Native Range: Salmincola lotae is native to Eurasia and has been recorded in the Palearctic region in Sweden, Finland, and northern Russia (Bagge and Hakkari 1982; Hudson and Bowen 2002; Grigorovich et al. 2003; Hudson et al. 2003). This species has also been recorded in Burbot from the Northwest Territories, Canada (Stewart and Bernier 1983, 1999), although there is some question over the validity of records (McDonald and Margulis 1995; Hudson et al. 2003). In spite of this, some experts have recently begun to consider that S. lotae may actually be native to the Nearctic region and thus could be native to Lake Superior (Reid and Hudson 2008).
Table 1. States with nonindigenous occurrences, the earliest and latest observations in each state, and the tally and names of HUCs with observations†. Names and dates are hyperlinked to their relevant specimen records. The list of references for all nonindigenous occurrences of Salmincola lotae are found here.
Table last updated 11/5/2024
† Populations may not be currently present.
Impact of Introduction: A) Realized: In Lake Superior S. lotae has been known to cause relatively large lesions in the mouth of L. lota where the bulla is implanted. Around 56% of burbot in the Apostle Islands region have been infected at a given time with on average 3.6 parasites per fish. Most often, L. lota in Lake Superior have exhibited infection in the roof of the mouth behind the vomerine teeth (Lasee et al. 1988; Hudson et al. 2003).
B) Potential: Unknown.
References: (click for full references)
Bagge, P., and L. Hakkari. 1982. The food and parasites of fish in some deep basins of northern L. Paijanne. Hydrobiologia 86: 61-65.
GLMRIS. 2012. Appendix C: Inventory of Available Controls for Aquatic Nuisance Species of Concern, Chicago Area Waterway System. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Grigorovich, I.A., R.I. Colautti, E.L. Mills, K. Holeck, A.G. Ballert, and J.H. MacIsaac. 2003. Ballast-mediated animal introductions in the Laurentian Great Lakes: retrospective and prospective analyses. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 60: 740-756.
Hudson, P.L., and C.A. Bowen II. 2002. First record of Neoergasilus japonicus (Poecilostomatoida: Ergasilidae), a parasitic copepod new to the Laurentian Great Lakes. Journal of Parasitology 88: 657-663.
Hudson, P.L., L.T. Lesko, C.A. Bowen II, W.J. Poly, and M.A. Chriscinske. 2003. Parasitic copepods and branchiurans of the Laurentian Great Lakes. Ann Arbor, Michigan, Great Lakes Science Center Home Page. http://www.glsc.usgs.gov/greatlakes copepods/Key.asp?GROUP=Parasite
Lasee, B.A., D.R. Sutherland, and M.E. Moubry. 1988. Host-parasite relationships between burbot Lota lota and adult Salmincola lotae (Copepoda). Canadian Journal of Zoology 66(11): 2459-2463.
McDonald, T.E., and L. Margolis. 1995. Synopsis of the parasites of fishes of Canada: supplement (1978-1993). Canadian Special Publication, Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences No. 122. 265 pp.
Reid, J.W., and P.L. Hudson. 2008. Comment on “Rate of species introductions in the Great Lakes via ships’ ballast water and sediments”. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 65(3): 549-553.
Stewart, D.B., and L.M.J. Bernier. 1983. An aquatic survey of King William and Victoria Islands, and the northeastern District of Keewatin, Northwest Territories. Lands Directorate, Environment Canada and Northern Environment Directorate, Indian and Northern Affairs, Background Report. No. 3. 127 pp.
Stewart, D.B., and L.M.J. Bernier. 1999. Common parasites, diseases and injuries of freshwater fishes in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Prepared by Arctic Biological Consultants for the Canada Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Central and Arctic Region, Winnipeg. 41 pp.
This information is preliminary or provisional and is subject to revision. It is being provided to meet the need for timely best science. The information has not received final approval by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and is provided on the condition that neither the USGS nor the U.S. Government shall be held liable for any damages resulting from the authorized or unauthorized use of the information.