avian botulism in the distressed great lakes dr. brenda moraska lafrancois national park service...
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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
Watch“Little Things, Big Problems – Aquatic Invaders”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDx0tN8hUBE