Parasites from cod in two different localities, the Barents Sea and Øksfjord in the coastal region of northern Norway. A comparison

Abstract

Parasites have been given a prominent role in ecology because of their potential to influence ecosystem dynamics. Parasite-host interactions are important in understanding host population dynamics and ecological processes. The marine environment is the largest ecosystem in the world, and between the coastal realm and the open water realm exists great ecological variances. Because parasites encompass a great influence on an ecological scale, studying parasites can bring out information about their role in food webs, and provide knowledge about occurrences of parasites between different types of habitats. In this study, a comparison of the level of parasite infection on the Atlantic cod (gadus morhua) from two different localities, the Barents Sea and Øksfjord in the coastal region of northern Norway are presented. The total number of parasite species was found to be higher on individual hosts of cod from the coastal region compared to the Barents Sea. Intensity of infestation of the parasites present in both localities is also higher in cod from the coastal region. These findings are consistent with the idea that parasites may mean less for the dynamics of the cod population in the open sea than at the coast. The observed different parasite diversity reflects the geographical distinct habitats, and demonstrates the importance of future studies on the subject.