A Possible Explanation for the Aggregated Distribution of Argulus canadensis Wilson, 1916 (Crustacea: Branchiura) on Juvenile Sticklebacks (Gasterosteidae)

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Abstract
In laboratory experiments, the distribution of the ectoparasite Argulus canadensis was examined on juvenile threespine sticklebacks, Gasterosteus aculeatus, and it was determined whether a fish that had acquired 1 parasite had a greater probability of having more parasites. Argulus canadensis were aggregated on their hosts, so that most fish harbored few or no parasites, and few fish harbored large numbers of A. canadensis. The observed distribution did not differ significantly from the expected negative binomial distribution. Parasites initially attacked and successfully attached themselves to previously infected fish significantly more often than to uninfected fish. These results suggest that infected fish have a greater probability of acquiring more parasites than uninfected fish. This fact, coupled to individual variation in susceptibility to infection among host fish, explains the observed aggregated distribution.
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