Impact de la maladie des points noirs sur la biologie du complexe Phoxinus (Cyprinidae) du lac Fortune, Québec
The purpose of this study was to quantify the effects of the black spot disease on growth, health, and fecundity of the fish and to define predictive parameters related to the infestation. Cyprinids belonging to the Phoxinus complex (P. eos, P. eos × P. neogaeus) of Lake Fortune (Gatineau Park, Québec, Canada) were sampled periodically between June and September 1992. The highest intensity of infestation was encountered in September (0–216 black spots; [Formula: see text], SD = 26.0). Our results indicate that: (i) the condition index of the Phoxinus complex and the gonadosomatic index in females are not affected by the level of infestation; (ii) age is a better predictive parameter of the number of black spots than total length; (iii) fins are significantly more infested than the body; and (iv) infestation occurs mainly between June and September. Our results suggest that the black spot disease does not influence the biology of fish belonging to the Phoxinus complex, even in instances of severe infestation.