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Susceptibility of Prussian carp infected by metacercariae of Posthodiplostomum cuticola (v. Nordmann, 1832) to fish predation
Author(s) -
Ondračková Markéta,
Dávidová Martina,
Gelnar Milan,
Jurajda Pavel
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
ecological research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.628
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1440-1703
pISSN - 0912-3814
DOI - 10.1007/s11284-005-0146-6
Subject(s) - predation , biology , perch , digenea , carp , predator , carassius , fish <actinopterygii> , host (biology) , zoology , ecology , fishery , trematoda , helminths
The susceptibility of prey fish infected by metacercariae of Posthodiplostomum cuticola (Digenea: Diplostomatidae) to the predation of non‐host predators under experimental conditions was investigated. Parasitized young‐of‐the‐year Prussian carp Carassius auratus were consumed significantly more often by perch Perca fluviatilis compared to non‐parasitized individuals, independent of Prussian carp density. The proportion of parasitized and non‐parasitized fish consumed by the predator remained stable at four different prey densities. The probability of predation did not increase with the intensity of parasite infection. The effect of P. cuticola on the host seems to result mostly from pathological changes (poor condition, black spots). However, our results provide evidence of higher probability of parasitized Prussian carp being consumed by fish predators under experimental conditions.