A moderate raise in temperature was suggested to enhance the impact of parasites on aquatic ecosystems. Under higher temperatures, poikilothermic animals (e.g. fish) increase their activity, which can result in a more frequent encounter with parasites. However, temperature increase may also trigger processes counteracting an increased risk of parasitic infections. Thus, the removal of free‐living stages of parasites by filter‐feeding organisms can increase with temperature and potentially mitigate disease risk in ecosystems under climate change. We aimed to study whether an increased infection transmission under higher temperatures can be compensated by the increased removal of parasitic la…

Electrofishing as a new method to search for unknown populations of the endangered freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera

1. The freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera is threatened throughout its Holarctic range, but the occurrence of this species is insufficiently mapped. For the conservation of M. margaritifera, it is important to identify populations more comprehensively. 2. Traditionally mussels have been searched for visually using techniques such as diving and aquascope, both of which are potentially time-consuming and demanding survey methods. 3. In this study, a new search method is presented. As glochidia of M. margaritifera are larval parasites on gills of salmonid fish, electrofishing and non-destructive examination of salmonids with the naked eye may reveal the presence of glochidia a…

Breeding Tubercles, Papillomatosis and Dominance Behaviour of Male Roach (Rutilus rutilus) During the Spawning Period

We studied the relationship between the breeding tubercle ornamentation (i.e. skin roughness) and male pre-spawning dominance and courtship behaviour in roach (Rutilus rutilus) within an experimental laboratory system. Sexually mature fish were caught during their migration to their spawning pond and their behaviours were studied in an artificial spawning arena. Males behaved naturally both in terms of male–male interactions and attempts to achieve spawnings. Males having many, large breeding tubercles (i.e. rough skin) were significantly more often dominant in our dyadic trials than those with smooth skin. The dominant male in the trial exhibited a more active courtship behaviour than its …

Cyclopoids feed selectively on free‐living stages of parasites

Data from: Maternal effects in vulnerability to eye-parasites and correlations between behaviour and parasitism in juvenile Arctic charr

Hatchery-reared fish show high mortalities after release to the wild environment. Explanations for this include potentially predetermined genetics, behavioural and physiological acclimation to fish farm environments, and increased vulnerability to predation and parasitism in the wild. We studied vulnerability to Diplostomum spp. parasites (load of eye-flukes in the lenses), immune defence (relative spleen size) and anti-predator behaviours (approaches toward predator odour, freezing, and swimming activity) in hatchery-reared juvenile Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) using a nested mating design. Fish were exposed to eye-fluke larvae via the incoming water at the hatchery. Fish size was pos…

Parasite-induced aggression and impaired contest ability in a fish host

Abstract Background Success of trophically transmitted parasites depends to a great extent on their ability to manipulate their intermediate hosts in a way that makes them easier prey for target hosts. Parasite-induced behavioural changes are the most spectacular and diverse examples of manipulation. Most of the studies have been focused on individual behaviour of hosts including fish. We suggest that agonistic interactions and territoriality in fish hosts may affect their vulnerability to predators and thus the transmission efficiency of trophically transmitted parasites. The parasite Diplostomum spathaceum (Trematoda) and juvenile rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, were used to study whe…