Population biology of Proteocephalus macrocephalus (Creplin) in the European eel, Anguilla anguilla (Linnaeus), in two small rivers

• Published in: Journal of Fish Biology
• Main Authors: Nie, P., Kennedy, C. R.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1991
• Subjects: Anguilla anguilla
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8649.1991.tb03631.x; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1095-8649.1991.tb03631.x; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1095-8649.1991.tb03631.x

Seasonal changes in populations of Proteocephalus macrocephalus (Creplin) were investigated for 17 months in the European eel, Anguilla anguilla (Linnaeus), in two rivers in Devon, SW England, but no clear seasonal patterns in prevalence and abundance were apparent. Population levels of the cestode are low in both localities, and it is suggested that natural population levels of P. macrocephalus may generally be low. However, growth and maturation of the cestode show marked seasonality with both occurring mainly in early summer.