Dan Molloy is a research scientist studying diseases in aquatic organisms like zebra mussels. Zebra mussels were accidentally introduced to North America in 1988 and have caused ecological, recreational, and industrial problems. Molloy discovered the bacteria Pseudomonas fluorescens CL145A is lethal specifically to zebra mussels when ingested. Laboratory and field tests showed it is an effective and environmentally-safe control method. However, more research is still needed to determine if it can be used in lakes and rivers for containment purposes.

1. A Formidable Foe: The Search for an Environmentally Safe Zebra Mussel Control Method Daniel P. Molloy, Ph.D. Research Scientist: State University of New York at Albany Consultant: Molloy & Associates

8. Who is my (our) foe?

12. Two North American Species Quagga mussel Dreissena rostriformis bugensis Zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha

15. 1988 – Zebra mussels were first discovered in Lake St. Clair and Lake Erie

17. Credit: Minnesota DNR

18. How did these mussels get to North America?

21. So what’s the problem? 1. Ecological 2. Recreational 3. Industrial

22. Ecological Impacts

26. Eurasian water-milfoil

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

31. Industrial Impacts

33. Weeks and weeks of chlorination How to reduce the use of chlorination and other biocides?? Trihalomethanes Dioxins

34. Find a control method to reduce the use of broadspectrum chemicals. Biological control

35. Find a control method to reduce the use of broadspectrum chemicals. Discover a bacterium with specificity to Dreissena spp.? Biological control Why a bacterial control agent?

39. For decades polluting broadspectrum chemical insecticides were used for black fly control in New York State

41. B t i Bacteria used to control black fly larvae

42. Metropolitan Mosquito Control District 165 small streams 28 large river sites Program began in 1984 Bti bacteria are applied:

43. Use of bacteria successful against black flies Maybe success against Dreissena spp. too?? ?????

45. Pseudomonas fluorescens CL145A

46. Dreissena spp. die following ingestion of large quantities of P. fluorescens cells Individual P. fluorescens cells are ~1 x 2  m 2 mm

47. Trials within power plants NYPA Hydro-electric power plant Crescent, NY Mohawk River RG&E Coal-fired power plant Rochester, NY Lake Ontario

48. Lab trials = 100% kill. Veligers appear to be the most susceptible life stage.

49. Specificity of Pf- CL145A product Trout Salmo trutta Fathead minnow Pimephales promelas Bluegill sunfish Lepomis macrochirus Freshwater ciliate Colpidium colpoda Zooplankton Daphnia magna Mytilus edulis, Pyganodon grandis, Lasmigona compressa, Strophirus undalatus, Lampsilis radiata, Pyganodon cataracta, Elliptio complanata 7 Bivalve species Mallard duck Anas platyrhynchos Freshwater shrimp Hyalella azteca

50. 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

51. Pf -CL145A Product name: Zequanox

52. OK, the future of Pf -CL145A looks promising for use in pipes.... but could it be used to in lakes and rivers? We will not know without additional research

53. The current overriding approach in the fight against zebra mussels is CONTAINMENT SLOW the spread! = Inspections

54. Minnesota has been and continues to be a leader in educating its citizen about slowing the spread

55. Federal agencies University of Minnesota Sea Grant

56. State governmental agencies

57. Local governmental agencies

58. Minnesotan citizen groups

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