Distant water sailors: parasitic Copepoda of the open ocean

Copepods represent one of the largest groups of ectoparasites of marine fish. They have been extensively studied in coastal waters where they have become major pests in aquaculture. However, there is very little information on the ecology of parasitic copepods of fishes in the open ocean. It is now recognised that oceanographic conditions determine the distribution and abundance of oceanic fish. The same conditions also influence the survival of both the individual parasitic copepod and its species.