Host-parasite interactions in sympatric and allopatric population of European bitterling - field experiment
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| Year of publication | 2010 |
| Type | Conference abstract |
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| Citation | |
| Description | Parasite community structure is influenced by many ecological factors. Therefore, particular host populations may coexist with parasite communities of various structure. Geographically distant populations of a host species are supposed to be specifically adapted to their local parasite fauna. Susceptibility to sympatric (occupying the same geographic area) and allopatric (occurring in non-overlapping area) parasites was tested in European bitterling (Rhodeus amarus). Four sub-populations of parasite-free juvenile fish were grown: 1) offspings of fish originating from Kyjovka River, 2) offspings of fish originating from Elbe River, 3) hybrids with female parent from Kyjovka and male parent from Elbe, 4) hybrids with female parent from Elbe and male parent from Kyjovka. Sub-populations of juvenile fish were put separately into the experimental cages installed in a side channel of the Kyjovka River and were exposed to their sympatric (in case of Kyjovka sub-population) and allopatric (Elbe sub-population) parasites during the first growing season. Trend of the highest total parasite abundance was found in allopatric fish host sub-population which might be explained by a low adaptation to specific parasite species. Allopatric fish hosts were infected with both the parasite species that do not occur in their home range and parasite species occurring in both regions, with no significant difference in abundance of any species between sympatric and allopatric sub-population. Parasite infection rate in hybrid sub-populations was found to be comparable or lower than in pure sympatric host sub-population. Also the lowest mortality was recorded in one of the hybrid sub-populations, suggesting better characteristics in survival and immune defence of these fish. |
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