avian botulism in the distressed great lakes dr. brenda moraska lafrancois national park service...

Avian Botulism in the Distressed Great Lakes

Dr. Brenda Moraska LafrancoisNational Park Service

U.S. Geological Survey Congressional BriefingWashington, DC

November 18, 2011

• Contain nearly 20% of the world’s fresh water

• Home to more than 35 million people

• “…nourish the history, culture, economy, and well-being of the people…” GLRC 2005

Apostle Islands

Grand Portage

Indiana Dunes

Isle Royale

Pictured Rocks

Sleeping Bear Dunes

Sleeping Bear Dunes

Great Lakes in Distress

• Toxic Substances• Habitat and Wildlife

Degradation• Nearshore Health• Invasive Species

“…there are 437 trillion quaggas in Lake Michigan alone, based on 2010 surveys. That's about 45 million quaggas for every person in Michigan.”Detroit Free Press, Oct 2, 2011

Botulism Background• Botulism is the most significant cause of wild

bird mortality worldwide• Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT/E) is the most

toxic substance known to science• Approximately 100,000 dead birds in Great

Lakes since 2000 • More than 5,000 birds at Sleeping Bear Dunes

since 2006• Role of invasives?

SedimentSediment

Many Potential Pathways

D. Blehert, USGS (2008)

The NPS-USGS Collaboration

• NPS Provides:– High profile study site– Local support for field

operation– Management

opportunities– “Parks for science”

• USGS Provides:– Broad technical

expertise and tools– Commitment to sister

agency needs– “Partner-driven science”

Botulism Project Goals

• Understand what drives toxin production and transfer to fish and birds

• Develop management options

GLRI Nearshore Health Objective:

“By 2014, …the number and severity of incidences of harmful algal blooms (HABs), avian botulism, and/or excessive Cladophora growth will be significantly reduced from 2008 levels.”

The Team & The Approach• Wildlife biologists• Fishery biologists• Ecosystem ecologists• Invertebrate biologists• Microbiologists• Water quality specialists• Hydrographers• GIS specialists• Citizen scientists

Whole EcosystemApproach

Multiple DisciplinesMultiple ScalesMultiple Tools

Toxin Assay

Waterbird distribution and foraging

From molecules…

…to migratorypathways

Epidemiological Synthesis

Lake Bottom Mapping & Sampling

From the shore…

…to the open water

Paleolimnology and Historiography

Lake Michigan Water Levels and Bird Mortality1960-2008

1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

Lake

Mic

higa

n/H

uron

Lev

el (

m)

175.6

175.8

176.0

176.2

176.4

176.6

176.8

177.0

177.2

177.4

Mor

talit

y (#

Bird

s)

10

100

1000

10000

100000

Nearshore Monitoring

From historical…

…to contemporary

*Lafrancois et al. 2011 J. Great Lakes Research 37:86-91Photo credit: National Geographic Society

Progress & DiscoveriesDeveloped:

– NEW toxin assay– NEW citizen science program– NEW nearshore monitoring station

Discovered:– Hot spots for birds, Cladophora, and C. botulinum– Historic outbreaks linked to lake levels and temps*– And so much more!

Next Steps• Synthesize and integrate• Develop predictive ecological model• Minimize mortality

– Discourage toxin production– Break food web linkages– Manage bird exposure during nesting and

migration

Collaboration!

ContactBrenda Moraska Lafrancois

brenda_moraska_lafrancois@nps.gov651.433.5953 x35

Watch“Little Things, Big Problems – Aquatic Invaders”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDx0tN8hUBE