Parasites of billfish in eastern Australian waters

Fifty-two sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus), 63 black marlin (Makaira indica) , 1 blue marlin (Makaira mazara) and 3 striped marlin (Tetrapterus audax) were examined for parasites between 1987 and 1989.Fish were obtained from gamefishing tournaments, club competitions, professional charter operations and research cruises. Black marlin were collected from fishing grounds near Lizard Island, Cairns, Dunk Island, Cape Bowling Green and Cape Moreton. Sailfish were collected from Dunk Island, Cape Bowling Green, the Whitsunday Islands and Cape Moreton. The blue marlin and striped marlin were collected from Cape Moreton.All external, visceral and gill metazoan parasites were removed, or dissected out, counted and identified using a compound microscope. The distribution of parasites on the host was recorded. Stomach contents were collected and identified. Weight, body length, sex, reproductive status (immature or mature) and spawning status were also recorded for each fish examined.Parasites were also classified as either permanent, semi-permanent or temporary according to their probable longevity on the host.
This research was undertaken to evaluate parasites as natural population tags in sailfish and black marlin, by examining differences in parasite abundance and parasite faunal complements in fish caught over a wide geographical range.

1987年至1989年间，研究人员共收集52条旗鱼（Istiophorus platypterus）、63条黑马林鱼（Makaira indica）、1条蓝马林鱼（Makaira mazara）以及3条条纹马林鱼（Tetrapterus audax）用于寄生虫检测。
所有受试鱼类均采集自钓鱼锦标赛、俱乐部钓鱼赛事、专业包船垂钓作业及科研巡航活动。
黑马林鱼采集于蜥蜴岛（Lizard Island）、凯恩斯（Cairns）、邓克岛（Dunk Island）、鲍灵格林角（Cape Bowling Green）以及莫顿角（Cape Moreton）附近渔场。
旗鱼采集自邓克岛、鲍灵格林角、圣灵群岛（Whitsunday Islands）以及莫顿角。
蓝马林鱼与条纹马林鱼均采集自莫顿角。
研究人员对所有受试鱼的体表、内脏及鳃部的后生动物寄生虫进行剥离或解剖取出，计数后借助复合显微镜完成分类鉴定，并记录寄生虫在宿主体表及体内的分布情况。
研究人员同时采集并鉴定了受试鱼的胃容物，此外还记录了每条鱼的体重、体长、性别、繁殖状态（未成熟或成熟）以及产卵状态。
研究人员还根据寄生虫在宿主上的预计存活时长，将其划分为永久性、半永久性及临时性三类。
本研究旨在通过分析大范围地理区域内捕获的旗鱼与黑马林鱼的寄生虫丰度及寄生虫区系组成差异，评估寄生虫作为旗鱼和黑马林鱼自然种群标记的可行性。