NATIVE SEA LICE (COPEPODA, CALIGIDAE) INFESTATION OF SALMONIDS REAREDIN NETPEN SYSTEMS IN SOUTHERN CHILE

A survey of parasitic copepods carried out in three introduced salmoni d species in Southern Chile and 5 native fish species commonly found i n the vicinity of the fish farm cages yielded 5 caligid species. Calig us flexispina, formerly found in the oceanic islands of the Pacific oc ean, is currently the dominant species found in continental waters on native fish species (Eleginops maclovinus and Odonthestes regia) as we ll as on cultured trout Oncorhynchus mykiss from the south of Chile. C oho salmon O. kisutch and Atlantic salmon Salmo salar are more resista nt to this parasite. Among the native fish species associated with net pen aquaculture, E. maclovinus harbours 4 caligid copepods, namely Lep eophtheirus mugiloidis, C. flexispina, C. teres and C, cheilodactylus (in the same order of ranked abundance). Odonthestes regia only harbou rs C. flexispina, whereas Paralichthys microps is a host of Lepeophthe irus edwardsi and C. flexispina. It is highly likely that the transfer of C. flexispina to salmonids is mediated by the presence of these na tive fish species. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rig hts reserved.