Structure of parasites communities in the hybrids of R. rutilus and A. brama
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| Year of publication | 2016 |
| Type | Conference abstract |
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| Description | The role of the hybridization to dermine the parasite communities is often neglected. New host genotypes generated by hybridization of parental taxa represent unstable system with specific ecological, behavioral and immune characteristics. Host susceptibility of hybrid specimens to parasite infection is little studied. The aim of this study is to compare the composition of parasite communities between parental taxa and their hybrids. We focused on the structure of parasite communities as a reflection of the genetic background and ecological plasticity of the investigated hosts (i.e. parental species versus hybrids). The model fish system in our study include Abramis brama, Rutilus rutilus as two parental species and their hybrids from the Hamry reservoir (Czech Republic) collected during the 2011-2013 years. Metazoan parasites have been counted and identified. Fish specimens were determined by morphological and molecular markers (microsatellites). Maternal origin of the hybrids was determined using the mitochondrial cyt b gene. Hybrids were less parasitized by both generalist and specialist parasites (concerning parasite load) when compared to parental species. However, total parasite diversity was higher in hybrids. The composition of parasites communities the hybrids (i.e. presence of parasite species and their abundance) was shifted toward to the composition of parasite communities of roach (mostly due to the presence of many roach specific Dactylogyrus in the hybrids). Higher ecological plasticity of the hybrids may likely explained the presence of more trophic-transmitted species of digeneans. Concerning the cestodes, only larval stages of Caryophyllaeus were found in the hybrids even if both parental taxa were parasitized also by adult stage of this cestode. |
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