Eye fluke infection changes diet composition in juvenile European perch (Perca fluviatilis).

ABSTRACT: Intraspecific diet specialization, usually driven by resource availability, competition and predation, is common in natural populations. However, the role of parasites on diet specialization of their hosts has rarely been studied. Eye flukes can impair vision ability of their hosts and have been associated with alterations of fish feeding behavior. Here it was assessed whether European perch (Perca fluviatilis) alter their diet composition as a consequence of infection with eye flukes. Young-of-the-year (YOY) perch from temperate Lake Müggelsee (Berlin, Germany) were sampled in two years, eye flukes counted and fish diet was evaluated using both stomach content and stable isotope analyses. Perch diet was dominated by zooplankton and benthic macroinvertebrates. Both methods indicated that w

SUBMITTER: Vivas Munoz JC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7873217 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature