Ecological determinants of parasite acquisition by exotic fish species

Disease-mediated threats posed by exotic species to native counterparts are not limited to introduced parasites alone, since exotic hosts frequently acquire native parasites with possible consequences for infection patterns in native hosts. Several biological and geographical factors are thought to explain both the richness of parasites in native hosts, and the invasion success of free-living exotic species. However, the determinants of native parasite acquisition by exotic hosts remain unknown. Here, we investigated native parasite communities of exotic freshwater fi sh to determine which traits infl uence acquisition of native parasites by exotic hosts. Model selection suggested that fi ve factors (total body length, time since