Abstract
A sample of 128 skipjack tuna Katsuwonus pelamis from Madeira archipelago was the subject of a parasitological analysis, in order to identify seasonal patterns of parasite infection which can provide information regarding the migratory patterns of skipjack tuna in the Eastern Atlantic. A total of 24 parasite taxa were detected. The nematode Oncophora melanocephala (Nematoda: Camallanidae) was identified as a first record for the genus Katsuwonus and several species were detected for the first time in the Eastern Atlantic, including the didymozoid trematode Pozdnyakovia gibsoni (Trematoda: Didymozoidae), originally described in skipjack tuna from Brazil. Generalized Linear Modelling (GLM) analysis revealed season and host fork length as the main predictors of parasite abundance, uncovering seasonal patterns of infection that indicate that migration to waters around Madeira occurs in at least two separate stages, and suggests a mixing of skipjack tuna sub-populations from both sides of the Atlantic.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.