Detailed Research Information

Detailed project information for
Study Plan Number 02119

Branch : Aquatic Ecology Branch

Study Plan Number : 02119

Study Title : Detection of fish health issues at the landscape scale: A pilot study

Starting Date : 09/01/2007

Completion Date : 09/30/2008

Principal Investigator(s) : Young, John A.

Primary PI : Young, John A.

Telephone Number : (304) 724-4469

Email Address : jyoung@usgs.gov

SIS Number :

Primary Program Element :

Second Program Element :

Status : Active

Abstract : BACKGROUND
Fish populations in the Chesapeake Bay region have been recent targets of investigation because of fish kills in the Shenandoah and Potomac drainages. Fish kills were observed in the South Branch Potomac River in 2002 and again in 2007, and similar events occurred in the North Fork of the Shenandoah in 2004, the South Fork of the Shenandoah in 2005, and in both rivers in 2006 and 2007. Headwaters of the James River including the upper James and Cowpasture Rivers experienced fish kills in 2007 ( http://www.dgif.state.va.us/fishing/fish-kills.asp). In most instances, the kills occurred in early spring, continued at low-levels until early summer, and subsided in late summer (ICPRB 2007). Species affected are primarily smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) and red-breasted sunfish (Lepomis auritus), but also include small numbers of northern hog sucker, white sucker, largemouth bass, chubs, fallfish, and bullhead catfish ( http://www.dgif.state.va.us/fishing/fish-kills.asp). It is estimated that up to 80% of the smallmouth bass in the South Fork of the Shenandoah were killed in 2005 (http://www.deq.state.va.us/info/srfishkillhistory.html) . In addition to reports of dead or dying fish, many sick fish are being found with external lesions or covered in mucus and fungus. In spite of intense investigations by state, university, and federal researchers, to date no definitive cause has been determined for the fish health problems.

Also, reference study plan #03053.
OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this modification are for AEB scientists to add additional value to studies by SARB and FHB by mapping location of CAFOs in the study region, and by predicting potential locations of suitable small mouth bass habitat. AEB scientists will work collaboratively with SARB and FHB scientists to analyze these data sources with other landscape level data to build a framework for an integrated assessment of potential landscape influences on fish health (e.g. a landscape pathology assessment, sensu Holdenrieder et al. 2004). The goal of this framework is to allow analysis of spatial influences of potential sources leading to water quality degradation and potential landscape pathways of contaminants. This analysis will generate hypotheses that will be tested in follow-on laboratory and field investigations.

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Branch :	Aquatic Ecology Branch
Study Plan Number :	02119
Study Title :	Detection of fish health issues at the landscape scale: A pilot study
Starting Date :	09/01/2007
Completion Date :	09/30/2008
Principal Investigator(s) :	Young, John A.
Primary PI :	Young, John A.
Telephone Number :	(304) 724-4469
Email Address :	jyoung@usgs.gov
SIS Number :
Primary Program Element :
Second Program Element :
Status :	Active
Abstract :	BACKGROUND Fish populations in the Chesapeake Bay region have been recent targets of investigation because of fish kills in the Shenandoah and Potomac drainages. Fish kills were observed in the South Branch Potomac River in 2002 and again in 2007, and similar events occurred in the North Fork of the Shenandoah in 2004, the South Fork of the Shenandoah in 2005, and in both rivers in 2006 and 2007. Headwaters of the James River including the upper James and Cowpasture Rivers experienced fish kills in 2007 ( http://www.dgif.state.va.us/fishing/fish-kills.asp). In most instances, the kills occurred in early spring, continued at low-levels until early summer, and subsided in late summer (ICPRB 2007). Species affected are primarily smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) and red-breasted sunfish (Lepomis auritus), but also include small numbers of northern hog sucker, white sucker, largemouth bass, chubs, fallfish, and bullhead catfish ( http://www.dgif.state.va.us/fishing/fish-kills.asp). It is estimated that up to 80% of the smallmouth bass in the South Fork of the Shenandoah were killed in 2005 (http://www.deq.state.va.us/info/srfishkillhistory.html) . In addition to reports of dead or dying fish, many sick fish are being found with external lesions or covered in mucus and fungus. In spite of intense investigations by state, university, and federal researchers, to date no definitive cause has been determined for the fish health problems. Also, reference study plan #03053. OBJECTIVES The objectives of this modification are for AEB scientists to add additional value to studies by SARB and FHB by mapping location of CAFOs in the study region, and by predicting potential locations of suitable small mouth bass habitat. AEB scientists will work collaboratively with SARB and FHB scientists to analyze these data sources with other landscape level data to build a framework for an integrated assessment of potential landscape influences on fish health (e.g. a landscape pathology assessment, sensu Holdenrieder et al. 2004). The goal of this framework is to allow analysis of spatial influences of potential sources leading to water quality degradation and potential landscape pathways of contaminants. This analysis will generate hypotheses that will be tested in follow-on laboratory and field investigations.
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U.S. Department of the Interior \|\| U.S. Geological Survey 11700 Leetown Road, Kearneysville, WV 25430, USA URL: http://www.lsc.usgs.gov Maintainer: lsc_webmaster@usgs.gov Last Modified: October 21, 2002 dwn Privacy Policy and Disclaimers \|\| FOIA \|\| Accessibility