Project: Myxobolus cerebralis in a Pristine Environment: the Role of American White Pelicans as a Dispersal Vector in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem

Primary Investigator: Todd Koel
Project Summary: Myxobolus cerebralis, the invasive exotic parasite that causes whirling disease in wild and native salmonids of the Intermountian West, is prevalent in native Yellowstone cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarki bouvieri throughout Yellowstone Lake. Infection severity is extremely high in Pelican Creek, the second largest cutthroat trout spawning tributary and a common foraging stream for American white pelicans Pelecanus erythrorhynchos. Dissemination of M. cerebralis in the region is blamed primarily on movement of infected fishes by humans. However, no fishes have been (legally) transported to the waters of the Yellowstone Lake basin or in many places elsewhere in Wyoming where the parasite now exists. The goal of this study is to determine the potential of American white pelicans as a dispersal vector for M. cerebralis. In the Yellowstone Lake ecosystem and elsewhere, white pelicans are feeding, moving among waters, and defecating. Unknown is the potential viability of any defecated M. cerebralis myxospores. Specific project objectives are to: (1) examine white pelican feces for the presence of M. cerebralis, and (2) determine if any defecated myxospores are capable of infecting Tubifex tubifex resulting in viable M. cerebralis triactinospores. Little is known about the vectors of dissemination of M. cerebralis. The results of this study will provide some of the first information on the potential of a common avian piscivore, the American white pelican, to spread M. cerebralis among waters in Yellowstone National Park and throughout the western United States.
Funding Period: 2004-2005
Final Report: koel_kerans_04-05.pdf
Dataset(s) associated with this project:

There are no datasets associated with this project.