Acta Vet. Brno 2018, 87: 91-98
Relationship between seasonal dynamics in zooplankton density and Ergasilus infection in two reservoirs
Ergasilosis is a common parasitic disease of fish caused by species of the family Ergasilidae. During the fish growing season, parasitic abundance (including developmental stages) changes in relation to zooplankton development. In this study, we evaluated the seasonal dynamics of ergasilosis in relation to zooplankton development at two reservoirs (Hubenov, Koryčany) in the Morava River Basin (Czech Republic). Samples of fish and zooplankton were obtained at monthly intervals between April and October 2014. In total, 189 fish of 11 species were caught using electrofishing and seine nets. Overall, epidemiological characteristics were higher in the Hubenov reservoir, which also hosted higher numbers of pelagic Copepods. Hubenov also supported a higher number of predatory fish species, which presumably helped to reduce the number of zooplanktonophagic cyprinids. Our results suggest that each reservoir represents a unique ecosystem with its own pattern of ergasilosis seasonal development. Differences between reservoirs are closely related to zooplankton development, which is in turn affected by the fish stock in each reservoir. As the nauplius and copepod stages of arthropods form part of the zooplankton assemblage, they will be found at highest numbers in reservoirs where predatory fish suppress zooplanktonophagic fish species. We suggest to analyse zooplankton with the determination of the genus Ergasilus.
Keywords
Parasite, ergasilosis, food web, biomanipulation, Hubenov, Koryčany.
Funding
Thanks are due to the employees of the Morava River Basin State Enterprise Fishery Department, for providing fish samples for parasitological examination, and employees of the Morava River Basin State Enterprise Hydrobiology Department, for obtaining and processing zooplankton samples.
