Parasites of pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus L.) from Ryan Lake, Algonquin Park, Ontario

Abstract

Lepomis gibbosus, in Ryan Lake for 7 years, harboured 21 species of parasites. Myxosporidea were the most prevalent parasites of young-of-the-year fish. At age group I, pumpkinseed had acquired most parasites found.Urocleidus dispar and U. similis infected age groups I and older; intensity increased with host age. Prevalences of Tetracotyle sp., Uvulifer ambloplitis, Posthodiplostomum minimum, Clinostomum marginatum, Diplostomulum scheuringi, and D. huronense increased with host age. Prevalences of Apophallus brevis were similar in age groups I and older. Intensities of U. ambloplitis and P. minimum increased with host age. Intensity of Tetracotyle sp. increased with host age up to fish of age group II; metacercariae were acquired during summer. Larval Dilepididae were in age group I and older and intensity decreased from age group I to II. Larval Spiroxys sp. and Eustrongylides sp. were most prevalent in age groups II and older and infections were acquired in summer. Glochidia were found only on fish collected in spring. Prevalences of M. osburni and M. uvuliferis increased and M. magnaspherus and M. dechtiari decreased with host age. Prevalence of M. ohioensis was similar in all age groups. Trichodina sp. was rare.