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Survival of Lost River Suckers (Deltistes luxatus) Challenged with Flavobacterium columnare During Exposure to Sublethal Ammonia Concentrations at pH 9.5

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Abstract

The Lost River sucker (Deltistes luxatus) is a federally listed, endangered species inhabiting the hypereutrophic waters of Upper Klamath Lake in southern Oregon, USA. High pH (≥10) and elevated ammonia concentrations (≥1 mg NH3-N/L) often occur during blooms of cyanobacteria (Aphanizomenon flos-aquae) in the lake, with major fish kills sometimes following a mid- or late-summer “crash” of the cyanobacterial population. Previous histopathology analyses and bacterial sampling indicated that infections of the pathogenic bacterium Flavobacterium columnare might contribute to the fish kills. We hypothesized that prior exposure to adverse water quality conditions increases the susceptibility of Lost River suckers to F. columnare infections. To test this, we exposed juvenile Lost River suckers to four sublethal ammonia concentrations at pH 9.4 for 62 d. On day 31, fish in half of the aquaria were exposed to F. columnare. As expected, survival of the Lost River suckers decreased in aquaria inoculated with F. columnare. Ninety-four percent of the fish that died were infected by F. columnare in the gills, kidney, or skin, whereas none of the survivors or unexposed control fish was infected. However, contrary to our hypothesis, survival of the fish exposed to F. columnare increased significantly (p < 0.05) as unionized ammonia concentrations increased. Our results suggest that complex interactions can complicate prediction of the responses of fish to concurrent chemical stressors and bacterial pathogens.

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Acknowledgments

This research was funded by the Environmental Contaminants Off-Refuge Investigation Program of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through an interagency agreement with the Wyoming Cooperative Fisheries and Wildlife Research Unit of the U.S. Geological Survey, located in the Department of Zoology and Physiology at the University of Wyoming. The Wyoming Department of Game and Fish (WDGF) granted permission to conduct tests with Lost River suckers at Red Buttes Environmental Biology Laboratory. Joe Bobbitt assisted with the design and construction of the experimental system; Connie Boese assisted with chemical analyses; and Scott Collyard helped monitor the experiment. Dave Money (WDGF) advised us on handling the bacteria and disinfecting exposure water and equipment. Larry Dunsmoor (Klamath Tribes Native Fish Hatchery) supplied the propagated juvenile Lost River suckers and he advised us on culturing techniques. This use complied with Subpermit No. KLATRB-9 issued to the Hatchery by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under Regional Blanket Permit No. PRT-702631, allowing use [take] of progeny from experimental breeding for research to assess predation on and physiological tolerances of both shortnose and Lost River suckers to pH, low D.O., temperature, and ammonia. Mark Buettner (Bureau of Reclamation) provided input to the study design.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, 82071, USA

    Jeffrey M. Morris, Michael J. Suedkamp, Hilary M. Lease, Susan J. Clearwater & Joseph S. Meyer

  2. Daphne Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Daphne, Alabama, 36526, USA

    Elaine Snyder-Conn

  3. California-Nevada Fish Health Center, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Anderson, California, 96007, USA

    J. Scott Foott

  4. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, 97331-3804, USA

    Richard A. Holt

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  1. Jeffrey M. Morris
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  2. Elaine Snyder-Conn
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  3. J. Scott Foott
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  4. Richard A. Holt
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Correspondence to Joseph S. Meyer.

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Morris, J.M., Snyder-Conn, E., Foott, J.S. et al. Survival of Lost River Suckers (Deltistes luxatus) Challenged with Flavobacterium columnare During Exposure to Sublethal Ammonia Concentrations at pH 9.5. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 50, 256–263 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-004-0194-x

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