Pomphorhynchus laevis (Zoega) Müller, 1776 (Acanthocephala) in Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) and Its Use as a Biological Tag

Abstract

Pomphorhynchus laevis (Zoega) Müller, 1776, an acanthocephalan, occurred in 25.4% of 974 juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) from 18 drainage systems in the British Isles and was absent in 1063 juvenile salmon from 36 systems in North America. Its incidence in Irish smolts was about 25 times that in Scotland, England, and Wales. A comparison of its distribution with that of potential intermediate hosts in the British Isles suggests that the amphipod Gammarus duebeni is the intermediate host in Ireland and Gammarus pulex pulex in Scotland, England, and Wales. Pomphorhynchus laevis seems to be useful for indicating the tributary of origin of salmon smolts in several Irish rivers. Its usefulness as a tag for Irish salmon on the high seas is not yet established.