| We tracked the chronology and severity of Myxobolus cerebralis infection and related it to survival of age-0 kokanee to determine whether M. cerebralis represented a significant agent of mortality in the population. Environmental conditions and losses to predation were identified and linked to age-0 kokanee survival to identify other sources of mortality in the population. Age-0 kokanee were primarily infected by the parasite after they had entered the reservoir in spring. Prevalence and severity increased rapidly throughout the summer and nearly all age-0 kokanee were infected by August of both years. Low survival rates of age-0 kokanee from July through September were observed and coincided with increased prevalence and severity. However, because of high reservoir temperatures, low food levels, predation, and entrainment, evidence for M. cerebralis acting as a direct source of mortality on age-0 kokanee was elusive during our study. |
