The occurrence of Parvatrema homoeotecnum James, 1964 (Trematoda: Gymnophallidae) in a population of Littorina saxatilis tenebrosa (Mont.)

Summary

Marking experiments, seasonal variations in the population density and observations on the breeding cycle indicated that healthy adult Littorina saxatilis tenebrosa (Mont.) migrate down to the lower supralittoral fringe in order to give birth to the young in July–August and in January–February. The young and adults then migrate up towards the upper supralittoral fringe. Specimens infected with Parvatrema homoeotecnum, unlike those infected with two other digenean species investigated, migrate in the same way as healthy specimens. This ensures that although initial infestation takes place in the lower supralittoral fringe, parasitized specimens occur throughout the supralittoral fringe. Only juvenile hosts, below 7·0 mm long and usually below 5·0 mm long are infected, highest percentages occurring in specimens measuring 1·1–2·0 mm long. The seasonal variations in percentage infection are corellated with the breeding cycle, growth, mortality and migration of the host.