TY - JOUR
T1 - Avian-botulism risk in waterbird breeding colonies and implications for environmental water management
AU - Brandis, K. J.
AU - Spencer, J.
AU - Wolfenden, B.
AU - Palmer, D.
PY - 2020
Y1 - 2020
N2 - Avian botulism poses a significant risk to waterbird health in
Australian wetlands. This paralytic, often fatal, disease occurs when
birds ingest a neurotoxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum.
Our current understanding of avian botulism comes largely from studies
in the northern hemisphere, with many of these studies linking outbreaks
of avian botulism with poor water quality. The Murray–Darling Basin
provides the most important breeding habitat for colonial waterbirds in
Australia, but the frequency of large-scale breeding events has
declined, and waterbird populations are near record-low numbers. Avian
botulism has the capacity to have significant impacts on waterbird
recruitment if not managed appropriately. We propose that environmental
water-management strategies that aim to maintain water quality through
flow delivery to waterbird colonies could mitigate the risk of botulism
outbreaks and contribute to waterbird population recovery.
AB - Avian botulism poses a significant risk to waterbird health in
Australian wetlands. This paralytic, often fatal, disease occurs when
birds ingest a neurotoxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum.
Our current understanding of avian botulism comes largely from studies
in the northern hemisphere, with many of these studies linking outbreaks
of avian botulism with poor water quality. The Murray–Darling Basin
provides the most important breeding habitat for colonial waterbirds in
Australia, but the frequency of large-scale breeding events has
declined, and waterbird populations are near record-low numbers. Avian
botulism has the capacity to have significant impacts on waterbird
recruitment if not managed appropriately. We propose that environmental
water-management strategies that aim to maintain water quality through
flow delivery to waterbird colonies could mitigate the risk of botulism
outbreaks and contribute to waterbird population recovery.
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U2 - 10.1071/MF18446
DO - 10.1071/MF18446
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85076744492
VL - 71
SP - 179
EP - 190
JO - Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research
JF - Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research
SN - 0067-1940
IS - 2
ER -