Development, Growth, and Survival of Lepeophtheirus Salmonis (Copepoda: Caligidae) Under Laboratory Conditions

Abstract

Development, growth, and survival data derived from laboratory experiments are provided for Lepeophtheirus salmonis, a common ectoparasite of wild and sea-farmed salmonids. The mean development time of eggs was 419·1 hours (17·5 days) at 5°C, 207·1 hours (8·6 days) at 10°C, and 130·8 hours (5·5 days) at 15°C. Development from the first nauplius to the infectious copepodid stage took 222·3 hours (9·3 days) at 5°C, 87·4 hours (3·6 days) at 10°C, and 44·8 (1·9 days) hours at 15°C. Development from the egg to the adult male took 40 days, and from the egg to the adult female 52 days at 10°C. No egg development occurred at 10‰ salinity. At 15‰ eggs developed but failed to produce active nauplii. At higher salinities (20–3‰) active nauplii were produced, but copepodids were only obtained at 30‰. Copepodids survived for less than 1 day in waters with a salinity of 10‰ or less. At higher salinities (15–30‰) and temperatures of 5,10, and 15°C average survival times ranged between 2 and 8 days.