The effect of temperature and salinity on the settlement and survival of copepodids of Lepeophtheirus salmonis (Kroyer, 1837) on Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L.
Cs. Tucker et al., The effect of temperature and salinity on the settlement and survival of copepodids of Lepeophtheirus salmonis (Kroyer, 1837) on Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., J FISH DIS, 23(5), 2000, pp. 309-320
The effects of temperature and salinity on the settlement, subsequent survi
val and development of the copepodids of Lepeophtheirus salmonis on Atlanti
c salmon were investigated experimentally. There was a significantly greate
r settlement and survival of copepodids at 10 days post-infection (dpi) at
12 degreesC compared with at 7 degreesC at a constant salinity of 34 parts
per thousand. Development of L, salmonis was also more rapid at 12 degreesC
. Settlement was significantly greater at a salinity of 34 parts per thousa
nd than at: 24 parts per thousand. In one experiment,survival at 10 dpi was
significantly greater at 34 parts per thousand; however, a second experime
nt found that there was no significant difference between the two saline le
vels. This may have been because of a rise in water temperature for 2 dpi,
which appears to have overridden the effect of low salinity. Development of
L. salmonis was more rapid at 34 parts per thousand. Copepodids settled on
all of the external surfaces of the salmon, although the proportion on dif
ferent surfaces varied between experiments. The gills, particularly at low
temperatures, the body surface, and the pectoral and dorsal fins were espec
ially favoured.