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Ursidae: The Undergraduate Research Journal at the University of Northern Colorado

Faculty Sponsor

Fisher, Ginger Renee

Abstract

This project examined the effect of two pesticides on the marine copepod Tigriopus californicus. The pesticides are emamectin benzoate and cypermethrin, which are commonly used in salmon aquaculture to treat the salmon for sea lice, a type of parasitic copepod. The results of this study indicate that these pesticides are toxic to the free-living T. californicus at very low dosage levels when used individually. When the pesticides are used in combination, the mortality rate is similar to when they are used individually, but there is an additional paralytic effect on the animals. All animals exposed to any of the pesticide mixtures used in this study were irreversibly paralyzed and therefore effectively killed. This indicates a strong need for more testing on the combined impacts of pesticides and increased regulatory action for salmon aquaculture.

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