A Formidable Foe:A Formidable Foe:

The Search for an Environmentally The Search for an Environmentally

Safe Zebra Mussel Control MethodSafe Zebra Mussel Control Method

Daniel P. Molloy, Ph.D.Daniel P. Molloy, Ph.D.

Research Scientist:State University of New York at Albany

Consultant:Molloy & Associates

Michael SchmidtAssistant SuperintendentMinneapolis Park and Recreation Board Eric EvensonAdministratorMinnehaha Creek Watershed District Lois Sinn LindquistExecutive DirectorMinnesota Waters

BiologistBiologist Aquatic freshwater biologistAquatic freshwater biologist Study diseases of aquatic organismsStudy diseases of aquatic organisms Diseases in invertebrate aquatic Diseases in invertebrate aquatic

organismsorganisms Especially diseases of pest organisms Especially diseases of pest organisms

– FundamentalFundamental research research

Who is Dan Molloy?Who is Dan Molloy?

BiologistBiologist Aquatic freshwater biologistAquatic freshwater biologist Study diseases of aquatic organismsStudy diseases of aquatic organisms Diseases in invertebrate aquatic Diseases in invertebrate aquatic

organismsorganisms Especially diseases of pest organisms Especially diseases of pest organisms

– Fundamental researchFundamental research– AppliedApplied research (can we control the pest research (can we control the pest

with the disease)with the disease)

Who is Dan Molloy?Who is Dan Molloy?

BiologistBiologist Aquatic freshwater biologistAquatic freshwater biologist Study diseases of aquatic organismsStudy diseases of aquatic organisms Diseases in invertebrate aquatic Diseases in invertebrate aquatic

organismsorganisms Especially diseases of pest organisms Especially diseases of pest organisms

– Fundamental researchFundamental research– AppliedApplied research (can we control the pest research (can we control the pest

with the disease)with the disease)

Who is Dan Molloy?Who is Dan Molloy?

Who is my (our) foe?Who is my (our) foe?

Two North American Species Two North American Species

Quagga musselQuagga musselDreissena Dreissena

rostriformis bugensisrostriformis bugensis

Zebra musselZebra musselDreissenaDreissena

polymorphapolymorpha

1988 – Zebra mussels were first discovered 1988 – Zebra mussels were first discovered in Lake St. Clair and Lake Eriein Lake St. Clair and Lake Erie

http://nas.er.usgs.gov/taxgroup/mollusks/zebramussel/maps/current_zm_quag_map.jpghttp://nas.er.usgs.gov/taxgroup/mollusks/zebramussel/maps/current_zm_quag_map.jpg

……current distribution of current distribution of DreissenaDreissena in in North AmericaNorth America

Credit: Minnesota DNR

How did these mussels getHow did these mussels get to North America?to North America?

So what’s the problem?So what’s the problem?

1. Ecological1. Ecological

2. Recreational2. Recreational

3. Industrial3. Industrial

Ecological ImpactsEcological Impacts

Decrease in phytoplanktonDecrease in phytoplankton Decrease in zooplanktonDecrease in zooplankton Increase in water transparencyIncrease in water transparency Increase in macrophytesIncrease in macrophytes Alteration of fish communityAlteration of fish community Alteration of benthic (bottom) Alteration of benthic (bottom)

communitycommunity

Ecological effects of filtration Ecological effects of filtration by by DreissenaDreissena spp. spp.

Eurasian water-milfoilEurasian water-milfoil

Recreational Impacts

Cut foot Pelican Lake, MN (Credit - Bob Gilsdorf to Fargo The Forum )

Industrial ImpactsIndustrial Impacts

Weeks and Weeks and weeks of weeks of

chlorinationchlorination

TrihalomethanesTrihalomethanes

DioxinsDioxins

How to How to reduce the reduce the use of use of chlorination chlorination and other and other biocides??biocides??

Find a control method to reduce the use ofbroadspectrum chemicals.

Biological control

Find a control method to reduce the use ofbroadspectrum chemicals.

Discover a bacterium with specificity to Dreissena spp.?

Biological control

Why a bacterial control agent?

For decades polluting broadspectrum For decades polluting broadspectrum chemical insecticides were used for black fly chemical insecticides were used for black fly

control in New York Statecontrol in New York State

B t iBacteria used to control black fly larvae

Metropolitan MosquitoControl District

165 small streams

28 large river sites

Program began in 1984

Bti bacteria are applied:

Use of bacteria successfulUse of bacteria successfulagainst black fliesagainst black flies

Maybe success against Dreissena spp. too??

??????????

Pseudomonas fluorescens CL145A

2 mm

DreissenaDreissena spp. die following spp. die following ingestion of large quantities ingestion of large quantities

of of P. fluorescensP. fluorescens cells cells

Individual Individual P. fluorescensP. fluorescens cells cells are ~1 x 2 are ~1 x 2 mm

Trials within power plantsTrials within power plantsNYPA Hydro-electric power NYPA Hydro-electric power

plant Crescent, NYplant Crescent, NYMohawk RiverMohawk River

RG&E Coal-fired power RG&E Coal-fired power plant Rochester, NYplant Rochester, NY

Lake OntarioLake Ontario

Lab trials = 100% kill.Lab trials = 100% kill.

Veligers appear to be the most Veligers appear to be the most susceptible life stage.susceptible life stage.

Specificity of Specificity of Pf-Pf-CL145A productCL145A product

Trout Trout Salmo truttaSalmo trutta

Fathead minnow Fathead minnow Pimephales promelasPimephales promelas

Bluegill sunfish Bluegill sunfish Lepomis Lepomis macrochirusmacrochirus

Freshwater ciliate Freshwater ciliate ColpidiumColpidium colpodacolpoda

Zooplankton Zooplankton Daphnia magnaDaphnia magna

Mytilus edulis, Pyganodon grandis, Lasmigona Mytilus edulis, Pyganodon grandis, Lasmigona compressa, Strophirus undalatus, Lampsilis radiata, compressa, Strophirus undalatus, Lampsilis radiata,

Pyganodon cataracta,Pyganodon cataracta, Elliptio complanataElliptio complanata

7 Bivalve 7 Bivalve speciesspecies

Mallard duck Mallard duck Anas platyrhynchosAnas platyrhynchos

Freshwater shrimp Freshwater shrimp Hyalella aztecaHyalella azteca

If Pf-CL145A is going to really be used to reduce the use of chemical biocides

in pipes, my New York State government lab needed to partner with

a company…..

…..one with expertise in commercializing biopesticides

Pf-CL145A Product name: Product name: ZequanoxZequanox

OK, the future of OK, the future of PfPf-CL145A looks -CL145A looks promising for use in pipes.... but could promising for use in pipes.... but could

it be used to in lakes and rivers?it be used to in lakes and rivers?

We will not know without additional research

The current overriding approach in the fight against zebra mussels is CONTAINMENT

SLOW the spread! = Inspections

Minnesota has been and continues to Minnesota has been and continues to be a leader in educating its citizen be a leader in educating its citizen

about slowing the spreadabout slowing the spread

Federal agencies

University of Minnesota Sea Grant

State governmental agencies

Local governmental agencies

Minnesotan citizen groups

OK, the future of OK, the future of PfPf-CL145A looks -CL145A looks promising for use in pipes.... but could promising for use in pipes.... but could

it be used to in lakes and rivers?it be used to in lakes and rivers?

We will not know if the Pf-CL145A bacterium can be used for containment until it is field tested