NUMBER DISTRIBUTION AND POPULATION STRUCTURE OF <i>PROTEOCEPHALUS LONGICOLLIS </i>(ZEDER, 1800) (CESTODA: PROTEOCEPHALIDEA), A PARASITE OF SMELT AND COREGONIDS
The spatial structure and seasonal aspects in the number distribution of the cestode <i>Proteocephalus longicollis</i> population, maintained by trophic connections of specialized plankton-feeders (the vendace <i>Coregonus albula</i> L. and the smelt <i>Osmerus eperlanus</i> L.) in the Lake Onego were studied. Differences in the distribution of number of cestode population in host population, size-age structure, and pre-reproductive/reproductive stages ratio of the studied parasites were revealed. It was demonstrated that the spatial structure of <i>P. longicollis</i> was shaped by the specific characteristics of vendace and smelt populations in the Lake Onego. These species possess partially overlapping ecological niches and differences in the use of food resources, significantly determining the infection dynamics of the examined fish species.