Project Detail

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA: A microsporidian pathogen as a control for invasive crayfish

Purpose

The Grantee is to investigate the mechanism by which the microsporidian pathogen (Nosema sp.) is transmitted, how it impacts rusty crayfish populations, & whether it can effectively facilitate restoration of lake communities. Project activities include: 1) Measure impacts of Nosema sp. by monitoring crayfish densities & microsporidian prevalence in Trout Lake; 2) assess crayfish abundance at the whole-lake scale using traps; 3) conduct statistical analyses on relationship between crayfish density & microsporidian prevalence; 4) conduct laboratory experiments on transmission of Nosema sp. among adult crayfish across a range of water temperatures; 5) test potential for crayfish to transmit pathogen to offspring; 6) conduct statistical analyses on impact of temperature on transmission success & microsporidian development time; 7) assess whether macrophyte biomass & diversity is related to crayfish density & microsporidian prevalence in Trout Lake; 8) conduct controlled mesocosm experiments to test effects of microsporidian infection on rusty crayfish impacts; 9) conduct statistical analyses on how crayfish density & microsporidian prevalence relate to macrophyte biomass & richness; 10) measure effects of Nosema sp. on crayfish growth & survival in mesocosm experiments; 11) examine relationship between Nosema sp. infection & rusty crayfish fecundity; 12) conduct statistical analyses on how infection with Nosema sp. affects crayfish growth, survival, egg number & egg mass; 13) examine incidence of microsporidian outbreaks by monitoring 10 additional lakes. Project deliverables include: 1) Data on crayfish density, size, sex, species & microsporidian prevalence in Trout Lake; 2) results from statistical analyses; 3) data from laboratory & mesocosm experiments; 4) data on macrophyte biomass & composition; 5) data on microsporidian prevalence in WI lakes.

Project Type

Aquatic Invasives Grant

Project Sub Type

Project ID

AIRD11922

Year Started

2022

Status

Active

Activities & Recommendations

Grant Awarded

Grant AIRD11922 awarded