12-21-2007, 02:38 AM
Here is some information I found about the gill lice.
[left]The gill lice (Ergasalis) are the most abundant and prevalent parasite of inland and coastal marine populations of striped bass. They are a parasitic copepod. Copepods are small, sometimes microscopic, invertebrates that are members of the plankton community. Heavy infestations of Ergasalis have occasionally been reported from the vicinities of Baltimore, Philadelphia and Washington DC. Frequently anglers conclude that striped bass with these parasites on their gills are fish newly arrived from the ocean. In fact, the life span of Ergasalis actually decreases when salinity reaches marine concentrations of 32 parts per thousand (ppt). High salinity also exhibited some detrimental effect on Ergasalis egg survival. Ergasalis reproduction and infestation of striped bass takes place throughout the bay in salinities varying from 0.5 to 30 ppt. Females parasites remain attached to the gills of fish throughout the winter. Ergasalis egg sacs appear during January and newly attached larvae are found in April. Juvenile striped bass can become infected as early as their third month of life while still in their natal rivers. As the fish increases in size so does infection intensity. Highest counts of full sized female Ergasalis were seen in late April and early May and again in June and in October. In any school of striped bass, many copepods may be just on a few fish.[/left] [left]Different species [/left]
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[left]The gill lice (Ergasalis) are the most abundant and prevalent parasite of inland and coastal marine populations of striped bass. They are a parasitic copepod. Copepods are small, sometimes microscopic, invertebrates that are members of the plankton community. Heavy infestations of Ergasalis have occasionally been reported from the vicinities of Baltimore, Philadelphia and Washington DC. Frequently anglers conclude that striped bass with these parasites on their gills are fish newly arrived from the ocean. In fact, the life span of Ergasalis actually decreases when salinity reaches marine concentrations of 32 parts per thousand (ppt). High salinity also exhibited some detrimental effect on Ergasalis egg survival. Ergasalis reproduction and infestation of striped bass takes place throughout the bay in salinities varying from 0.5 to 30 ppt. Females parasites remain attached to the gills of fish throughout the winter. Ergasalis egg sacs appear during January and newly attached larvae are found in April. Juvenile striped bass can become infected as early as their third month of life while still in their natal rivers. As the fish increases in size so does infection intensity. Highest counts of full sized female Ergasalis were seen in late April and early May and again in June and in October. In any school of striped bass, many copepods may be just on a few fish.[/left] [left]Different species [/left]
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