Premium
Comparison of parasite communities in native and introduced populations of sexual and asexual mollies of the genus Poecilia
Author(s) -
Tobler M.,
Wahli T.,
Schlupp I.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of fish biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1095-8649
pISSN - 0022-1112
DOI - 10.1111/j.0022-1112.2005.00810.x
Subject(s) - poecilia , biology , ecology , poeciliidae , asexual reproduction , parasite hosting , zoology , genus , fish <actinopterygii> , fishery , world wide web , computer science
The parasite communities of two molly species, the sexual Poecilia latipinna and the clonal Poecilia formosa , were investigated in four populations using a novel method applicable under field conditions. In two native populations from south Texas and two introduced populations from central Texas, four species of microparasites and eight species of macroparasites were recorded. Virtually no differences in the parasite diversity and species composition could be detected between the populations. Mollies from south Texas had a higher individual parasitization index of macroparasites. There was a negative correlation between the relative number of oocytes in gravid females and their individual macroparasite load.