Skip to main content
WCS
Menu
Library
Library Catalog
eJournals & eBooks
WCS Research
Archives
Research Use
Finding Aids
Digital Collections
WCS History
WCS Research
Research Publications
Science Data
Services for WCS Researchers
Archives Shop
Bronx Zoo
Department of Tropical Research
Browse By Product
About Us
FAQs
Intern or Volunteer
Staff
Donate
Search WCS.org
Search
search
Popular Search Terms
WCS History
Library and Archives
Library and Archives Menu
Library
Archives
WCS Research
Archives Shop
About Us
Donate
en
fr
Title
Ecology of a diplozoon parasite on the gills of the African cyprinid Barbus neumayeri
Author(s)
Chapman L.J., Lanciani C.A., Chapman C.A.
Published
2000
Publisher
African Journal of Ecology
Published Version DOI
https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2028.2000.00252.x
Abstract
In oxygen-deficient waters, the difficulties of oxygen uptake in gill parasites and their fish hosts may influence host and parasite densities, site selection by the parasite, and effects of the parasite on host condition. This study quantified the prevalence and intensity of the gill monogenean Neodiplozoon polycotyleus in the African cyprinid fish Barbus neumayeri from an intermittent forest stream in western Uganda. Oxygen levels were low in the stream over the 12-month study, averaging only 2.5 mg litre-1 (monthly range = 1.2-4.3 mg litre-1). However, parasite prevalence was high (47.2%), suggesting high tolerance to low oxygen in N. polycotyleus. The prevalence of parasites varied with host body size, with the highest frequency of occurrence in the middle size classes. Prevalence also varied over the year; seasonal peaks of rainfall coincided with a lower frequency of N. polycotyleus. The significantly nonrandom frequency distribution of parasites among hosts suggests regulation of parasite numbers. Of the hosts infected, 37.1% harboured one N. polycotyleus parasite, and 62.9% harboured two parasites. No fish were infected with more than two diplozoons. There was evidence for strong site specificity by N. polycotyleus within hosts; 77.7% of the parasites were located on the filaments of the second gill arch, which may relate to increased oxygen availability. In addition, only one of the 178 infected fish had more than one parasite on one side of the branchial basket. Although N. polycotyleus is undoubtedly parasitic, we found no evidence of a negative parasitic effect on the condition or reproductive status or B. neumayeri.
Keywords
ephemeral stream; host-parasite interaction; oxygen; parasite prevalence; seasonal variation; site selection; Uganda; Barbus; Barbus neumayeri; Cyprinidae; Cypriniformes; Diplozoon; Monogenea; Neodiplozoon; Trematoda
Access Full Text
A full-text copy of this article may be available. Please email the
WCS Library
to request.
Back
PUB12691