0000000000714490

AUTHOR

P. Rintamäki-kinnunen

Host searching in Argulus foliaceus L. (Crustacea: Branchiura): the role of vision and selectivity.

In laboratory experiments, the swimming behaviour of the ectoparasite Argulus foliaceus and its infection rates on juvenile perch (Perca fluviatilis) and roach (Rutilus rutilus) were examined. The highest infection rate and a preference for perch juveniles were obtained in darkness, the lowest infection rate and a lack of preference in the light, when aquaria with glass walls (high reflectivity) were used. In the light, when aquaria were lined with black plastic (low reflectivity) an intermediate level of infection for perch and the highest for roach was recorded. Under such conditions roach were significantly more heavily infected than perch; an attack rate 4 times greater was recorded for…

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Diplostomum spathaceum metacercarial infection and colour change in salmonid fish

Colour changes in two salmonid fish, the salmon (Salmo salar) and sea trout (S. trutta), were examined in relation to infection with the trematode Diplostomum spathaceum. This parasite had no effect on the rate of colour change in these fish, although species specific differences in colour adjustment times were observed. Increasing asymmetry in parasite numbers between the right and left eye, which could lead to the retention of vision in one eye, nevertheless tended to reduce the colour change time in salmon with moderate infection (P=0.08). This first experimental attempt to examine colour changes in fish in relation to eye fluke infections provides grounds for future investigations. The …

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