Parasitic fauna of whitefishes of the genus Coregonus (C. pidschian, C. baunti, and C. sardinella) from lakes of the Tsipa-Tsipikanskaya system (Transbaikalia)

Abstract

The parasitic fauna of whitefishes of the genus Coregonus from Lakes Baunt and Large Kapylushi of the Tsipa-Tsipikanskaya system in the riverhead of the Vitim River (the inflow of the Lena River) has been studied. It is presented by 25 species. The maximum species diversity of the parasitic fauna (20 species) was registered in Coregonus baunti, which is the local endemic from Large and Small Kapylushi lakes. The lowest species diversity (9 species) was revealed in C. sardinella, in the refugium, from Lake Baunt isolated from the solid habitat of this fish. The parasitic fauna of C. pidschian included 17 species in the population from Lake Large Kapylushi or 13 species in Lake Baunt. The influence of taxonomic and ecological factors on the diversity and similarity of the parasitic fauna of various whitefishes is discussed.