Avian Botulism in Distressed Great Lakes Environments Active
Botulism outbreaks occur within the Great Lakes and often result in significant bird die offs. It is believed that Clostridium botulinum is the reason for these die offs and the trophic pathways that this organism travels are of interest to understanding its place within the food web. The GLRI Avian Botulism Project is investigating six different matrices: sediment, Cladophora, invertebrates, mussel tissue, mussel micro habitat, which is defined as the substrate that the mussel attaches itself to, the interior and exterior of the mussel shell and the material that is collected in close proximity to the mussel itself as well as the intestinal content of gobies caught within the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
Our approach is to use quantitative PCR (qPCR) to determine the genetic potential for botulism type E toxin production within the area of interest. With additional research being conducted by supporting cooperators, we intend to use qPCR data in conjunction with spatial and temporal data collected, such as water temperature, DO, pH, depth and substrate composition, to see which components play a significant role in promoting the growth of C. botulinum. These data will be analyzed and interpreted with the intent of being able to predict when and where an outbreak may occur.
Download pdf (7.98MB) manual from www.michigan.gov: Type E Botulism Outbreaks: A Manual for Beach Managers and the Public
Botulism outbreaks occur within the Great Lakes and often result in significant bird die offs. It is believed that Clostridium botulinum is the reason for these die offs and the trophic pathways that this organism travels are of interest to understanding its place within the food web. The GLRI Avian Botulism Project is investigating six different matrices: sediment, Cladophora, invertebrates, mussel tissue, mussel micro habitat, which is defined as the substrate that the mussel attaches itself to, the interior and exterior of the mussel shell and the material that is collected in close proximity to the mussel itself as well as the intestinal content of gobies caught within the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
Our approach is to use quantitative PCR (qPCR) to determine the genetic potential for botulism type E toxin production within the area of interest. With additional research being conducted by supporting cooperators, we intend to use qPCR data in conjunction with spatial and temporal data collected, such as water temperature, DO, pH, depth and substrate composition, to see which components play a significant role in promoting the growth of C. botulinum. These data will be analyzed and interpreted with the intent of being able to predict when and where an outbreak may occur.
Download pdf (7.98MB) manual from www.michigan.gov: Type E Botulism Outbreaks: A Manual for Beach Managers and the Public