A1 Journal article (refereed)
Effect of glochidia infection on growth of fish : freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera and brown trout Salmo trutta (2021)

Chowdhury, M. M. R., Marjomäki, T. J., & Taskinen, J. (2021). Effect of glochidia infection on growth of fish : freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera and brown trout Salmo trutta. Hydrobiologia, 848(12-13), 3179-3189. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-019-03994-4

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Chowdhury, M. Motiur R.; Marjomäki, Timo J.; Taskinen, Jouni

Journal or series: Hydrobiologia

ISSN: 0018-8158

eISSN: 1573-5117

Publication year: 2021

Volume: 848

Issue number: 12-13

Pages range: 3179–3189

Publisher: Springer

Publication country: Netherlands

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-019-03994-4

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/67384

Abstract

Effect of freshwater mussels’ (Unionoida) glochidia on the growth of fish host has remained poorly studied. We compared the specific growth rate of the juvenile, PIT-marked brown trout (Salmo trutta) between uninfected controls to those experimentally infected (average initial intensity of infection 8000 fish−1) with Margaritifera margaritifera glochidia, kept in high and low feeding. Growth and mortality of fish were monitored for 10 months. Our hypothesis was that glochidiosis would impair the growth of fish. According to our hypothesis, infected fish gained statistically significantly less weight than the control fish throughout the experiment. A proportional increase in weight of control individuals was 11% higher than that of the infected fish. However, neither the feeding regime (high, low) nor the period (September–November, November–March, March–May), had a significant effect on the growth difference between control and infected fish. As the effect of infection on the growth of fish was subtle and no effect on host mortality was detected either, this may turn public opinion favorable for M. margaritifera conservation even if the salmonid host population is important for commercial or recreational fishing.

Free keywords: Bivalvia; conservation; endangered species; host-parasite relationship; Salmonidae; Unionoida

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2021

JUFO rating: 1