Parasites of zooplankton and periphyton assemblages in the littoral zone of lakes in Drawa National Park, Poland

Abstract

Studies on parasitism in zooplankton and periphyton assemblages were carried out on samples of water collected from Lakes Płociczno and Płociowe in the Drawa National Park in 2008-2011. Occurrence of the fungal mycobiotal and protozoan parasites of invertebrates was recorded in both lakes. Parasitism of Chydorus sp. (Cladocera) by Saprolegnia sp. occurred on 0.8% of individuals of the host population, of Brachionus calyciflorus (Rotifera) by Microsporidium sp. on 1.2% of the host population, and of Nematoda members by Pythium sp. on 5% of the host population. Parasites were recorded only in springtime.