How host ecology influences the parasite communities of three Australian flathead fishes, Platycephalus spp. (Scorpaeniformes: Platycephalidae).

ABSTRACT: This study investigated the role of host traits, habitat, and sampling season on the prevalence and intensity of parasites in three species of platycephalid fishes. Three host species sampled were dusky flathead (Platycephalus fuscus, n = 3), blue-spotted flathead (Platycephalus caeruleopunctatus, n = 38), and tiger flathead (Platycephalus richardsoni, n = 59). A total of 14 metazoan parasite species were collected over 15 months, between July 2020 and September 2021. The parasites found included a chondracanthid copepod, adult hemiuroidean trematodes, cestode plerocercoids, larval and adult acanthocephalans, larval and adult nematodes, and an unknown species of helminth. General linear models were used to assess the relationship between host traits and sampling season with parasite infect

SUBMITTER: Bellingham O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11457689 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature