Viruses and Sea Lice Help Keep Wild Pacific Salmon in Check in the Bay
Biologists have recently made a remarkable discovery in the waters off the coast of California’s San Francisco Bay: a new virus that has the potential to control the population of wild sea lice. The virus, dubbed SFV-1, is closely related to a family of viruses known to infect other marine creatures such as fish and worms. It is the first virus of its kind to be isolated from wild sea lice, and its discovery could have a significant impact on the health of San Francisco Bay’s marine ecosystems.
SFV-1 has not yet been studied in detail, but preliminary research suggests that it may be capable of killing wild sea lice. The virus could prove to be a powerful tool in managing the population of these tiny, shrimp-like creatures, which can cause significant damage to the ecosystems of San Francisco Bay. If further research confirms SFV-1’s ability to control sea lice, it could be used to keep the population in check and provide a healthier environment for the Bay’s many species of fish and other marine creatures.
source: Phys.org