[Parasite communities and a fish spawn].

Abstract

High values of dominance index, low values of evenness and Shannon index are characteristic of component parasite communities of prespawning (Prosopium cylindraceum) and spawn migratory fishes (Coregonus autumnalis, Oncorhynchus nerka). Autogenic specialists are dominant in the component parasite communities of C. autumnalis. The component parasite communities of P. cylindraceum and O. nerka are dominant in a content of generalist species. The O. nerka parasite communities are communities "sentenced to death". Low values of dominance index, high values of evenness abd Shannon index are peculiar to component parasite communities of prespawning and spawning cyprinid fishes (Phoxinus phoxinus, Oreoleuciscus humilis). Autogenic specialists are dominant. Increase of dominance index and decrease of two other indexes characterize the postspawning period. The same tendency characterises infracommunities. Thus, the component parasite communities respond differently to the fish spawn of the cyprinid and coregonid/salmonid fishes. Similarity is in the dominance of autogenic specialists in one case only (C. autumnalis). These differences are defined by the mode of fish stock formation for spawn. The cyprinids congregate for spawning and move apart for foraging and vice versa is observed in the coregonids and salmonids. Autogenic specialists dominance seems to be the important adaptation to reduce a negative effect to host during spawning. Bush and Kennedy in 1994 established that "parasites live in patches (host individuals) and fragments (host populations)". They consider the host fragmentation as "hedging your bets against extinction" due to frequency and magnitude anthropogenic factors, which increase fragmenting of host populations. This conclusion was made for a species level. From the other hand the fragmentation is a natural feature for a single host population too. Such fragmentation is a host population structure. The role of fragmentation is obvious from the data on component parasite communities during fish spawn. The fragmentation decreases in the cyprinids and increases in the salmonids that leads to the growing of the cyprinid component parasite communities diversity and to declining the salmonid component parasite communities diversity. Nevertheless the role of host population structure in a component parsite community structure is not obvious, because parasites are able or not able to "recognise" different host subpopulation groups. It is well known from data on parasite species population biology. Such recognizable subpopulation groups or groups can be a "real fragment" for the parasite community. The question is what parameters could be used for this purpose on a component community level. Host population age structure can be used as an example, because the age groups are one of the invariable population characters. Value of Shannon index for component parasite communities of spawn migratory O. nerka (5+) is similar to that of fishes of 1+ age. Difference is statistically insignificant. It is insignificant between the parasite communities of 2+ and 3+ age groups too. Fishes of these two groups could be defined as a real united fragment. It spite of similarity between the fishes of 5+ age group and fish of 1+ age group they are not united fragment. The parasite community of 1+ age fishes is not stabilized yet and one of 5+ age is a community "sentenced to death". Thus the structuring of O. nerka freshwater parasite communities are defined by 3 real host age fragments: 1+ age group, 2 and 3+ age group, 4+ age group. It looks as that Shannon index is suitable parameter to study a parasite communities structure.