Ecological determinants of parasite acquisition by exotic fish species

• DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0706.2012.20143.x
• Publication Date: 2012-04-04T14:41:56Z
• Authors: Rachel A. Paterson; Colin R. Townsend; Daniel M. Tompkins; Robert Poulin
• Keywords: Fresh water fish

Disease‐mediated threats posed by exotic species to native counterparts are not limited introduced parasites alone, since hosts frequently acquire with possible consequences for infection patterns in hosts. Several biological and geographical factors thought explain both the richness of hosts, invasion success free‐living species. However, determinants parasite acquisition remain unknown. Here, we investigated communities freshwater fish determine which traits influence Model selection suggested that five (total body length, time introduction, phylogenetic relatedness fauna, trophic level richness) may be linked fish, but 95% confidence intervals coefficient estimates indicated these explained little variance richness. Based on R 2 ‐values, weak positive relationships exist only between number acquired either host size or introduction. Whilst our results suggest influencing less important species, it seems analyses general ecological currently fail adequately incorporate physiological immunological complexity whether a given animal will become new parasite.