A comparison of the ectoparasite assemblage on snapper, Pagrus auratus, from different regions in Australia and from New Zealand.

Different species dominate the ectoparasite assemblage on P. auratus in Australia and New Zealand, although the same or similar species are available in both countries. The same species of parasite show different patterns of dominance among the same age classes in both countries. Diversity tends to decrease with increase in age class due to an increase in dominance by 1 species. Cluster analysis of per cent similarity data indicate consistent patterns by age class within locality as well as age class among locality. Samples taken a decade apart in the same or nearby locality show a consistent pattern of dominance, diversity and similarity that indicates an overall predictability in the structure of the assemblage within a region.