Fishes

– In addition to conducting our own research on host fish, we also sample host fish for the other ECIP teams as required. Our most common model taxa are bitterlings /Rhodeus spp./, guppies /Poecilia spp./, killifishes /Nothobranchius spp./, stone loaches /Cobitis spp./ and a range of invasive fish species /e.g. round goby Neogobius melanostomus, gibel carp Carassius gibelio and the pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus/. Our research encompasses a wide range of topics, including:

(1) Ecosystem consequences of species invasions and habitat modification /focusing on fish and their parasites/.
(2) Host-parasite interactions in the reciprocal relationship between bitterling fish and freshwater mussels.
(3) The effect of parasites on fish physiology, behaviour and social interactions.
(4) Brood and sexual parasitism in fish.

Fig. 1. A male spotted killifish Nothobranchius orthonotus. / Photo: Radim Blažek

Fig. 2. European bitterling Rhodeus amarus – one of our model taxa. / Photo: Radim Blažek

Fig. 3. Field sampling in Antarctic coastal waters. / Photo: Šárka Mašová

Fig. 4. Field sampling in Sudan. / Photo: Radim Blažek

Fig. 5. Glochidial infection on a recently hatched goby. / Photo: Luděk Šlapanský