Project information
Fluctuating asymmetry in fish parasites: a new approach to assess environmental changes of aquatic ecosystem?
- Project Identification
- GA524/04/1115
- Project Period
- 1/2004 - 12/2006
- Investor / Pogramme / Project type
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Czech Science Foundation
- Standard Projects
- MU Faculty or unit
- Faculty of Science
- Keywords
- Fluctuating asymmetry, parasites, fish, environmental stress
Morphological characteristics of living organisms can be significantly affected by environmental conditions during their ontogenetic development. Random accidents during development may affect phenotypic expression in organisms possessing bilateral symmetry, resulting in an asymmetrical distribution of morphological characters. Poor environmental conditions are also known to suppress the immune system and increase susceptibility of affected organisms to parasites. Changes in the rate of parasite infection and species composition of parasite communities were proved to be very suitable tools for indicating quality of aquatic ecosystems. Such conditions are known increasing the fluctuating asymmetry and other measures of developmental instability of organisms. The present study suggests a new approach of analysing of a linkage between parasitisms, asymmetry and environmental stress of aquatic ecosystem. Data on life cycle of the model parasite species will be obtain to understand seasonal changes of population structure of parasites on the localities with different level of environmental stress. Type and distribution of malformation of the attachment apparatus of the model parasite species will be analysed. Fluctuating asymmetry as a measure of developmental instability will be link with quality of environment. Contamination of parasite environment will be investigated on the level of individual host fish and aquatic ecosytem. To detect the level of contamination of individual host organism, the selected chemical data and biochemical markers of exposure desciribing environmental stress of individual host fish will be used.
Publications
Total number of publications: 19
2008
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The effect of environmental stress on parasite communities of chub (Leuciscus cephalus) in model localities
Year: 2008, type: Conference abstract
2007
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Analýza vlivu environmentální zátěže modelových lokalit na společenstva vícebuněčných cizopasníků jelce tlouště
Year: 2007, type: Appeared in Conference without Proceedings
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Asymmetries in the attachment apparatus of a gill parasite
Journal of Zoology, year: 2007, volume: 272, edition: 4
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Experimental study of the longevity of Paradiplozoon homoion stages
Year: 2007, type: Conference abstract
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Fish and macrozoobenthos in the Vlára stream drainage area (Bílé Karpaty Mountains)
Czech Journal of Animal Science, year: 2007, volume: 52, edition: 7
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Investigation of Paradiplozoon homoion (Monogenea, Diplozoidae) life cycle under experimental conditions
Parasitology International, year: 2007, volume: 56, edition: 3
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The impact of environmental stress on chub (Leuciscus cephalus) and their parasites
Year: 2007, type: Appeared in Conference without Proceedings
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The relationship between developmental instability of gudgeon Gobio gobio and abundance or morphology of its ectoparasite Paradiplozoon homoion (Monogenea)
Journal of Fish Biology, year: 2007, volume: 71, edition: 5
2006
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Fractionation of parasite communities in relation to heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants
Year: 2006, type: Conference abstract
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Morphological changes of parasite of cyprinid fishes Paradiplozoon homoion (Monogenea)
IX. Česká ichtyologická konference, year: 2006