Dan Molloy - Zebra mussels presentation 9/12/11

A Formidable Foe: The Search for an Environmentally Safe Zebra Mussel Control Method Daniel P. Molloy, Ph.D. Research Scientist: State University of New York at Albany Consultant: Molloy & Associates

Michael Schmidt
Assistant Superintendent
Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board

Eric Evenson
Administrator
Minnehaha Creek Watershed District

Lois Sinn Lindquist
Executive Director
Minnesota Waters

Biologist
Aquatic freshwater biologist
Study diseases of aquatic organisms
Diseases in invertebrate aquatic organisms
Especially diseases of pest organisms
Fundamental research
Who is Dan Molloy?

Biologist
Aquatic freshwater biologist
Study diseases of aquatic organisms
Diseases in invertebrate aquatic organisms
Especially diseases of pest organisms
Fundamental research
Applied research (can we control the pest with the disease)
Who is Dan Molloy?

Who is my (our) foe?

Two North American Species Quagga mussel Dreissena rostriformis bugensis Zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha

1988 – Zebra mussels were first discovered in Lake St. Clair and Lake Erie

http://nas.er.usgs.gov/taxgroup/mollusks/zebramussel/maps/current_zm_quag_map.jpg
… current distribution of Dreissena in North America

Credit: Minnesota DNR

How did these mussels get to North America?

So what’s the problem? 1. Ecological 2. Recreational 3. Industrial

Ecological Impacts

Ecological effects of filtration by Dreissena spp.
Decrease in phytoplankton
Decrease in zooplankton
Increase in water transparency
Increase in macrophytes
Alteration of fish community
Alteration of benthic (bottom) community

Eurasian water-milfoil

Recreational Impacts Cut foot Pelican Lake, MN (Credit - Bob Gilsdorf to Fargo The Forum )

Industrial Impacts

Weeks and weeks of chlorination How to reduce the use of chlorination and other biocides?? Trihalomethanes Dioxins

Find a control method to reduce the use of broadspectrum chemicals. Biological control

Find a control method to reduce the use of broadspectrum chemicals. Discover a bacterium with specificity to Dreissena spp.? Biological control Why a bacterial control agent?

For decades polluting broadspectrum chemical insecticides were used for black fly control in New York State

B t i Bacteria used to control black fly larvae

Metropolitan Mosquito Control District 165 small streams 28 large river sites Program began in 1984 Bti bacteria are applied:

Use of bacteria successful against black flies Maybe success against Dreissena spp. too?? ?????

Pseudomonas fluorescens CL145A

Dreissena spp. die following ingestion of large quantities of P. fluorescens cells Individual P. fluorescens cells are ~1 x 2  m 2 mm

Trials within power plants NYPA Hydro-electric power plant Crescent, NY Mohawk River RG&E Coal-fired power plant Rochester, NY Lake Ontario

Lab trials = 100% kill. Veligers appear to be the most susceptible life stage.

Specificity of Pf- CL145A product Trout Salmo trutta Fathead minnow Pimephales promelas Bluegill sunfish Lepomis macrochirus Freshwater ciliate Colpidium colpoda Zooplankton Daphnia magna Mytilus edulis, Pyganodon grandis, Lasmigona compressa, Strophirus undalatus, Lampsilis radiata, Pyganodon cataracta, Elliptio complanata 7 Bivalve species Mallard duck Anas platyrhynchos Freshwater shrimp Hyalella azteca

If Pf -CL145A is going to really be used to reduce the use of chemical biocides in pipes, my New York State government lab needed to partner with a company….. … ..one with expertise in commercializing biopesticides

Pf -CL145A Product name: Zequanox

OK, the future of Pf -CL145A looks promising for use in pipes.... but could it be used to in lakes and rivers? We will not know without additional research

The current overriding approach in the fight against zebra mussels is CONTAINMENT SLOW the spread! = Inspections

Minnesota has been and continues to be a leader in educating its citizen about slowing the spread

Federal agencies University of Minnesota Sea Grant

State governmental agencies

Local governmental agencies

Minnesotan citizen groups

OK, the future of Pf -CL145A looks promising for use in pipes.... but could it be used to in lakes and rivers? We will not know if the Pf -CL145A bacterium can be used for containment until it is field tested

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Dan Molloy - Zebra mussels presentation 9/12/11

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