Project Detail
Project: Analysis of Epidemiological Data for Whirling Disease in the Rock Creek (Montana) Drainage: 1998-2003
Primary Investigator: Willard GranathProject Summary: During the summer of 1998, a study of whirling disease was initiated in the Rock Creek Watershed, Montana with the expectation that this would be a long-term research effort. These studies have continued uninterrupted to date and have brought together the expertise of numerous qualified investigators. The following has been learned about Myxobolus cerebralis in Rock Creek: (1) both the prevalence and severity of M. cerebralis infections in sentinel rainbow trout increased dramatically throughout the drainage between 1998 and 2003; (2) an increase in disease severity was not accompanied by an increase in the number of T. tubifex recovered or an increase in the prevalence of M. cerebralis infected T. tubifex; (3) the parasite is still expanding its range within Rock Creek; (4) sentinel fish become infected at many sites where no infected T. tubifex are recovered and it is likely that fish at these sites are being infected by TAMs that originated miles upstream; and (5) decreasing stream flow is likely to play a major role in increasing disease severity. Since 1998, a large data set of epidemiological data for Rock Creek has been generated, including the following: (1) Disease severity in trout, using sentinel cages placed throughout the Rock Creek drainage, (2) Prevalence of M. cerebralis in T. tubifex from numerous locations throughout Rock Creek, (3) Quantitative macroinvertebrate sampling throughout Rock Creek, (4) Habitat evaluation of Rock Creek using EPA habitat assessment protocols, (5) Water quality measurements (temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, total dissolved solids, etc.) at sentinel cage and other locations, and (6) Water flow measurements (since 2001) at sentinel cage and other sites. These data require significant analysis and interpretation which should lead to a better understanding of disease transmission in this drainage, and will aid fishery biologists in making management decisions. The major goal of this project is to analyze the data generated from performing the above, and to submit these data in the form of manuscripts to peer-reviewed journals.
Funding Period: 2004-2005
Final Report: 0405Granath_Final_Report.pdf
Dataset(s) associated with this project:
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