The guild as a concept and a means in ecological parasitology

The use of the term guild community as an intermediate level between component and supra-community proves to be advantageous within the different steps of parasite communities. It can comprise more information than a component community but researchers are able to analyse important parts of the supra-community without being forced to include all parasites in an ecosystem. As an example, the infestation of fishes of four families (= four guilds) from the Salzhaff (NW Mecklenburg) by several parasite specialists and generalists is analysed. Thus, processes of despecialisation in an extreme environment like brackish water can be demonstrated in an adequate manner.