AEI 8:349-350 (2016)  -  DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/aei00180

ABSTRACT: Serra-Llinares et al. (2014; Aquacult Environ Interact 5:1-16) analysed the association between the estimated production of salmon louse copepodites in salmon farms and lice infection levels in wild salmonids. The authors argued that 41% of the variance observed in the number of salmon lice on wild fish is explained by lice production in nearby salmon farms. The correlation identified by Serra-Llinares et al. (2014; their Fig. 3) could, however, be explained by an effect of temperature variation in time and space, rather than a causal relationship between salmon farming and lice infection in wild salmonids.

KEY WORDS: Temperature · Seasonal infection dynamics · Farmed salmon · Correlation · Spatial and temporal covariance · Lepeophtheirus salmonis

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Cite this article as: Jansen PA, Brun E, Skjerve E (2016) Salmon lice infection in wild salmonids in marine protected areas: Comment on Serra-Llinares et al. (2014). Aquacult Environ Interact 8:349-350. https://doi.org/10.3354/aei00180 Export citation Share:    Facebook - - linkedIn