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Identifying 'firebreaks' to fragment dispersal networks of a marine parasite
journal contribution
posted on 2019-03-01, 00:00 authored by Francisca Samsing, Ingrid Johnsen, Eric TremlEric Treml, Tim DempsterMarine ecosystems are beset by disease outbreaks, and efficient strategies to control dispersal of pathogens are scarce. We tested whether introducing no-farming areas or 'firebreaks' could disconnect dispersal networks of a parasitic disease affecting the world's largest marine fish farming industry (∼1000 farms). Larval salmon lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) are released from and transported among salmon farms by ocean currents, creating inter-farm networks of louse dispersal. We used a state-of-the-art biophysical model to predict louse movement along the Norwegian coastline and network analysis to identify firebreaks to dispersal. At least one firebreak that fragmented the network into two large unconnected groups of farms was identified for all seasons. During spring, when wild salmon migrate out into the ocean, and louse levels per fish at farms must be minimised, two effective firebreaks were created by removing 13 and 21 farms (1.3% and 2.2% of all farms in the system) at ∼61°N and 67°N, respectively. We have demonstrated that dispersal models coupled with network analysis can identify no-farming zones that fragment dispersal networks. Reduced dispersal pathways should lower infection pressure at farms, slow the evolution of resistance to parasite control measures, and alleviate infection pressure on wild salmon populations.
History
Journal
International journal for parasitologyVolume
49Issue
3-4Pagination
277 - 286Publisher
ElsevierLocation
Amsterdam, The NetherlandsPublisher DOI
ISSN
0020-7519eISSN
1879-0135Language
engPublication classification
C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2019, Australian Society for ParasitologyUsage metrics
Keywords
AquacultureAtlantic salmonEpidemiologyGraph theoryLepeophtheirus salmonisNetwork analysisNode removalScience & TechnologyLife Sciences & BiomedicineParasitologyLEPEOPHTHEIRUS-SALMONIS KROYERSEA LICE INFECTIONPOPULATION CONNECTIVITYWEST-COASTLANDSCAPE CONNECTIVITYCOMMUNITY STRUCTUREWILDMODELSFARMSMicrobiologyZoology
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