Metazoan parasites of the recently established tubenose goby (Proterorhinus marmoratus : Gobiidae) population from the South Moravian reservoir, Czech Republic

Species diversity of metazoan parasites in the recently established freshwa ter population of the tubenose goby (Proterorhinus marmoratus) in the Czech Republic was studied. Thirteen parasite species were found (Diplostomum spathaceum, Tylodelphys c lavata, Apatemon cobitidis proterorhini, Proteocephalus sp., Pseudocapillar ia tomentosa, Raphidascaris acus, Camallanus lacustris, Anguillicola crassu s, Philometra ovata, Acanthocephalus lucii, A. anguillae, Glochidium sp. an d Argulus foliaceus). The most prominent feature of species diversity is th e extremely low infection rate of parasites with the exception of digenean metacercariae. The parasite infracommunities consist of one to five species , in twenty-nine combinations. The highest frequency of infracommunities fo rmed of two and three parasitic species was found. In infracommunities, dom inant elements are usually metacercariae of digeneans, other parasitic spec ies are only satellites. Metacercariae of digeneans infect fish in their ju venile stage of development, other parasitic species were found in fish of standard body length of 35-36 mm and larger, that is age 1+ and more. On the basis of analysis of parasite biodiversity and their infection rates , we conclude that the process of acquiring local parasites in the tubenose goby is still not completed. The tubenose goby is serving as definitive or paradefinitive host for four parasite species, as obligatory intermediate host of four, and as paratenic host of five helminth species.