Ecological analysis of helminths in vendace and smelt from lake Onego

Abstract

The parasite fauna of LakeOnegocommercial fish species – vendace, Coregonus albula L., and smelt, Osmerus eperlanus L., was studied. The prevalence, abundance distribution and age structure of the cestode Proteocephalus longicollis (Zeder, 1800) in vendace were determined. Seasonal variations of Eubothrium crassum (Bloch, 1779) infection in vendace were traced, and the role of vendace in the life cycle of this cestode was identified. A comparative analysis of long-term changes in the parasite fauna of vendace and smelt was carried out. The species diversity of helminths and its structure proved to be relatively stable. Changes were mainly observed in the intensity of infection. These results suggest that the two major plankton-feeders, vendace and smelt, quite successfully coinhabitLakeOnego.

Keywords

• fish parasites
• coregonus albula
• osmerus eperlanus