How Ponto-Caspian invaders affect local parasite communities of native fish.

摘要: Invasive species are a major threat to ecosystems worldwide. Their effects versatile and mostly well studied. However, not much is known about the impact of invasion on native parasite communities, although parasites usually important response variables for ecosystem health. To improve knowledge how fish communities their dynamics affected by invasive these processes change local host-parasite interactions over time, we studied different systems in four German rivers. Three rivers (Rhine, Ems, Elbe) heavily invaded Ponto-Caspian such as amphipod Dikerogammarus villosus various gobiids Neogobius melanostomus Ponticola kessleri that serve potential hosts species, while fourth river (Schwentine) was free any invaders. Due lack additional uninvaded systems, literature data before were compared with post status Rhine Elbe. The results showed differences among host from three when Schwentine River. Among internal especially acanthocephalan Pomphorhynchus laevis nematode Raphidascaris acus have be considered key associated invasions region. As examined serves suitable both increases infection rates examples spill back (R. acus) (P. laevis, at least Rhine). These further supported analysis past 20 years. Consequences range decreased prevalence towards an extinction entire species.