PSP-Tainted Sand Lance Project
PSP-Tainted Sand Lance Project
October 1, 2013 to September 30, 2014
Bruce Wright, Principal Investigator
Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association, Inc.
This project, funded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA IGAP), will focus on informing residents in the Aleut region of an apparent threat to marine species, PSP contaminated sand lance, and train Tribal members to assist the effort to determine the extent that PSP-tainted sand lance occur in the Aleutian Islands.
Documented Alaska PSP fatalities date back to 1799 when the crew of Alexander Baranof of the Russian American Trading Company ate contaminated blue mussels at the now notorious Poison Cove in Southeast Alaska. Since 1973 over 150 PSP outbreaks have been reported. The Alaska Division of Epidemiology estimates there has been a 7-fold increase in PSP events since 1973. In 1997-98, reported PSP illnesses occurred on Southeast Alaska, Kodiak Island, the Alaska Peninsula, and the Aleutian Islands. In 1997, nine cases of illness occurred resulting in one death, and in 2010 PSP cases occurred from Southeast Alaska to the Aleutian Islands with two deaths, notably one was from eating PSP-tainted Dungeness crab. Wright reacted to this new twist in PSP toxicity by investigating PSP-tainted Dungeness crab; a paper entitled “Is there a life-threatening risk from PSP in Dungeness crab in Southeast Alaska?” (see http://www.environmentalaska.us/psp-in-dungeness-crab.html).
In 2012, Wright was informed of several Kittlitz's murrelets (Brachyramphus brevirostris) died in Kodiak, Alaska nesting sites from consuming PSP containing sandlance (Ammodytes americanus). Sand lance are a nearshore small forage fish that are consumed by many marine predators including several that are species of concerned; endangered Steller’s sea lions, threatened fur seals, threatened sea otters (up to 12% of their diet can be sand lance), Pacific salmon and many other predators.
In 1978 in Massachusetts over 70 Common Terns (Sterna hirundo) and other terns and gulls were killed by PSP. PSP toxin was detected at lethal levels in sandlance, the terns' principal food (Nisbet 1983). Data from the Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team (COASST) project includes unexplained Pacific Ocean seabirds mortality events, bird wrecks, that indicate the healthy-looking birds died from a marine toxin event. Elevated PSP has also been found in Alaska marine mammals. The full impact of PSP on marine predators is undetermined and consequences from chance encounters with schools of toxic sand lance should be investigated (Shumway et al 2003). The PI for this project will seek funds to coordinate collection of suspiciously killed marine species (opportunistic sampling) to determine if they died from consuming PSP-tainted sand lance. Additionally, sand lance will be collected from locations currently monitored for PSP in bivalves to determine levels of PSP in the sand lance (directed sampling) and compare the PSP levels with adjacent bivalves (clams and/or mussels). Tribal members will be trained in preparation of the larger field effort.
Sand lance are implicated in obtaining high levels of PSP likely from feeding on the organism that makes the PSP toxins, a marine dinoflagellate, Alexandrium sp. The transfer of the PSP toxin to marine predators may be common along the North Pacific coast and may be impacting marine predator populations. Some of the hypotheses to consider when analyzing the data are:
H1: Sand lance feed on the dinoflagellate that produces PSP, Alexandrium sp., to protect them from predation.
H2: Marine predator population numbers may fluctuate in response to consumption of PSP-tainted sand lance.
H3: PSP-tainted sand lance occur in the Aleutian Islands marine waters.
H4: PSP levels peak in sand lance in conjunction with the peak of PSP in the environment, in bivalves and Alexandrium sp. blooms.
H5: All large marine predators that feed on sand lance can die from consuming PSP-tainted fish including whales, salmon, seals, birds, sea otters, sea lions, etc.
Sand lance will be collected during the training sessions using cast nets, beach seine and digging from the sand from locations currently monitored for PSP in bivalves to determine levels of PSP in the sand lance. This directed sampling will incorporate information from local residents, but the PI has already identified several locations in the Aleutian Islands where sand lance can be collected and areas that usually have elevated PSP levels. For example, the PI has been monitoring PSP levels in the Alaska since 2006 (project funded by the EPA, NOAA MERHAB and NPRB) and has located nearby sand lance refugia. A good place to collect sand lance for this study is near Little Priest Rock, Unalaska; the intertidal area is often used by bald eagles to feed on sand lance and the littleneck clams and mussels from the beach have been tested for PSP since 2006. Elevated PSP levels usually occur in late summer. We expect to do most of the directed sampling June-August, but the current PSP testing projects will provide information on PSP events.
In King Cove we expect the PSP levels to be elevated in July-August and sand lance can be collected near the King Cove Lagoon. We will compare the PSP levels in the sand lance with adjacent bivalves (clams and/or mussels).
The activities will be based on the principles of collaboration, transparency, and inclusiveness. The project will make good use of past research data and tools. The team will build on the project experience of the IGAP (Indian General Assistance Program) participants, research on traditional food safety (Dietary Benefits and Risks, administered by the Aleutian Pribilof Island Association, NIEHS grant) and environmental departments in the tribal offices. The APIA senior scientist will develop project protocols, archive data, and provide data interpretations and continuous project oversight.
There are 3 components in this special project of a 1 Year Work Plan (FY2014) which are discussed in more detail in the work plan. This project will emphasize educational aspects and information dissemination of harmful algal blooms (HABs) and particularly PSP associated with sand lance. This is a demonstration project/baseline assessment intended to build the capacity in Aleutian Islands’ communities so that they can develop capacity for studying affects to the environment from PSP-tainted sand lance. It is a multi-agency collaboration (EPA, APIA, ADEC, Department of Epidemiology and University of Alaska) designed to develop methods for communities to determine occurrence and distribution of PSP toxins and PSP-tainted sand lance. This project will increase communities’ capacities in devising a mechanism to better respond to the threat and understand and react to the risks of poisoning events. The components are:
1. Inform Aleut region residents and Tribal Environmental Coordinators of the potential for PSP-tainted sand lance in the region and to be alert of sick or dead predators.
2. Train Tribal members and Tribal environmental coordinators to collect sand lance from dead predators or from beaches with high levels of PSP. Train PSP technicians to collect, prepare and ship samples for testing following specific protocols.
3. Test the sand lance collected from the training efforts for PSP.
October 1, 2013 to September 30, 2014
Bruce Wright, Principal Investigator
Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association, Inc.
This project, funded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA IGAP), will focus on informing residents in the Aleut region of an apparent threat to marine species, PSP contaminated sand lance, and train Tribal members to assist the effort to determine the extent that PSP-tainted sand lance occur in the Aleutian Islands.
Documented Alaska PSP fatalities date back to 1799 when the crew of Alexander Baranof of the Russian American Trading Company ate contaminated blue mussels at the now notorious Poison Cove in Southeast Alaska. Since 1973 over 150 PSP outbreaks have been reported. The Alaska Division of Epidemiology estimates there has been a 7-fold increase in PSP events since 1973. In 1997-98, reported PSP illnesses occurred on Southeast Alaska, Kodiak Island, the Alaska Peninsula, and the Aleutian Islands. In 1997, nine cases of illness occurred resulting in one death, and in 2010 PSP cases occurred from Southeast Alaska to the Aleutian Islands with two deaths, notably one was from eating PSP-tainted Dungeness crab. Wright reacted to this new twist in PSP toxicity by investigating PSP-tainted Dungeness crab; a paper entitled “Is there a life-threatening risk from PSP in Dungeness crab in Southeast Alaska?” (see http://www.environmentalaska.us/psp-in-dungeness-crab.html).
In 2012, Wright was informed of several Kittlitz's murrelets (Brachyramphus brevirostris) died in Kodiak, Alaska nesting sites from consuming PSP containing sandlance (Ammodytes americanus). Sand lance are a nearshore small forage fish that are consumed by many marine predators including several that are species of concerned; endangered Steller’s sea lions, threatened fur seals, threatened sea otters (up to 12% of their diet can be sand lance), Pacific salmon and many other predators.
In 1978 in Massachusetts over 70 Common Terns (Sterna hirundo) and other terns and gulls were killed by PSP. PSP toxin was detected at lethal levels in sandlance, the terns' principal food (Nisbet 1983). Data from the Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team (COASST) project includes unexplained Pacific Ocean seabirds mortality events, bird wrecks, that indicate the healthy-looking birds died from a marine toxin event. Elevated PSP has also been found in Alaska marine mammals. The full impact of PSP on marine predators is undetermined and consequences from chance encounters with schools of toxic sand lance should be investigated (Shumway et al 2003). The PI for this project will seek funds to coordinate collection of suspiciously killed marine species (opportunistic sampling) to determine if they died from consuming PSP-tainted sand lance. Additionally, sand lance will be collected from locations currently monitored for PSP in bivalves to determine levels of PSP in the sand lance (directed sampling) and compare the PSP levels with adjacent bivalves (clams and/or mussels). Tribal members will be trained in preparation of the larger field effort.
Sand lance are implicated in obtaining high levels of PSP likely from feeding on the organism that makes the PSP toxins, a marine dinoflagellate, Alexandrium sp. The transfer of the PSP toxin to marine predators may be common along the North Pacific coast and may be impacting marine predator populations. Some of the hypotheses to consider when analyzing the data are:
H1: Sand lance feed on the dinoflagellate that produces PSP, Alexandrium sp., to protect them from predation.
H2: Marine predator population numbers may fluctuate in response to consumption of PSP-tainted sand lance.
H3: PSP-tainted sand lance occur in the Aleutian Islands marine waters.
H4: PSP levels peak in sand lance in conjunction with the peak of PSP in the environment, in bivalves and Alexandrium sp. blooms.
H5: All large marine predators that feed on sand lance can die from consuming PSP-tainted fish including whales, salmon, seals, birds, sea otters, sea lions, etc.
Sand lance will be collected during the training sessions using cast nets, beach seine and digging from the sand from locations currently monitored for PSP in bivalves to determine levels of PSP in the sand lance. This directed sampling will incorporate information from local residents, but the PI has already identified several locations in the Aleutian Islands where sand lance can be collected and areas that usually have elevated PSP levels. For example, the PI has been monitoring PSP levels in the Alaska since 2006 (project funded by the EPA, NOAA MERHAB and NPRB) and has located nearby sand lance refugia. A good place to collect sand lance for this study is near Little Priest Rock, Unalaska; the intertidal area is often used by bald eagles to feed on sand lance and the littleneck clams and mussels from the beach have been tested for PSP since 2006. Elevated PSP levels usually occur in late summer. We expect to do most of the directed sampling June-August, but the current PSP testing projects will provide information on PSP events.
In King Cove we expect the PSP levels to be elevated in July-August and sand lance can be collected near the King Cove Lagoon. We will compare the PSP levels in the sand lance with adjacent bivalves (clams and/or mussels).
The activities will be based on the principles of collaboration, transparency, and inclusiveness. The project will make good use of past research data and tools. The team will build on the project experience of the IGAP (Indian General Assistance Program) participants, research on traditional food safety (Dietary Benefits and Risks, administered by the Aleutian Pribilof Island Association, NIEHS grant) and environmental departments in the tribal offices. The APIA senior scientist will develop project protocols, archive data, and provide data interpretations and continuous project oversight.
There are 3 components in this special project of a 1 Year Work Plan (FY2014) which are discussed in more detail in the work plan. This project will emphasize educational aspects and information dissemination of harmful algal blooms (HABs) and particularly PSP associated with sand lance. This is a demonstration project/baseline assessment intended to build the capacity in Aleutian Islands’ communities so that they can develop capacity for studying affects to the environment from PSP-tainted sand lance. It is a multi-agency collaboration (EPA, APIA, ADEC, Department of Epidemiology and University of Alaska) designed to develop methods for communities to determine occurrence and distribution of PSP toxins and PSP-tainted sand lance. This project will increase communities’ capacities in devising a mechanism to better respond to the threat and understand and react to the risks of poisoning events. The components are:
1. Inform Aleut region residents and Tribal Environmental Coordinators of the potential for PSP-tainted sand lance in the region and to be alert of sick or dead predators.
2. Train Tribal members and Tribal environmental coordinators to collect sand lance from dead predators or from beaches with high levels of PSP. Train PSP technicians to collect, prepare and ship samples for testing following specific protocols.
3. Test the sand lance collected from the training efforts for PSP.