Abstract
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.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 179-190 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| Journal | Marine and Freshwater Research |
| Volume | 71 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 18 Dec 2020 |
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Avian-botulism risk in waterbird breeding colonies and implications for environmental water management. / Brandis, K. J.; Spencer, J.; Wolfenden, B.; Palmer, D.
In: Marine and Freshwater Research, Vol. 71, No. 2, 18.12.2020, p. 179-190.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article
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 - 2020/12/18
Y1 - 2020/12/18
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.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85076744492&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85076744492&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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 -