Assessing the role of host traits as drivers of the abundance of long‐lived parasites in fish‐stock assessment studies

• DOI: 10.1111/jfb.13127
• Publication Date: 2016-09-05T04:53:00Z
• Authors: P. E. Braicovich; E. N. Ieno; M. Sáez; J. Despos; J. T. Timi
• Keywords: Akaike information criterion; Collinearity

In order to identify the best tools for stock assessment studies using fish parasites as biological indicators, different host traits (size, mass and age their interaction with sex) were evaluated descriptors of cumulative patterns both parasite abundance infracommunity species richness. The effect such variables was analysed a sample 265 specimens Percophis brasiliensis caught in Argentine Sea. abundances richness modelled generalized linear mixed models ( GLMMs ) negative binomial Poisson distribution respectively. Due collinearity, separate fitted each three main explanatory (length, age) optimal set factors determining burdens. Optimal selected on basis lowest Akaike information criteria, residual simulation based 10 000 iterations. Results indicated that covariates length sex consistently appeared most parsimonious suggesting seems be slightly better predictor than or mass. causes these are discussed. It is recommended use measure growth restrict comparisons similar incorporate covariate when comparing Host should also taken into account those sexually dimorphic terms morphology, behaviour rates.