Abstract
A major challenge for Atlantic salmon farming in the northern hemisphere is infestation by the sea louse parasite Lepeophtheirus salmonis. The most frequent method of controlling these sea louse infestations is through the use of chemical treatments. However, most major salmon farming areas have observed resistance to common chemotherapeutants. In terrestrial environments, many strategies employed to manage the evolution of resistance involve the use of refugia, where a portion of the population is left untreated to maintain susceptibility. While refugia have not been deliberately used in Atlantic salmon farming, wild salmon populations that migrate close to salmon farms may act as natural refugia. In this paper we describe an agent-based model that explores the influence of different sizes of wild salmon populations on resistance evolution in sea lice on a salmon farm. Using the model, we demonstrate that wild salmon populations can act as refugia that limit the evolution of resistance in the sea louse populations. Additionally, we demonstrate that an increase in the size of the population of wild salmon results in an increased effect in slowing the evolution of resistance. We explore the effect of a population fitness cost associated with resistance, finding that in some cases it substantially reduces the speed of evolution to chemical treatments.
Highlights
Pesticide resistance in pathogens and pests is a major challenge for commercial farming
We focus on the fitness cost associated with resistance and the meta-population structure of sea lice across their farmed and wild hosts
The specific questions that we investigate here are: 1. How does contact with a wild migrating refugia impact the rate at which resistance to chemotherapeutants evolves in a sea louse population on an Atlantic salmon farm?
Summary
Pesticide resistance in pathogens and pests is a major challenge for commercial farming. An Agent-Based Model of Sea Lice Resistance with Wild Refugia design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript
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