Detailed Research Information

Detailed project information for
Study Plan Number 08020-02

Branch : Northern Appalachian Research Laboratory

Study Plan Number : 08020-02

Study Title : Role of Essential Nutrients with Emphasis on Thiamine in Early Mortality Syndrome of Salmonids and Other Species

Starting Date : 10/01/1994

Completion Date : 09/30/2008

Principal Investigator(s) : Honeyfield, Dale C.

Primary PI : Honeyfield, Dale C.

Telephone Number : (570) 724-3322 x233

Email Address : honeyfie@usgs.gov

SIS Number : 5002154

Primary Program Element : Fisheries and Aquatic Resources

Second Program Element : Fish and Aquatic Habitats

Status : Active

Abstract : BACKGROUND:
We propose to investigate fish health associated with nutritional deficiencies and addresses the role of EMS in salmonid recruitment failure in the Great Lakes. Early mortality syndrome (EMS) is a pathology observed in the swim-up fry of Great Lakes lake trout, rainbow trout, coho salmon, and chinook salmon. The severity of EMS in certain populations of Great Lakes salmonids threatens the ability of those populations to be self-sustaining and jeopardizes the stability of hatchery stocking programs. The existing scientific evidence indicates that EMS is caused by a thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency in the developing embryo. Previously, we have demonstrated that thiaminase activity in forage fish, most notably alewives and smelt, to be a major contributing factor to the development of the thiamine deficiency and EMS. However, there is a great deal of variability in the thiaminase content of both smelt and alewife and we need to improve our understanding of the consequences of this variation. This information is required to develop better predictive models for the occurrence of EMS and to develop of fisheries better management strategies to reduce the impact on the salmonid populations in the Great Lakes. First and foremost, we need to understand the factors which control or modulate thiaminase activity in the environment and, in particular, in alewife populations. Only after we understand what factor or factors control thiaminase activity do we have the possibility to determine management strategies to control EMS in the Great Lakes. Second, we need better understanding of the effects that low thiamine has upon fry and juvenile survival beyond swim-up. We have learned a great deal about the effects of thiamine deficiency on survival of salmonids up until the swim-up stage. However, there is little knowledge of the consequences of low thiamine on the ability of survive past this stage. EMS causes complete fry mortality in 20-90% of females of lake trout, chinook salmon, and coho salmon from Lake Michigan. However, the effects of low thiamine on those fry surviving past the swim-up stage need to be investigated. Thus, the major focus of our proposed work is to investigate: (1) the factors controlling thiaminase; and (2) the effects of low thiamine on salmonids between the life stages from swim-up until young of the year recruitment.

As we develop more information about the dynamics of thiaminase in Lake Michigan and the other Great Lakes, we will begin to understand the factors which control the source of this disease. Only as we gain this understanding will we be able to determine the appropriate management strategies for controlling EMS in the Great Lakes. The second major focus of our proposal work on the consequences of low thiamine on surviving fry will provide information to help managers to better predict first year recruitment rates. If we are truly going to try to understand the effects that thiamine deficiency is having on overall populations of salmonids in the Great Lakes, we must investigate the consequences of these more subtle effects. Therefore, our intention is to study if low thiamine content, above the threshold for overt mortality, will have effects on recruitment of juvenile salmonids into the population. We will determine if low thiamine content in the egg and developing embryo can produce fry with a diminished capacity to forage and capture prey items or a diminished capacity to avoid predation.

Unknown factors are affecting alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) and other wildlife in Lake Griffin, Florida (Ross et al. 2000). Between 1994 and 1997 the hatch rate of alligator eggs collected on Lake Griffin dropped to less than 10% (Woodward et al. 1999). Since November 1997, over 380 dead adult alligators have been recorded in Lake Griffin. Postulated causes include contaminants, disease, nutrition and toxins produced by blooms of blue green algae. Preliminary data suggest that thiamine deficiency may play a role in these Florida alligators. Signs and symptoms observed in alligators closely resemble that seen in early mortality syndrome of salmonids.

The overall scope of the thiamine work has progressed to include a broader cast of species than just salmonids. As research leads are followed it is becoming increasingly evident that Early Mortality Syndrome in salmonids is one of a family of similar maladies affecting top predators. The focus of the original research objectives to determine the role of thiamine has not changed. The title change is to more accurately reflect the research, and this amendment adds a task to investigate the role of thiamine in Florida alligators. Funding has been made available from the St. John’s Water Management District, Florida through the University of Florida. This alligator work represents an extension of ongoing work started with salmonids.

OUTCOMES:

Outcomes: The four major outcomes of this proposal are to: 1) determine the factors which control or modulate thiaminase activity in alewife populations (thus thiamine deficiency in salmonids); 2) monitor the incidence of EMS in Great Lakes salmonids; 3) develop a thiaminase assay for broader use; and 4) determine the effects of low thiamine on survival (predator avoidance and foraging ability) of post-swim-up lake trout fry. These outcomes will be achieved through the specific objectives below.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:

I. Thiaminase in the Great Lakes ecosystem

A.1) Evaluate whether essential nutrients from the food web have a relationship with thiaminase activity in alewives.

A.2) Determine whether dietary factors such as nutrients and essential fatty acids modulate thiaminase activity in alewives.

A.3) Determine the incidence of EMS in populations of Great Lakes salmonids. B.1) Develop a non-radiometric (non-radioactive) method for determination of thiaminase activity in environmental samples from the Great Lakes.

II. Low thiamine effects on fry behavior and recruitment

A.1) Determine the effect of low thiamine on the development of visual acuity and motion detection in salmonid fry and juveniles.

A.2) Determine the effect of low thiamine on foraging ability of salmonid fry and juveniles.

B.1) Determine the effect of low thiamine on development and magnitude of the startle response (C-start) in Great Lakes salmonids.

B.2) Determine the effects of low thiamine on the ability of salmonid fry and juveniles to avoid predation by alewives and gobies.

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Branch :	Northern Appalachian Research Laboratory
Study Plan Number :	08020-02
Study Title :	Role of Essential Nutrients with Emphasis on Thiamine in Early Mortality Syndrome of Salmonids and Other Species
Starting Date :	10/01/1994
Completion Date :	09/30/2008
Principal Investigator(s) :	Honeyfield, Dale C.
Primary PI :	Honeyfield, Dale C.
Telephone Number :	(570) 724-3322 x233
Email Address :	honeyfie@usgs.gov
SIS Number :	5002154
Primary Program Element :	Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
Second Program Element :	Fish and Aquatic Habitats
Status :	Active
Abstract :	BACKGROUND: We propose to investigate fish health associated with nutritional deficiencies and addresses the role of EMS in salmonid recruitment failure in the Great Lakes. Early mortality syndrome (EMS) is a pathology observed in the swim-up fry of Great Lakes lake trout, rainbow trout, coho salmon, and chinook salmon. The severity of EMS in certain populations of Great Lakes salmonids threatens the ability of those populations to be self-sustaining and jeopardizes the stability of hatchery stocking programs. The existing scientific evidence indicates that EMS is caused by a thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency in the developing embryo. Previously, we have demonstrated that thiaminase activity in forage fish, most notably alewives and smelt, to be a major contributing factor to the development of the thiamine deficiency and EMS. However, there is a great deal of variability in the thiaminase content of both smelt and alewife and we need to improve our understanding of the consequences of this variation. This information is required to develop better predictive models for the occurrence of EMS and to develop of fisheries better management strategies to reduce the impact on the salmonid populations in the Great Lakes. First and foremost, we need to understand the factors which control or modulate thiaminase activity in the environment and, in particular, in alewife populations. Only after we understand what factor or factors control thiaminase activity do we have the possibility to determine management strategies to control EMS in the Great Lakes. Second, we need better understanding of the effects that low thiamine has upon fry and juvenile survival beyond swim-up. We have learned a great deal about the effects of thiamine deficiency on survival of salmonids up until the swim-up stage. However, there is little knowledge of the consequences of low thiamine on the ability of survive past this stage. EMS causes complete fry mortality in 20-90% of females of lake trout, chinook salmon, and coho salmon from Lake Michigan. However, the effects of low thiamine on those fry surviving past the swim-up stage need to be investigated. Thus, the major focus of our proposed work is to investigate: (1) the factors controlling thiaminase; and (2) the effects of low thiamine on salmonids between the life stages from swim-up until young of the year recruitment. As we develop more information about the dynamics of thiaminase in Lake Michigan and the other Great Lakes, we will begin to understand the factors which control the source of this disease. Only as we gain this understanding will we be able to determine the appropriate management strategies for controlling EMS in the Great Lakes. The second major focus of our proposal work on the consequences of low thiamine on surviving fry will provide information to help managers to better predict first year recruitment rates. If we are truly going to try to understand the effects that thiamine deficiency is having on overall populations of salmonids in the Great Lakes, we must investigate the consequences of these more subtle effects. Therefore, our intention is to study if low thiamine content, above the threshold for overt mortality, will have effects on recruitment of juvenile salmonids into the population. We will determine if low thiamine content in the egg and developing embryo can produce fry with a diminished capacity to forage and capture prey items or a diminished capacity to avoid predation. Unknown factors are affecting alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) and other wildlife in Lake Griffin, Florida (Ross et al. 2000). Between 1994 and 1997 the hatch rate of alligator eggs collected on Lake Griffin dropped to less than 10% (Woodward et al. 1999). Since November 1997, over 380 dead adult alligators have been recorded in Lake Griffin. Postulated causes include contaminants, disease, nutrition and toxins produced by blooms of blue green algae. Preliminary data suggest that thiamine deficiency may play a role in these Florida alligators. Signs and symptoms observed in alligators closely resemble that seen in early mortality syndrome of salmonids. The overall scope of the thiamine work has progressed to include a broader cast of species than just salmonids. As research leads are followed it is becoming increasingly evident that Early Mortality Syndrome in salmonids is one of a family of similar maladies affecting top predators. The focus of the original research objectives to determine the role of thiamine has not changed. The title change is to more accurately reflect the research, and this amendment adds a task to investigate the role of thiamine in Florida alligators. Funding has been made available from the St. John’s Water Management District, Florida through the University of Florida. This alligator work represents an extension of ongoing work started with salmonids. OUTCOMES: Outcomes: The four major outcomes of this proposal are to: 1) determine the factors which control or modulate thiaminase activity in alewife populations (thus thiamine deficiency in salmonids); 2) monitor the incidence of EMS in Great Lakes salmonids; 3) develop a thiaminase assay for broader use; and 4) determine the effects of low thiamine on survival (predator avoidance and foraging ability) of post-swim-up lake trout fry. These outcomes will be achieved through the specific objectives below. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES: I. Thiaminase in the Great Lakes ecosystem A.1) Evaluate whether essential nutrients from the food web have a relationship with thiaminase activity in alewives. A.2) Determine whether dietary factors such as nutrients and essential fatty acids modulate thiaminase activity in alewives. A.3) Determine the incidence of EMS in populations of Great Lakes salmonids. B.1) Develop a non-radiometric (non-radioactive) method for determination of thiaminase activity in environmental samples from the Great Lakes. II. Low thiamine effects on fry behavior and recruitment A.1) Determine the effect of low thiamine on the development of visual acuity and motion detection in salmonid fry and juveniles. A.2) Determine the effect of low thiamine on foraging ability of salmonid fry and juveniles. B.1) Determine the effect of low thiamine on development and magnitude of the startle response (C-start) in Great Lakes salmonids. B.2) Determine the effects of low thiamine on the ability of salmonid fry and juveniles to avoid predation by alewives and gobies.
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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