ScholarWorks at University of Montana

Seasonal Changes in Cestode Numbers Found in Fish of Flathead Lake

The Flathead Valley is heavily dependent on the ecosystem of Flathead Lake. The viability of fish populations is of critical interest to many people. Despite this, surprisingly little is known about the relationships of both native and introduced fish and the parasitic cestodes that use them as hosts. The purpose of this study is to determine the role of cestodes in the ecosystem of Flathead Lake. Samples of native and introduced species, including the Lake Trout and the Lake Superior Whitefish, were collected by various fishing organizations and the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. These specimens were analyzed through dissection and inspected for cestode presence. Preliminary findings indicate that Lake Superior Whitefish are more likely to be infected than Lake Trout. Those fish with cestodes were not in significantly poorer health than those without. The cestodes were preserved in isopropyl alcohol and will be identified by parasitologist Jim Peterson, of the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, and with the use of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.