That's a rap!
Last winter, NSERC had a competition they called "Science, Action!" aimed at getting researchers to talk about their work publicly. The task was to create a one minute video describing your research. Well, I didn't make the deadline, but it go me thinking about how I can communicate my research in a way that will engage the public. After several months of thinking, and collaborating with one very talented film maker, we have a knock off of the Fresh Prince of Bel Air Theme. Thanks to Jordan Flanagan, Andrew Bateman, Jenni Schine and all those dancers! It was a great way to rap up my PhD. ;-)
This is a story all about how
Some salmon get lice and their numbers go down
And I'd like to take a minute just sittin' right here
To try and make my research just a little more clear.
In the Broughton Archipelago, salmon are found
Passing farms as they head to spawn in rivers around.
Parasites they have including copepod lice
Can transmit to farmed salmon - no it ain't very nice.
Wild salmon then spawn, after which they must die
Leaving a clear path for when their kids go by.
But the farms got lice and they're on the route
So when the juvies migrate past I'm afraid that they're scooped.
We head out each spring with our trusty beach seine
Catching juvenile salmon in sun and in rain.
We count all the lice in order to see
If that explains overall mortality.
As it turns out we do see a definite trend
Pink and coho salmon populations generally tend
To have fewer returns when louse numbers are high
But the good news is that farms can manage lice if they try.
