Figure 1

Infection densities and blood parameters. Co-habiting Atlantic, chum, and pink salmon were exposed to copepodids in three experimental trials ((A) Trial 1, (B) Trial 2 and 3), resulting in highest infection density (lice per host weight (g)) in chum, followed by Atlantic, and lowest in pink salmon. Average lice per fish for each condition are presented above the boxplot. Conditions within a day that do not share a letter are significantly different from each other. (C) Plasma cortisol (ng/ml) levels in Trial 1 (pooled for days three, six and nine post exposure) indicated elevated cortisol for chum salmon. (D) Hematocrit percentages for exposed Atlantic and chum salmon were reduced compared to controls at days 14, 28 and 43, and did not vary for pink salmon. Boxplot displays median and interquartile range, and circles are outliers. *denotes p < 0.05; **denotes p < 0.001.