Ecological and Population Features of Beaked Redfish Sebastes mentella (Sebastidae) in the Northwest Atlantic Based on the Analysis of Its Parasite Fauna

Abstract

The results of studying the composition and features of the ecology, zoogeography, and formation of the parasite fauna of beaked redfish Sebastes mentella in the waters of four areas of the bathyal Northwest Atlantic zone and the Labrador Sea pelagic zone are given. A high level of similarity is revealed between the composition of the parasite fauna of this host from areas of the Hamilton Bank and northern and southern slopes of the Grand Bank. The composition and features of the age-related dynamics of the formation diversity of the parasite fauna show a significant isolation of the grouping of beaked redfish on the Flemish Cap Bank from its aggregations in other areas of the Canadian coast and the Labrador Sea pelagic zone. These factors, in combination with the presented ecological and population characteristics, indicate the population status of the grouping of beaked redfish on the Flemish Cap Bank.