Seasonality of skipjack tuna parasites in the Eastern Atlantic provide an insight into its migratory patterns

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2019

Authors

Hermida, M (Author) Other; Cavaleiro, B (Author) Other; Gouveia, L (Author) Other; Saraiva, A (Author) FCUP

Journal

Title: Fisheries Research

Vol. 216

Pages: 167-173

ISSN: 0165-7836

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 3 Citations

Scopus - 4 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00Q-G8M

DOI: 10.1016/j.fishres.2019.04.010

Abstract (EN): 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.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 7