Effect of Three Pesticides Used in Salmon Farming on Ammonium Uptake in Central-Southern and Northern Patagonia, Chile

Chile is the second largest global producer of farmed salmon. The growth salmon production has not been free environmental challenges, such as increasing use pesticides to control parasitic load sea lice Caligus rogercresseyi. lack specificity can potentially affect non-target organisms, well structure and functioning aquatic ecosystems. aim this study, was understand effect on natural microbial communities addition anti-lice pesticide azamethiphos, deltamethrin emamectin benzoate, their potential impact in ammonium uptake rates coast off central-southern Northern Patagonia. resulted a rapid response uptake, which significant for single pesticide, azamethiphos combination, benzoate. In northern Patagonia, produced 53% decrease photoautotrophic uptake. However, an increase, although variable, observed chemoautotrophic Emamectin benzoate 36 77% chemo respectively. combined pesticides, also up 42% both photo assimilation. We conclude that farming produces diverse responses at level, stimulating and/or inhibiting with subsequent nitrogen budgets. Further studies are necessary ecology Chile.