scholarly journals Host diet and parasitic helminth infections within native, established and introduced fish of Algonquin Park

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ferris Zahlan
Keyword(s):  
Infection Intensity ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Smallmouth Bass ◽  
Lepomis Gibbosus ◽  
Fish Diet ◽  
Micropterus Dolomieu ◽  
Introduced Fish ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Rock Bass ◽  
Host Diet

Freshwater fish biodiversity loss has been attributed to many reasons, including invasive species infectious diseases. I examined 112 invasive Rock Bass (Ambloplites rupestris), 59 established Smallmouth Bass (Micropterus dolomieu), and 60 native Pumpkinseed sunfish (Lepomis gibbosus) from 8 different lakes in Algonquin Park, ON, Canada to evaluate their endohelminth parasites. My results indicate that established and native fish are not only more likely to be infected with trophically-transmitted parasites such as cestodes (tapeworms) and acanthocephalans (thorny-headed worms) than invasive Rock Bass, but they also have a higher infection intensity and greater diversity of endohelminths. There was also a significant difference between the three fish species with respect to non-trophically transmitted larval trematodes (flatworms), which reflect the habitat of fish. Along with host size, I examined fish diet and habitat use to demonstrate how the ecology of different species influences their probability of infection, parasite communities, and possible ease of establishment in novel environments.

scholarly journals Host diet and parasitic helminth infections within native, established and introduced fish of Algonquin Park

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ferris Zahlan
Keyword(s):  
Infection Intensity ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Smallmouth Bass ◽  
Lepomis Gibbosus ◽  
Fish Diet ◽  
Micropterus Dolomieu ◽  
Introduced Fish ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Rock Bass ◽  
Host Diet

Freshwater fish biodiversity loss has been attributed to many reasons, including invasive species infectious diseases. I examined 112 invasive Rock Bass (Ambloplites rupestris), 59 established Smallmouth Bass (Micropterus dolomieu), and 60 native Pumpkinseed sunfish (Lepomis gibbosus) from 8 different lakes in Algonquin Park, ON, Canada to evaluate their endohelminth parasites. My results indicate that established and native fish are not only more likely to be infected with trophically-transmitted parasites such as cestodes (tapeworms) and acanthocephalans (thorny-headed worms) than invasive Rock Bass, but they also have a higher infection intensity and greater diversity of endohelminths. There was also a significant difference between the three fish species with respect to non-trophically transmitted larval trematodes (flatworms), which reflect the habitat of fish. Along with host size, I examined fish diet and habitat use to demonstrate how the ecology of different species influences their probability of infection, parasite communities, and possible ease of establishment in novel environments.

scholarly journals River Otter, Lontra canadensis, Food Habits in the Missouri Ozarks

2008 ◽  
Vol 122 (4) ◽  
pp. 303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan M. Roberts ◽  
Charles F. Rabeni ◽  
John S. Stanovick ◽  
David A. Hamilton
Keyword(s):  
Smallmouth Bass ◽  
Lontra Canadensis ◽  
Micropterus Dolomieu ◽  
Widespread Occurrence ◽  
River Otters ◽  
Lepomis Megalotis ◽  
Rock Bass ◽  
Longear Sunfish ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Ambloplites Rupestris

The reintroduction of River Otters (Lontra canadensis) between 1982 and 1992 resulted in widespread occurrence of the species throughout the Missouri Ozarks. This study examined otter diets from the vicinity of two Ozark streams in relation to seasonal and spatial trends. Otter scats (N = 4750) were collected and analyzed from the Osage Fork River and Big Piney River during the summer and winter seasons of 2001 and 2002. During the winter (January-March), fish occurred in 86% of the samples. During the summer (June–August), occurrence of fish dropped to approximately 15% for both rivers. Seven families of fish were identified in the diets, with Centrarchidae being most common regardless of river or season. Within the Centrarchidae, the genus Lepomis (mostly Longear Sunfish, Lepomis megalotis) was most common, with Micropterus (mostly Smallmouth Bass, Micropterus dolomieu) and Rock Bass (Ambloplites rupestris) also well represented. The mean age of Ambloplites consumed (mean = 3.3 years) was consistently older than that of either Micropterus (mean = 2.54 years) or Lepomis (mean = 2.78 years). Crayfish were recovered from a mean of 85.2% of scats in the winter and 99% in the summer. Smaller fish and crayfish were more common from the upper reaches of the streams while larger fish were prevalent in the lower reaches.

Observations on the glochidia of Lampsilis radiata (Gmelin) infesting yellow perch, Perca flavescens (Mitchill) in the Bay of Quinte, Lake Ontario

1969 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 705-712 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shibru Tedla ◽  
C. H. Fernando
Keyword(s):  
Yellow Perch ◽  
White Perch ◽  
Micropterus Salmoides ◽  
Perca Flavescens ◽  
Lake Ontario ◽  
Smallmouth Bass ◽  
Lepomis Gibbosus ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Pomoxis Nigromaculatus ◽  
Rock Bass

Analysis of incidence and intensity of infestation of yellow perch, Perca flavescens (Mitchill), by the glochidia of Lampsilis radiata from weekly samples from May to September and single samples in October and November indicate that the two subspecies, Lampsilis radiata radiata and Lampsilis radiata siliquoidea, shed their glochidia in late spring and throughout the summer in the Bay of Quinte, Lake Ontario. Smaller fish are more heavily infested with these glochidia than larger ones. About 50% of the preparasitic glochidia of Lampsilis radiata siliquoidea survived for 12, 70, and 120 h at 20°, 12°, and 10 °C respectively. The parasitic period of the glochidia of L. r. siliquoidea on yellow perch under experimental conditions was 50 days at 15 °C from the May infestation. Yellow perch carried the glochidia for a longer period from an August infestation. All the glochidia recovered 50 days after infestation, both from May and August infestations, had undergone metamorphosis. There was no difference in the degrees of infestation of the different species of fish used in our experiments. Pumpkinseed, Lepomis gibbosus (Linnaeus); rock bass, Ambloplites rupestris (Rafinesque); and white perch, Roccus americanus (Gmelin) lost their infestations in a week. Presumably no metamorphosis took place under these conditions. Black crappie, Pomoxis nigromaculatus (LeSueur); largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides (Lacepede), smallmouth bass, M. dolomieui Lacepede: and yellow perch carried the infestation till they were killed 20 days later. There was no relationship between the numbers of glochidia (Lampsilis radiata) and copepods, (Ergasilus confusus Bere) on naturally infested yellow perch, nor on rock bass, smallmouth bass, and pumpkinseed which harbored Ergasilus spp. naturally and which were infested with the glochidia of L. r. siliquoidea experimentally.

Branching complexity and morphological characteristics of coarse woody structure as lacustrine fish habitat

2005 ◽  
Vol 62 (9) ◽  
pp. 2110-2123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael G Newbrey ◽  
Michael A Bozek ◽  
Martin J Jennings ◽  
James E Cook
Keyword(s):  
Littoral Zone ◽  
Yellow Perch ◽  
Fish Habitat ◽  
Lepomis Macrochirus ◽  
Perca Flavescens ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Smallmouth Bass ◽  
Micropterus Dolomieu ◽  
Rock Bass ◽  
Ambloplites Rupestris

The objective of this study was to quantify the physical characteristics of coarse woody structure (CWS) as fish habitat in a north temperate lake. Sixteen species of fish were observed in submerged CWS habitat. Branching complexity, distance above the bole, area below the bole, distance to other CWS, and water depth around CWS were significantly related to abundance of schooling cyprinids (Cyprinidae), rock bass (Ambloplites rupestris), smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu), bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus), yellow perch (Perca flavescens), and walleye (Sander vitreus). Branching complexity was the most common characteristic of CWS related to richness, diversity, and total adult abundance of fish taxa, but was not correlated with the total lengths of fish found in submerged trees. Branching-complexity values ranged from 1 (simple) to 500 (moderately complex) in the littoral zone; for comparison, a living riparian conifer had a branching-complexity value of over 1000. Most CWS in the littoral zone was composed of simple trees without branching, but fish tended to inhabit CWS with branching-complexity values greater than 45. This study shows the importance of CWS with fine branching as littoral-zone fish habitat.

Trophic Linkage between Stream Centrarchids and Their Crayfish Prey

1992 ◽  
Vol 49 (8) ◽  
pp. 1714-1721 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles F. Rabeni
Keyword(s):  
River System ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Smallmouth Bass ◽  
Annual Production ◽  
Level Energy ◽  
Micropterus Dolomieu ◽  
Selective Predation ◽  
Predator Prey Model ◽  
Total Annual Production ◽  
Rock Bass

Energetic links between smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) and rock bass (Ambloplites rupestris) and their crayfish foods were examined in an Ozark stream. A trophic level energy budget was developed by enumerating food habits for different age (size) fish, estimating annual production for both fish and crayfish, and using laboratory- and literature-derived bioenergetic and gross efficiency data. Both fishes began life feeding on small invertebrates (mayflies and chironomids) but within 3 mo switched to a diet of mainly crayfish and Cyprinidae. Total annual production of smallmouth bass was 0.262 g dry weight∙m−2∙yr−1 (6344 J) and rock bass 0.148 g∙m−2∙yr−1 (3607 J). Total annual production of crayfish was 4.15 g dry weight∙m−2∙yr−1 (55 736 J) for Orconectes luteus and 5.05 g∙m−2∙yr−1 (62 394 J) for O. punctimanus. Only about half of the crayfish production was available to fish, due to size-selective predation and behavioral traits of the prey. A predator–prey model suggested that nearly one third of total crayfish production during their vulnerable period was lost to centrarchids, and that half of the existing biomass was consumed. Fish are probably the major cause of mortality in crayfish and undoubtedly influence crayfish population dynamics and energy flow through the river system.

Observations on the biology of Ergasilus spp. (Cyclopoidea: Copepoda) infesting North American freshwater fishes

1969 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 405-408 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shibru Tedla ◽  
C. H. Fernando
Keyword(s):  
Yellow Perch ◽  
Host Preference ◽  
Parasite Species ◽  
Perca Flavescens ◽  
Smallmouth Bass ◽  
Lepomis Gibbosus ◽  
Rock Bass ◽  
Egg Number ◽  
Ambloplites Rupestris ◽  
Immature Specimen

The gills of 118 yellow perch, Perca flavescens; 18 pumpkinseed, Lepomis gibbosus; 14 rock bass, Ambloplites rupestris; and 15 smallmouth bass, Micropterus dolomieui, were examined for Ergasilus spp. Ergasilus caeruleus was recovered for pumpkinseed and E. confusus from yellow perch. Rock bass and smallmouth bass were infested with E. centrarchidarum and one immature specimen of this species was recovered from a pumpkinseed. The host preference of each parasite species is discussed. A relationship between the egg number of copepods with more than one host and the degree of host preference is suggested.

scholarly journals Personal Assessment of Reasons for the Loss of Global Biodiversity—an Empirical Analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 4277
Author(s):  
Matthias Winfried Kleespies ◽  
Paul Wilhelm Dierkes
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Connection To Nature ◽  
School Students ◽  
Teacher Trainees ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Global Biodiversity ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Personal Assessment

The UN's sustainable development goals (SDGs), which aim to solve important economic, social, and environmental problems of humanity, are to be supported by education for sustainable development (ESD). Empirical studies on the success of the implementation of the SDGs in the field of education are still pending. For this reason, using the loss of global biodiversity as an example, this study examined the extent to which high school students, teacher trainees in biology, and biology bachelor students can identify the causes of the global biodiversity loss. A new questioning tool was developed and tested on 889 participants. In addition, the relationship between connection to nature and the personal assessment about biodiversity threats was examined. The factor analysis of the scale used showed that 11 out of 16 items were assigned to the intended factor. The comparison between high school students, teacher trainees in biology, and biology bachelor students showed no significant difference in overall assessment of the reasons for global biodiversity loss. When comparing the three risk levels in which the risk factors for biodiversity could be divided, across the three student groups, only minor differences were found. Therefore, a specific education of prospective teachers is necessary, as they have to pass on the competence as multipliers to their students. No significant difference could be found when examining the relationship between connection to nature and the overall scores of the assessment scale for the reasons of biodiversity loss. However, it was found that people who felt more connected to nature were more capable of assessing the main causes of risk for global biodiversity, while people who felt less connected to nature achieved better scores for the medium factors.

The functional allometry of semicircular canals, fins, and body dimensions in the juvenile centrarchid fish, Lepomis gibbosus (L.)

Development ◽  
1973 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 721-743
Author(s):  
Howard C. Howland ◽  
Joseph Masci
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass ◽  
Semicircular Canal ◽  
Semicircular Canals ◽  
Lepomis Gibbosus ◽  
Swimming Velocity ◽  
Body Dimensions ◽  
Moments Of Inertia ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Vertical Semicircular Canal ◽  
Vertical Semicircular Canals

1. The ontogenetic allometry of radii of curvature and the tube radii of the semicircular canals of approximately 85 juvenile (2–20 g) centrarchids of the species Lepomis gibbosus (L.) was investigated. The radii of curvature of the semicircular canals have different allometries; these arefor the anterior vertical, posterior vertical and horizontal canals respectively. The differences in growth exponents between the anterior and posterior vertical semicircular canals and between the anterior vertical and horizontal semicircular canals were statistically significant (P < 0·02 and P < 0·05 respectively). 2. Body mass and standard length were almost equally good predictors of the radii of curvature of the anterior vertical semicircular canals, but body mass was the better predictor of the radii of curvature of the posterior vertical and horizontal semicircular canals, as judged by the magnitude of the mean squares about the logarithmic regressions of radii on length and mass. 3. By measuring and estimating the area moments of the fins of the fish, the moments of inertia about various axes and the allometry of the characteristic swimming velocity of the fish, we attempted to account for the magnitude and direction of the differences in allometric growth exponents of the radii of curvature of the semicircular canals. Unexplained by our best estimate of growth exponents was the very high value observed for the posterior vertical semicircular canals. 4. No significant correlation could be found between the residuals of the major dimensions of the posterior vertical semicircular canals and those of body width or depth once the influence of body mass was removed. This finding suggests the rejection of the hypothesis that the allometry of this semicircular canal is simply correlated with overall body expansion in its plane. 5. The discrepancies between our predictions and observations of growth exponents could be explained by a gradual increase of the spring constant of the semicircular canals on the order ofthough they may also be due to other factors neglected in our model, e.g. the allometry of the added mass of the fish. 6. No evidence suggested that the shape of the semicircular canals was altered over the size range of the fish we studied. However, among the fins of the fish and the major body dimensions, only the width and the depth of the fish exhibited growth constants that did not differ significantly from each other. 7. We computed the effective toroidal radii of the non-toroidal-shaped vertical semicircular canals and found that the equivalent toroidal radius of the anterior vertical semicircular canal was consistently greater than that of the posterior vertical semicircular canal. This difference is explicable on the basis of the different moments of inertia of the animal about axes through the center of gravity and parallel to the axes of the semicircular canals. 8. We computed the allometry of the ratios R̄/r2 for all three semicircular canals and found in accordance with the prediction of Jones & Spells that they did not differ significantly from zero. 9. The allometry of the outer tube radii of the several semicircular canals was determined, and, while there was no significant difference in the growth exponents of the tube radii, it was noted that the tube radius of the horizontal semicircular canal was consistently and significantly smaller than that of the vertical semicircular canal. We suggested that this difference might be due to the broader range of frequencies that the fish experienced about its yaw axis. 10. Taken as a whole the data and calculations of this paper generally support the theory that the dimensions of the semicircular canals and the ontogenetic changes in them attune the semicircular canals to the angular frequency spectra that the fish experience about their axes.

Impacts of road access on lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) populations: regional scale effects of overexploitation and the introduction of smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu)

2009 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
pp. 212-223 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott D. Kaufman ◽  
Ed Snucins ◽  
John M. Gunn ◽  
Wayne Selinger
Keyword(s):  
Lake Trout ◽  
Scale Effects ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Winter Season ◽  
Salvelinus Namaycush ◽  
Smallmouth Bass ◽  
Micropterus Dolomieu ◽  
Excessive Pressure ◽  
Fishing Activity ◽  
Remote Lakes

In lake trout ( Salvelinus namaycush ) lakes of northeastern Ontario, Canada, aerial surveys of fishing activity on individual lakes (N = 589) and quantitative gillnet surveys (N = 65) were used to assess the effects of road access on angling effort and the presence of introduced smallmouth bass ( Micropterus dolomieu ). Angling effort, particularly during the open-water season, was highest and often exceeded estimated sustainable levels on lakes with good road access. Approximately 25% of the remote lakes also received excessive pressure during the winter season. Angler numerical responses to lake trout abundance were detected in remote lakes, but not in road-accessible lakes. Smallmouth bass were more prevalent in lakes with road access and human settlement (either cottages or lodges), supporting the theory that they were introduced into these lakes. Lake trout populations were depleted throughout much of the study range. Even without road access or smallmouth bass, lake trout abundance was still 47% lower than in unexploited reference lakes. When bass and (or) road access were present, lake trout abundance decreased by 77%. Remote lake trout populations in this area are clearly vulnerable to the negative impacts of improved access, a vector for both overexploitation and species introductions.

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