Abstract

The spatial and temporal variability of parasite communities have received little attention when used as biological tags for identifying fish stocks. This study evaluated the potential spatial and temporal variability of the parasite communities affecting three marine fish species collected between 1993 and 2017. To avoid the potential effect of host age in parasite communities, individuals of similar ages were selected: 1123 Engraulis ringens (12–24 months old), 1904 Trachurus murphyi (24–36 months old), and 630 Merluccius gayi (36–48 months old). Most taxa show differences in the prevalence at the spatial and temporal scales, but the prevalence of some larval endoparasites remains constant at the temporal scale. At the spatial scale, an analysis of similarity (ANOSIM) showed differences in the parasite communities of three species; a canonical analysis of principal coordinates (CAP) showed low values of correct allocations (CA; ≈50%) and values of allocation due to chance (AdC) were lower than the CA. At the temporal scale, an ANOSIM showed differences between the three species. A CAP showed low values of CA (≈50–60%) and the AdC was always lower than CA. Samples at the spatial scale were well allocated to their localities or nearby localities, suggesting a spatial stability. Samples from different years were not well discriminated, suggesting temporal variability. Therefore, in studies regarding parasites as a tool for stock identification, temporal variability must be taken into account.