Lessons from sea louse and salmon epidemiology

Maya L. Groner*, Luke A. Rogers, Andrew W. Bateman, Brendan M. Connors, L. Neil Frazer, Sean C. Godwin, Martin Krkošek, Mark A. Lewis, Stephanie J. Peacock, Erin E. Rees, Crawford W. Revie, Ulrike E. Schlägel

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

42 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Effective disease management can benefit from mathematical models that identify drivers of epidemiological change and guide decision-making. This is well illustrated in the host–parasite system of sea lice and salmon, which has been modelled extensively due to the economic costs associated with sea louse infections on salmon farms and the conservation concerns associated with sea louse infections on wild salmon. Consequently, a rich modelling literature devoted to sea louse and salmon epidemiology has been developed. We provide a synthesis of the mathematical and statistical models that have been used to study the epidemiology of sea lice and salmon. These studies span both conceptual and tactical models to quantify the effects of infections on host populations and communities, describe and predict patterns of transmission and dispersal, and guide evidence-based management of wild and farmed salmon. As aquaculture production continues to increase, advances made in modelling sea louse and salmon epidemiology should inform the sustainable management of marine resources.

Original languageEnglish
Article number20150203
Number of pages10
JournalPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Volume371
Issue number1689
Early online date15 Feb 2016
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 5 Mar 2016

Keywords

  • Atlantic salmon
  • ecological modelling
  • emerging infectious disease
  • fish farm
  • marine disease
  • Pacific salmon

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