Observations on the Ecology and Meristic Variation of the Ninespine Stickleback, Pungitius pungitius (L., 1785) of the Matamek River System, Quebec

1973 ◽  
Vol 90 (2) ◽  
pp. 498 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian W. Coad ◽  
G. Power
Keyword(s):  
River System ◽  
Pungitius Pungitius ◽  
Ninespine Stickleback ◽  
Meristic Variation

Parasites of Freshwater and Anadromous Fishes from Matamek River System, Quebec

1974 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 1135-1139 ◽  
Author(s):  
George Hanek ◽  
Kalman Molnar
Keyword(s):  
Salmo Salar ◽  
Gasterosteus Aculeatus ◽  
Salvelinus Fontinalis ◽  
River System ◽  
Anguilla Rostrata ◽  
Osmerus Mordax ◽  
Pungitius Pungitius ◽  
Apeltes Quadracus ◽  
Catostomus Catostomus

In 224 fish of nine species from Matamek River system 38 genera of parasites were recovered (12 Protozoa, 3 Monogenea, 6 Digenea, 6 Cestoda, 6 Nematoda, 2 Acanthocephala, 3 Copepoda). Six genera of parasites were noted in Salmo salar, Salvelinus fontinalis harbored 17 genera, S. alpinus 5 genera, Osmerus mordax 4 genera, Anguilla rostrata 9 genera, Catostomus catostomus 8 genera, Apeltes quadracus 1 genus, Gasterosteus aculeatus 12 genera, and Pungitius pungitius 9 genera.

OBSERVATIONS ON MERISTIC VARIATION IN NINESPINE STICKLEBACKS, PUNGITIUS PUNGITIUS, REARED AT DIFFERENT TEMPERATURES

1962 ◽  
Vol 40 (7) ◽  
pp. 1237-1247 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. C. Lindsey
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Gasterosteus Aculeatus ◽  
Pungitius Pungitius ◽  
Pectoral Fin ◽  
Vertebral Count ◽  
Fin Ray ◽  
Fin Rays ◽  
Different Temperatures ◽  
Meristic Variation ◽  
Pectoral Fin Rays

Eggs of 10 pairs of wild ninespine sticklebacks from Hobson's Brook near Cambridge, England, were reared under various controlled temperatures. Temperature for optimum survival to hatching differed between genotypes. Ninety young were examined for counts of vertebrae, spines, and dorsal, anal, and pectoral fin rays. Survivors at high temperature had markedly more vertebrae than survivors at low. Curves of temperature against vertebral count may be V-shaped for each genotype, and optimum survival temperature may produce lowest vertebral count. More basal supports to the dorsal and anal fins and spines were produced at high temperature. Disruptions in one-to-one serial conformity between ray or spine, basal, and vertebral series became progressively commoner at higher rearing temperatures. Parents showed positive correlation between dorsal and anal fin ray counts and number of caudal scutes. Comparisons are made with Gasterosteus aculeatus.

The cestode parasite Schistocephalus pungitii: castrator or nutrient thief of ninespine stickleback fish?

Parasitology ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 144 (6) ◽  
pp. 834-840 ◽  
Author(s):  
DAVID C. HEINS
Keyword(s):  
Threespine Stickleback ◽  
Reproductive Capacity ◽  
Pungitius Pungitius ◽  
Cestode Parasite ◽  
Ninespine Stickleback ◽  
Dog Bone ◽  
Infected Adult ◽  
Parasite Relationship ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Relationship Of

SUMMARYIn this investigation, the host–parasite relationship of ninespine stickleback fish Pungitius pungitius and the cestode parasite Schistocephalus pungitii was studied using samples from Dog Bone Lake, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, to test the hypothesis that S. pungitii is a castrator of ninespine stickleback. Infected, adult females of all sizes (ages) were capable of producing clutches of eggs. S. pungitii had a negative effect on the ability of host females to produce a clutch, which was related to increasing parasite:host mass ratio (parasite index, PI). Among infected females with egg clutches, both clutch size and egg size were reduced; and the reduction increased with greater PI. The results of this study are consistent with the hypothesis that S. pungitii causes host sterility as a result of simple nutrient theft and is not a true castrator as hypothesized in earlier reports. The degree of parasite-induced sterility appears to vary among populations of the ninespine stickleback, perhaps reflecting differences in resource availability. Populations of ninespine stickleback appear to show a greater reduction in host reproductive capacity with PI than populations of the threespine stickleback infected by Schistocephalus solidus, possibly owing, in part, to the length-adjusted somatic mass of the threespine stickleback being greater.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document