Omul Research Articles

Natural infection of the calanoid crustacean Epischura baicalensis by procercoids of Proteocephalus sp. in Listvenichnyi Bay, Lake Baikal

AbstractNatural infection of the plankton Epischura baicalensis Sars (Calanoida: Temoridae) by procercoids of the genus Proteocephalus in Lake Baikal is analysed in detail. Over one year Epischura was infected by procercoids of proteocephalids at a prevalence of 0.13% (in Listvenichnyi Bay, South Baikal). Male E. baicalensis were infected more (0.39%). The number of procercoids of genus Proteocephalus was 2.7 specimens/m3. The largest number of procercoids was found in females (1.26), the least in the third copepodid stage (0.03 specimens/m3). Because of the close ecological contacts between E. baicalensis and Coregonus autumnalis migratorius it is probable that E. baicalensis is infected by P. exiguus, the species usually found in C. a. migratorius (Zaika, 1965). The parasite lives for about 8 months in the winter-spring Epischura generation and about 10 months in the summer generation.

Montaigne. Omul si opera (The man and his work)

Montaigne. Omul si opera (The man and his work)