The effect of temperature and salinity on the settlement and survival of copepodids of Lepeophtheirus salmonis (Krøyer, 1837) on Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L

The effects of temperature and salinity on the settlement, subsequent survival and development of the copepodids of Lepeophtheirus salmonis on Atlantic salmon were investigated experimentally. There was a significantly greater settlement and survival of copepodids at 10 days post‐infection (dpi) at 12 °C compared with at 7 °C at a constant salinity of 34‰. Development of L. salmonis was also more rapid at 12 °C. Settlement was significantly greater at a salinity of 34‰ than at 24‰. In one experiment, survival at 10 dpi was significantly greater at 34‰; however, a second experiment found that there was no significant difference between the two saline levels. This may have been because of a rise in water temperature for 2 dpi, which appears to have overridden the effect of low salinity. Development of L. salmonis was more rapid at 34‰. Copepodids settled on all of the external surfaces of the salmon, although the proportion on different surfaces varied between experiments. The gills, particularly at low temperatures, the body surface, and the pectoral and dorsal fins were especially favoured.