Australia.- New research indicates that fish may adapt their behaviour to defend against parasite infection. The findings are published in the Journal of Zoology.
When investigators studied Atlantic salmon, clear differences in parasite load existed between behaviourally-modified fish and those able to exhibit the normal repertoire of behaviours. Normal salmon displayed greater frequencies of surface behaviours (jumping and rolling) and less swimming activity compared with behaviourally-impaired individuals.
“This is exciting, as it shows that a farmed fish has the ability to avoid parasites. Currently, behaviour isn’t something that is considered in aquaculture, so it opens the door to alternative methods of parasite prevention,’” said Dr. Samantha Bui, lead author of the study.
Reference:
Bui, S., Oppedal, F., Samsing, F. and Dempster, T. (2017), Behaviour in Atlantic salmon confers protection against an ectoparasite. J Zool. doi:10.1111/jzo.12498
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jzo.12498/abstract
Editor at the digital magazine AquaHoy. He holds a degree in Aquaculture Biology from the National University of Santa (UNS) and a Master’s degree in Science and Innovation Management from the Polytechnic University of Valencia, with postgraduate diplomas in Business Innovation and Innovation Management. He possesses extensive experience in the aquaculture and fisheries sector, having led the Fisheries Innovation Unit of the National Program for Innovation in Fisheries and Aquaculture (PNIPA). He has served as a senior consultant in technology watch, an innovation project formulator and advisor, and a lecturer at UNS. He is a member of the Peruvian College of Biologists and was recognized by the World Aquaculture Society (WAS) in 2016 for his contribution to aquaculture.
