• News
  • Lake Facts
  • About

Lake Scientist

Invasive mussels may worsen avian botulism outbreaks

2
  • by Dave Hochanadel
  • — November 29, 2010
Zebra Mussel

Zebra Mussel

Lake Michigan experienced a particularly severe outbreak of avian botulism this year, resulting in greater wildlife fatalities and lasting longer than other recent occurrences.

The last notable die-off in Lake Michigan occurred in 2007, when an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 birds were killed. Scientists estimate this year’s numbers will rival or exceed that.

While scientists aren’t certain what has worsened the outbreaks, one theory links it to spread of invasive zebra and quagga mussels.

These filter feeders can intake massive volumes of water, along with any toxic substances within the water. Thus, they could be consuming naturally occurring botulism and other toxins that are created by rotting mats of cladophora algae. Some of these contaminants are then incorporated into the mussels’ tissues and shells.

These toxins can start moving up the food chain, commonly when invasive round gobies and other bottom feeders consume the mussels and are in turn eaten by birds susceptible to the disease.

Whereas outbreaks in 2006 and ’07 seemed to diminish during the fall, this year’s outbreak lasted longer, and researchers are unsure why. It could be due in part to the summer’s unusually high temperatures, which produced more algae to feed the mussels’ population boom.

Avian botulism is a paralytic disease caused by ingestion that can incapacitate or kill many bird species. It has killed more than 80,000 birds on the Great Lakes since 1999. Outbreaks of the disease have resulted in periodic massive die-offs since at least the 1960s, but they have become more common and widespread since 1999, particularly in Lakes Michigan and Erie, according to the USGS.

The disease threatens populations of numerous protected species, including the common loon, which is a threatened species in Michigan. Other affected species include cormorants, grebes, ring-billed gulls, long-tailed ducks, and white-winged scooters.

Why do you think avian botulism outbreaks have worsened in the Great Lakes? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Lake invaders may be killing birds [Chicago Tribune] Avian botulism leaving dead birds in its wake along Lake Michigan [The Grand Rapids Press] Avian Botulism [U.S. Geological Survey]

Image Credit: Courtesy of Michigan Sea Grant

Share

You may also like...

  • In light of Gulf oil spill, stronger Great Lakes drilling bans proposed
  • Lake Erie Protection Fund awards grants to two Ohio universities
  • Herring could help stabilize Great Lakes food webs
  • legacy mercury Lake Superior’s Legacy Mercury

2 Comments

  1. Lake Erie aquatic species are affected differently by hypoxia events | Lake Scientist says:
    January 21, 2011 at 11:28 AM

    […] oxygen is consumed. Additionally, the respiration of organisms, abiotic processes, and even the invasion of zebra mussels are also thought to play a […]

    Reply
  2. jacob maier says:
    May 14, 2013 at 1:31 PM

    The Zebra Mussel issue has increased out on Conesus Lake in New York. I cannot leave my canoe in the water to longand they start attaching to it. It’s starting o annoy me. Plus they hurt if yo get cut by them!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Time limit is exhausted. Please reload CAPTCHA.

FishSens SondeCAM HD
  • Recent Posts

    • Research Brief: Influence of Climate Change and Anthropogenic Stressors on HABs in Zhanjiang BaySeptember 22, 2023
    • From the Tap: Source Water Monitoring for Public HealthSeptember 18, 2023
    • Red swamp crawfishResearch Brief: Using Red Swamp Crayfish as Bioindicators of Microplastic PollutionSeptember 15, 2023
    • Choosing the Right Water Quality Monitoring Systems Is Crucial for Stantec Inc.September 11, 2023
    • Elâzığ, TurkeyResearch Brief: Zebra Mussels as Sentinel Species for Monitoring MicroplasticsSeptember 8, 2023
  • Popular Tags

    Great Lakes research research summary pollution Lake Erie invasive species Product Spotlight Algae runoff international Lake Michigan nutrient-loading Ohio dissolved oxygen EPA research brief eutrophication temperature toxic waters climate change USGS phosphorus ice Asian Carp Michigan

©2023 Fondriest Environmental Inc. | Questions? Call 888.426.2151 or email customercare@fondriest.com