Consequences of an outbreak of columnaris disease (Flavobacterium columnare) to the helminth fauna of perch (Perca fluviatilis) in the Queen Mary reservoir, south-east England

Author:

Morley N.J.,Lewis J.W.

Abstract

AbstractParasitism of fish in fully bunded storage reservoirs has rarely been studied, while the impact of a rapid decline in a fish population on its parasite fauna is poorly understood. The present paper investigates the helminth fauna of perch (Perca fluviatilis) over a 5-year period in the Queen Mary reservoir, a large (290 ha) completely artificial water storage impoundment, which forms a unique and challenging habitat for its resident fish population. After 3 years of study, the perch population suffered a significant reduction due to a disease outbreak caused by the pathogenic bacterium Flavobacterium columnare, ‘columnaris disease’, and the subsequent effects on the helminth fauna over the next 2 years are evaluated. Conditions in the reservoir favour the development of large populations of zooplankton, which act as intermediate hosts for the majority of helminths in the dominant perch community. The prevalence and intensity of helminth infections showed much variation over the period prior to the perch mortality. These were likely to be due to changes in the zooplankton biomass, which was exposed to biotoxins released from periodic algal blooms and the application of copper to control them. The outbreak of F. columnare resulted in a significant decrease in the size and condition coefficient of the perch population. Changes also occurred in the composition of helminth parasites, with many species demonstrating either an increase or decrease in infection levels. These changes may be partly associated with an increase in the zooplankton biomass and altered population structure, probably caused by a decrease in fish predation pressure, which would influence the parasite population dynamics, although other factors directly associated with changes in the perch population are also likely to be influential. The long-term affects on the levels of helminth infections in the fish and associated intermediate hosts in the Queen Mary reservoir are discussed.

Publisher

Cambridge University Press (CUP)

Subject

Animal Science and Zoology,General Medicine,Parasitology

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3