Use of Parasites for Separating Stocks of Greenland Halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides) in the Canadian Northwest Atlantic

Abstract

The usefulness of parasites as biological tags for stocks of Greenland halibut (Reinharditius hippoglossoides) occurring off the Atlantic coast of Canada and in the Gulf of St. Lawrence was investigated. Nonparametric discriminant function analyses of eight collections comprising a total of 231 large fish (>39 cm) using counts for selected parasite taxa (Corynosoma strumosum juvenile, Otodistomum sp. metacercaria, Contracaecinea spp. larva, Anisakis simplex larva, and Pseudoterranova decipiens larva) gave accurate results (almost 100% correct classification) for the separation of fish from the Gulf of St. Lawrence from those collected from adjacent areas of the Saguenay Fjord and the Atlantic Ocean off Labrador. Little, if any, mixing of subadult or adult fish apparently occurs among these areas.

Distribution and abundance of sealworm (<i>Pseudoterranova decipiens</i>) and other anisakid nematodes in fish and seals in the Gulf of St. Lawrence: potential importance of climatic conditions

“…from fish are extremely difficult to differentiate (McClelland et al 1985, Brattey 1995. In fish surveys the two are often combined and referred to as Contracaecinea (Arthur and Albert 1993, Arthur et al 1995, Boily and Marcogliese 1995. Levels are normally higher in Atlantic cod (McClelland et al 1983, McClelland et al 1985, Boily and Marcogliese 1995 and grey seals (Marcogliese et al 1996) from the northern Gulf compared to those from the southern Gulf.…”

“…4) (McClelland et al 1983, Boily andMarcogliese 1995). The most heavily infected fish in the Gulf in 1990-94 included Atlantic cod, longhorn and shorthorn sculpin, Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides) and capelin (Mallotus villosus) (Arthur and Albert 1993, Arthur et al 1995, Boily and Marcogliese 1995, Marcogliese 1995.…”

Digenean larvae parasitizing Ruditapes decussatus (Bivalvia) from Tunisianan coasts

“…This result allows us to control the harvesting of shellfi sh from polluted sites such as the port of Sfax where fi shing is prohibited. Parasites were elsewhere used for distinction of fi sh stocks in the countries of the northern Mediterranean coast (Arthur & Albert, 1993;Margolis, 1993;Mackenzie, 2002;Power et al, 2005;Timi, 2007). The digenean fauna of clams has been the subject of research in the lagoon of Tunis (Gargouri Ben Abdallah, 2001).…”

Myxobolus groenlandicus n. sp. (Myxozoa) distorting skeletal structures and musculature of Greenland halibut Reinhardtius hippoglossoides (Teleostei: Pleuronectidae)

“…Several parasitological investigations on this host species have been performed, mainly in order to elucidate distribution of sub-stocks. Lists of protozoan and metazoan parasites recovered from this host have been presented by Margolis & Arthur (1979), Scott & Bray (1989), Arthur & Albert (1993, and Boje et al (1997), and several myxozoan species have been recorded. None of these have been associated with overt pathological conditions of the fish.…”