Description of the free-swimming juvenile stages of Lernaeocera branchialis (Pennellidae), using traditional light and confocal microscopy methods

Abstract

AB Aquatic Biology Contact the journal Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections AB 14:153-163 (2012) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/ab00388 Description of the free-swimming juvenile stages of Lernaeocera branchialis (Pennellidae), using traditional light and confocal microscopy methods A. J. Brooker*, J. E. Bron, A. P. Shinn Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK *Email: ajb3@stir.ac.uk ABSTRACT: The last detailed morphological descriptions of the juvenile stages of the parasitic copepod Lernaeocera branchialis (L., 1767) were written more than 70 yr ago, since which time both taxonomic nomenclature and available imaging technologies have changed substantially. In this paper a re-description of the free-swimming juvenile stages of L. branchialis is presented using a combination of traditional light microscopy and modern laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) techniques. Detailed descriptions are provided of the nauplius I, nauplius II and copepodid stages and comparisons are made with the findings for other siphonostomatoids. Nauplius II is previously undescribed and several structures are described at the terminal tip which have not been found in other pennellids. With renewed interest in L. branchialis as a result of expanding gadoid aquaculture in North Atlantic countries, this re-description provides important information on its life history that may be useful for further research into this potentially devastating pathogen. KEY WORDS: Parasitic Crustacea · Confocal · Morphology Full text in pdf format PreviousNextCite this article as: Brooker AJ, Bron JE, Shinn AP (2012) Description of the free-swimming juvenile stages of Lernaeocera branchialis (Pennellidae), using traditional light and confocal microscopy methods. Aquat Biol 14:153-163. https://doi.org/10.3354/ab00388 Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in AB Vol. 14, No. 2. Online publication date: January 04, 2012 Print ISSN: 1864-7782; Online ISSN: 1864-7790 Copyright © 2012 Inter-Research.