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EcoRA of Pathogens in the Lake Champlain Water Basin
Rebecca Gloss
Alex Kliminsky
Marissa Patti
Advisor: Dr. Breck Bowden, PhD.
Problem Statement
Pathogens in the Lake Champlain Basin constitute a direct threat to the ecological integrity of the
lake, as well as, human health related to the drinking water supplies that are drawn from the lake.
Goal/Purpose Statement
The purpose of this project is to assess the potential effects of pathogens on ecosystems
and human populations within the Lake Champlain Basin. We will determine what pathogens
exist in the basin, the sources each is derived from, the habitats each affects, and the pathways
through which each travels. Risk values will be assigned to each source, habitat, and pathogen
based on the relative hazard each imposes on ecosystem integrity and human health.
Justification
Pathogens are an increasing problem for the Lake Champlain Basin. Bacteria, viruses,
and parasites in the lake bring about many adverse effects that threaten human health, outdoor
recreation, local economies, wildlife populations, and whole ecosystems. Bacteria, including E.
coli, girardia, and cryptosporidiosis, can cause infections in humans that limit the drinking water
supplies drawn from the lake and make swimming unsafe. Cyanobacteria blooms are of high
concern in Lake Champlain because they produce toxins that upset the lake ecology by removing
dissolved oxygen from the water thus leading to fish kills. Cyanobacteria blooms also limit
summertime swimming. Largemouth bass virus causes mortality in adult largemouth bass, a
species important to recreational fishers, as well asto some local economies. A decline in bass
population also disrupts the lake ecosystem. By understanding the relative risk of various
pathogens in the environment, the sources they are derived from, and the habitat they affect we
can apply prescriptions to properly manage the Lake Champlain ecosystem. The integrity of
Lake Champlain is integral to the welfare of people who utilize it.
Literature Review
High levels of Cyanobacteria in Missisquoi Bay may be contributing to the feeding habits of
White Perch. The Adults feed heavily on Daphnia when they comprise of over 50% of the
zooplankton population. The absence of these as competitors to Cyanobacteria may help
exacerbate Cyanobacteria blooms. This could be useful in selecting areas that are at higher risk
for Cyanobacteria blooms based on white perch densities.
Couture, S,, & Watzin, M. (2008). Diet of invasive adult white perch (morone americana) and
their effects on the zooplankton community in missisquoi bay, lake champlain. Journal of
Great Lakes Research, 34(3), 485-494 .
Largemouth bass virus can kill adult bass but this usually happens under stressful situations and
tends not to infect large portions of populations. Fish with this infection are safe to eat once
cooked and it is transmitted through the water, eating contaminated prey, and fish to fish contact.
This is useful in helping place an impact score on commercial fishing since largemouth bass is a
popular angling fish and is the source of income for areas in the basin from fishing derbies.
Indiana Department of Natural Resource's, (2005). Largemouth bass virus
S. catascopium is an introduced fresh water snail from New England that is the alternate host of
schistosome parasite. Muskellunge and northern pike lymphosarcoma is found in 20% of pike
and muskellunge taken in 2002 and has a 1% survival rate. Largemouth bass virus is also found
in the lake as of 2002 and has been known to cause die offs. This will be used in the possible
impacts from the exotic species source and impact on the end points of commercial fishing and
recreational use of the lake.
Marsden, J, & hauser, M. (2009). Exotic species in lake champlain . Journal of Great Lakes
Research, 35(2), 250-265.
The E. coli concentrations in run off from hay land and crop plots that were treated with liquid
manure were 63,200 per 100 ml and 92,100 per 100 ml respectively. There was a 99% decrease
in E. coli in run off when manure was held for 60 days and over 99% in manure that was held for
90 days before application. There was also a 50% reduction in E. coli in run off from manure
applied three days before it rained than application of manure one day before it rained. This
relates to our study by helping quantify the effect of E. coli loading by factoring in use practices
of the local area and the fact this study was held in Lake Champlain Basin in Northern Vermont.
Meals, D., & Braun, D. (2005). Demonstration of methods to reduce e. coli runoff from dairy
manure application sites. Journal of Environmental Quality, 35(4), Retrieved from
https://www.agronomy.org/publications/jeq/articles/35/4/1088 doi:
10.2134/jeq2005.0380
Proposed Effort
The bulk of this project will be a group effort to compile sufficient data on the pathogens
found in the Lake Champlain Basin. Pathogens we will be studying are Giardia, E.Coli,
Cyanobacteria harmful algal blooms (CyanoHABs), Cryptosporidiosis, and Escocid
Lymphosarcoma. We will gather information on each of these pathogens from journals, past
studies, experts, and VT Fish & Wildlife documents. When necessary, state and federal threshold
values will be compared It will also be necessary to work closely with the Agriculture, Waste
Water Treatment Plant, and Urban sources groups of the Lake Champlain Basin Regional Risk
Assessment to share information related to pathogens.
For each pathogen we will address likely sources in the Lake Champlain Basin, pathogen
history in the lake, life cycle of pathogen, transportation of the pathogen, the impacts on habitats
and organisms, the impacts of pathogens on other stressors, and how pathogens affect the
assessment endpoints. Specifically for CyanoHABs we will be looking at sources other than
phosphorus loading.
Next we will characterize risk for each pathogen, giving highest ranking to those which
adversely affect human health. One problem we will likely face is the lack of quantitative data
on pathogens in the lake. This arises from the obscurity of testing results in Burlington.
Effort Assignment
The work will be divided equally between the group members as follows:
Alex will be in charge of researching CyanoHABs and the various cyanotoxins and their possible
effects in the Lake Champlain Basin. Marissa will be in charge of researching Giardia and E.Coli
focusing on sources and prevalence of past cases of sickness. Rebecca will focus on
Cryptosporidiosis and Escocid Lymphosarcoma, working closely with those in the Recreation
stressor group to determine how these pathogens will affect recreational activities. Finally all
three group members will work together to determine rankings and risk characterization.