Experimental verification of the effect of constant and changing water temperature on the micropopulation growth in Gyrodactylus gobiensis Gl?ser, 1974 (Monogenea) parasitizing gudgeon (Gobio gobio L.)

It has been verified under laboratory conditions that constant and changing water temperature markedly affects the micropopulation growth in Gyrodactylus gobiensis parasite on the body surface of gudgeons (Gobio gobio L.). At a water temperature of 12 degrees C, the number of gyrodactylids gradually increased up to the mean value of 63 specimens per host, which was reached on days 27-28 after experimental infection. At a constant temperature of 18 degrees C, the parasites completely disappeared from the bodies of infected fishes on days 15-20 p.i. A similar effect was produced by gradually increasing temperature from 12 to 18 degrees C, while the decrease in water temperature from 18 to 12 degrees C resulted in an increase in the parasite number.