| dc.description |
Redbreast sunfish (Lepomis arturis) were caught from Head of the River Ranch, Texas, and their parasite communities were documented. Fish were caught in the spring (n= 8), summer (n= 12) and fall (n= 6) so that seasonal differences in the parasite community could be investigated. A total of 9 parasite species were recovered from these fish. An NMDS ordination plot and a permutational MANOVA (n= 10,000 iterations) revealed that the fish have a seasonally distinct parasite community in the fall. A series of ANOVAs were used as post-hoc tests to better understand which parasites may be contributing to this difference. Intensity significantly differed between spring and fall for Posthodiplostomum minimum. Intensity is likely influenced by the biotic and abiotic factors. This report serves as the first from this region, necessitating further exploration of the presence of parasites and their community dynamics. |
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