COMMON AND RARE TROUT PARASITES IN A SMALL LANDSCAPE SYSTEM

Brown trout (Salmo trutta) from four lakes within an area of approximately 40 km2 were found to harbour nine helminth species. Crepidostomum metoecus could be classified as core species, while Crepidostomum farionis had an intermediate position. All the others could be classified as satellite species. Salmon (Salmo salar) fingerlings were grown to smolts in an earthpond over the summer. The fingerlings became infected with Crepidostomum spp. which may indicate a superior colonization ability in the core species. The results support the 'rescue effect hypothesis' rather than the 'carrying capacity hypothesis'.