Variability in the taxonomic characters of Black Sea gyrodactylids (Monogenea)

Variability of the haptoral hard parts of four Black Sea Gyrodactylus species (G. alviga Dmitrieva & Gerasev, 2000; G. crenilabri Zaika, 1966; G. flesi Malmberg, 1957; G. sphinx Dmitrieva & Gerasev, 2000) was studied in relation to season, host and geographical variability. A discriminant analysis was carried out on the measurements of 14 characters of the haptor of all four species. The haptoral hard parts of the investigated gyrodactylids decrease in size with an increase in water temperature. It is known that life-span of gyrodactylids is negatively correlated with water temperature and they exhibit peak intensities at low temperature. At the same time, life-span is considered to be a general indicator of a favourable environment. Therefore, high water temperature is not apparently advantageous for gyrodactylids. In the case of low marine salinity, in adapted species the sizes of the haptoral hard parts are larger at lower levels of salinity and vice versa for typical marine species. Lastly, in specimens parasitising the primary host, these features are larger than in those parasitising a secondary host. It is possible to say that, in general, the more favourable the environment for gyrodactylids the larger their haptoral hard parts. Unfavourable environmental conditions reduce the time of embryogenesis, which has a dual effect on gyrodactylids: positive in relation to their reproduction (by increasing the reproduction rate) and negative in relation to their development (by decreasing the size of the haptoral hard parts).