The helminth community of the sand smelt (Atherina boyeri Risso, 1810) from Lake Iznik, Turkey

Metazoan parasites of the sand smelt Atherina boyeri Risso, 1810 in Lake Iznik were studied. A total of 271 specimens of A. boyeri, 208 female and 63 male, mean (+/- SD) total length 8.4 +/- 2.2 cm (range 3.1-12.2 cm) and mean total weight 4.7 +/- 3.5 g (range 0.1-11.7 g) were examined between June 2008 and May 2009 at monthly intervals. In 33 fish no parasites were found. In the other fish, four parasite species were recorded: Diplostomum sp. (prevalence 39.13%, mean intensity 3.50 +/- 3.03); Tylodelphys clavata (prevalence 74.16%, mean intensity 10.41 +/- 14.89); Bothriocephalus cf. acheilognathi (prevalence 40.59%, mean intensity 31.83 +/- 57.74); and Eustrongylides excisus (prevalence 6.64%, mean intensity 1.16 +/- 0.39). The mean abundance of Diplostomum sp., T. clavata and E. excisus was higher during the winter and early spring months. In contrast, the mean abundance of B. cf. acheilognathi was higher in the summer and autumn months. This distribution of the parasites was related to a change in the environment of A. boyeri from the pelagic zone to deeper water at the end of autumn and a change in food supply.