CN-770000-16074-TA 20103.pdf

PDF 2 MB Posted Jul 7, 2017

Attached to: Master Agreement FL|16074|369e4ae42feb2536e91a08e81a59e009
Contract number: 16074
Issued by: Florida

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Written by GovTribe AI · Oct 28, 2025

This document is a Task Assignment Notification Form and Multi-Year Project Request from the University of Georgia Research Foundation for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), with Contract No. 16074. The project involves investigating the risk and management of Avian Vacuolar Myelinopathy (AVM) in Florida, with key personnel including Susan B. Wilde from the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, Brigette Haram, and Mike Netherland from the US Army Engineer Research & Development Center.

The research project focuses on studying a cyanobacteria called Aetokthonos hydrillicola (Ah) associated with mortality of freshwater vertebrates, particularly its growth on invasive Hydrilla verticillata. The contract is structured as a three-year research initiative with a total budget of $35,000 for the first year (2017-2018), increasing to approximately $49,900 and $49,950 for subsequent years. The research objectives include determining the origin and geographic range of Ah, refining toxin identification methods, assessing environmental factors affecting toxicity, examining potential trophic transfer of toxins, and developing risk assessment models for wildlife managers. Deliverables include mid-point and final reports, with findings to be shared through websites and scientific publications.

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FFWCC Multi‐Year Project Request

Date:	May	1,	2017
Revision	date:		July	7,	2017

Project	Title:
Investigating	risk	and	management	of	Avian	Vacuolar
Myelinopathy	in	Florida

Contact

Information:

Susan

Wilde,

Warnell

School

Forestry

and

Natural

Resources,

University

Georgia,

Athens,

30602‐2152.

Office

phone:

706‐542‐3346,

Cell

phone:

706‐247‐5912,

FAX

706‐542‐8356

swilde@uga.edu

Brigette

Haram,

Warnell

School

Forestry

and

Natural

Resources,

University

Georgia,

Athens,

30602‐2152.

Cell

phone:

706‐589‐1678

bharam@uga.edu

Mike

Netherland,

Army

Engineer

Research

Development

Center,

Center

for

Aquatic

and

Invasive

Plants,

Gainesville,

32653.

Office

phone:

352‐392‐0335,

Cell

phone:

352‐

514‐4610,

mdnether@ifas.ufl.edu

Need

for

research

and

outreach:

Harmful

algal

blooms

(HABs),

particularly

those

that

include

toxic

cyanobacteria,

are

threat

aquatic

ecosystems

worldwide;

trend

that

expected

increase

with

eutrophication,

the

spread

nonnative

species,

and

global

warming.

HABs

are

common

inland

freshwater

ecosystems

and

while

the

majority

attention

has

focused

the

risks

toxic

cyanobacteria

water

quality

and

human

health,

HABs

also

present

threat

wildlife

including

rare,

threatened,

and

endangered

species.

Most

research

HAB

impacts

natural

communities

focuses

the

effects

“water

blooms”

planktonic

species.

Epiphytic

cyanobacteria

present

novel

risk

unknown

capacity

impact

species

and

community

dynamics

through

the

introduction

novel

toxins

with

potentially

far‐reaching

effects

across

taxa

and

trophic

levels

within

aquatic

communities.

Aetokthonos

hydrillicola

(Ah)

newly

described

cyanobacteria

(Order

Nostocales)

linked

mortality

freshwater

associated

vertebrates.

The

species

forms

dense

colonies

primarily

the

invasive

macrophyte

Hydrilla

verticillata,

and

the

consumption

Ah‐

positive

Hydrilla

has

been

linked

the

death

water

birds,

freshwater

turtles,

amphibians,

and

fish.

Consumption

Ah‐positive

Hydrilla

considered

the

primary

threat

Bald

eagles

(Haliaeetus

leucocephalus)

and

migratory

waterfowl

across

the

southeastern

United

States,

and

high

management

priority

among

federal

and

state

water

resources

and

wildlife

managers.

have

documented

the

Florida

growing

extensively

hydrilla

leaves,

and

additional

species

areas

with

dense

submerged

aquatic

vegetation.

While

our

research

has

clearly

identified

the

association

between

and

Hydrilla

serious

conservation

threat,

know

far

too

little

about

this

novel

cyanobacteria

adequately

model

risk

and

inform

management.

not

know

the

origin

the

full

extent

the

distribution

within

Florida.

have

learned

from

Florida

lakes

that

Ah‐

associated

toxicity

varies

across

the

range

the

cyanobacteria,

but

not

yet

know

precise

environmental

factors

that

trigger

Ah‐associated

toxin

production.

have

not

identified

the

active

toxin

and

its

mode

action,

and

not

know

whether

consumers

Florida

can

accumulate

the

toxin

their

tissues,

which

may

affect

wildlife

and

human

health

trophic

transfer.

important

threatened

species,

Snail

Kite

vulnerable

given

its

reliance

the

invasive

apple

snails

consuming

Ah‐positive

hydrilla.

Specifically,

the

objectives

our

research

are:

1. Determine putative native origin of Ah and the current geographic range and suite of

suitable	native	and	invasive	aquatic	host	plants	for	Ah.
2. Refine	bioassays	to	facilitate	the	rapid	identification	of	the	active	compound(s)	and

mode

action

the

Ah‐associated

toxin.

3. Determine

effect

host

plant,

water

body

size,

and

temperature

density

and

seasonal	toxicity.
4. Determine	pathways	for	trophic	transfer	of	Ah‐associated	toxin	via	bioaccumulation	in

common	freshwater	herbivores	and	predators.
5. Develop	a	framework	to	inform	water	resource	and	wildlife	managers	of	Florida

regional and site‐specific Ah risks to wildlife and potential management interventions.

Research	Efforts	and	Results:	Our	objectives	for	2017‐2020	will	include:
1. Continue	hydrilla	and	other	SAV	sampling	from	known	Ah	positive	sites	including

Tohopekeliga,	East	Lake	Toho,	Hatchineha,	Cypress,	Kissimmee,	Istokpoga,	and	Ah
negative	sites	including	Okeechobee,	and	Stormwater	Treatment	Areas	to	assess	water
quality,	water	chemistry,	seasonal	levels	of	Hydrilla/Aetokthonos	hydrillicola,	and	AVM

toxin

2. Evaluate

samples

using

remote

sensing,

microscopy,

Ceriodaphnia,

Zebrafish

and

HPLC

3. Determine

locations

highest

risk

for

AVM

disease

using

density

Hydrilla/Ah

and

concentration	of	AVM	toxin
4. Work	with	FFWCC,	UF,	and	Audubon	personnel	to	process	and	submit	waterfowl,

eagles,	and	snail	kites	for	AVM	histological	analysis
5. Create	site‐specific	models	of	AVM	risk	assessment	based	on	prevalence	of	hydrilla,

water/sediment quality, A. hydrillicola, AVM toxin concentration and bird health.

Our

objectives

for

2018‐2020

would

include

Objective

above

and

the

following

additional

objectives:

6. Field	collections,	toxin	screening	of	tissues	and	histological	assessments	of
additional	at	risk	fish	and	wildlife	encountered	on	AVM	suspect	sites.

7. Model	AVM	risk	based	on	prevalence	of	hydrilla,	A.	hydrillicola,	toxin	concentration,
water/sediment	quality,	on	Snail	Kites	and	on	additional	at	risk	taxa.

Objective

Seasonal

and

spatial

analysis

hydrillicola

and

AVM

toxin

Toho

and

additional

lakes.

continued

our

collaborative

aquatic

vegetation

sampling

and

toxic

algal

screening

effort

with

federal,

state,

and

local

agencies

the

Southeast.

investigate

the

potential

AVM

prevalence

Florida

waters,

screened

additional

SAV

samples

collected

FFWCC

and

University

Florida.

have

screened

SAV

samples

from

March

2014‐March

2017,

and

will

continue

testing

toxicity

from

this

seasonal

screening

through

June

2017.

During

surveys

during

2016‐2017,

detected

hydrillicola

Lake

Runnymeade,

East

Lake

Tohopekaliga,

Lake

Tohopekaliga,

Lake

Hatchineha,

Cypress

Lake,

Lake

Kissimmee,

and

Lake

Istokpoga,.

hydrillicola

was

confirmed

sampling

locations

Lake

Toho

and

Istokpoga

with

>80%

maximum

leaf

coverage.

Figure

Grassy

Island/Goblets

Cove

region

Lake

Tohopekaliga

was

identified

region

with

potential

for

elevated

AVM

risk

due

high

hydrilla

biomass,

dense

Aetokthonos

hydrillicola,

neurotoxicity,

and

active

snail

kite

nesting.

Water

Quality,

Water/Plant

Chemistry,

Sediment

Collection,

Sediment

analysis:

will

collect

8‐10”

sediment

cores

from

each

location

create

composite

sample

the

surface

sediments.

Sediment

samples

will

analyzed

for

chemical

composition

and

particle

size

distribution.

Using

YSI

multiprobe,

will

sample

water

quality

parameters

(dissolved

oxygen,

pH,

specific

conductance,

temperature,

total

dissolved

solids,

oxidation‐

reduction

potential,

and

salinity)

one

meter

depth

increments

each

plant/sediment

sampling

location.

Water

Chemistry

samples

will

taken

from

each

site

and

analyzed

for

Total

Alkalinity

and

Total

Hardness.

should

include

some

reservoirs/lakes

that

think

are

negative

for

this

year

and

try

get

extensive

samples

from

those.

can

confirm

that

they

are

negative,

would

have

other

points

comparison

other

than

Okeechobee

and

would

able

better

support

the

theory

that

some

combination

ions

the

water

and

the

geology

site

effects

presence.

Objective

Evaluate

samples

using

remote

sensing,

microscopy,

PCR,

cell

line

bioassay,

and

HPLC.

screened

hydrilla

and

other

SAV

samples

from

sites

collected

during

2016‐

2017

with

fluorescent

microscopy

and

image

analysis.

New

lake

hydrilla

subsamples

were

stored

TRIS

buffer

and

confirmed

positive

for

Aetokthonos

hydrillicola

using

PCR

specific

primers.

will

continue

developing

spectrophotometric

extracted

chlorophyll

and

phycocyanin

measurements

hydrilla

samples

compare

cyanobacterial

pigment

concentrations

percent

coverage

using

microscopy

and

relative

toxicity.

Extracts

from

the

sites

with

highest

hydrillicola

coverage

will

continue

tested

the

cell

line

bioassay,

Ceriodaphnia,

and

Zebrafish

assay

for

relative

AVM

toxicity.

Objective

Determine

locations

highest

risk

for

AVM

disease

using

density

hydrillicola

and

concentration

AVM

toxin.

Extracts

from

the

high

density

hydrillicola

Tohopekaliga

and

Istokpoga

sites

collected

during

December‐February

typically

have

the

highest

relative

toxicity.

Overall,

terms

the

relative

cell

line

toxicity;

Tohopekaliga

Istokpoga

Hatchineha

Kissimmee

Cypress.

Figure

Bumblebee

Island/Big

Island

region

Lake

Istokpoga

was

identified

region

with

potential

for

elevated

AVM

risk

due

dense

Aetokthonos

hydrillicola

neurotoxicity.

Objective

Complete

histological

evaluation

coot

collection

locations

with

highest

risk

AVM

disease.

FFWCC

personnel

collected

coots

from

high

density

hydrilla/A.

hydrillicola

sites

Lake

Toho.

While

coots

were

not

exhibiting

overt

clinical

neurological

impairment

indicative

AVM,

histological

pending

the

characteristic

AVM

lesions.

These

will

scheduled

when

determine

regions

risk

for

waterbirds

during

2017‐2020.

Objective

Create

site‐specific

models

AVM

risk

assessment

based

prevalence

hydrilla,

hydrillicola,

AVM

toxin

concentration

and

bird

health.

While

the

hydrilla/A.

hydrillicola

was

documented

within

different

lakes

various

subsites,

our

conceptual

model

indicates

subsites

within

those

lakes

would

present

the

highest

potential

risk

snail

kite

nesting

during

2015‐7;

Goblets

Cove,

Lake

Tohopekeliga

and

Bumblebee

Island,

Lake

Istokpoga.

Snail

kite

nesting

locations

provided

Tyler

Beck,

FFWCC

Snail

Kite

Conservation

Coordinator

indicated

that

they

were

clustered

within

these

specific

lake

regions.

will

coordinate

with

FFWCC

snail

kite

survey

teams

increase

monitoring

and

surveillance

“AVM

risk”

snail

kite

nesting

regions

during

2017‐20.

will

integrate

rigorous

quantitative

metrics

our

hydrilla

biomass,

hydrillicola

density,

and

relative

toxicity

refine

the

modeling

efforts

and

better

inform

plant

management

decisions.

Deliverables:

mid‐point

status

report

for

the

first

year

funding

will

sent

December

15,

2017

and

final

report

provided

the

FFWCC

June

30,

2018.

will

continue

add

this

Florida

AVM

monitoring

and

research

our

website

hosted

the

University

Georgia

conjunction

with

the

Warnell

School

Forestry

and

Natural

Resources.

This

site

will

linked

UGA

Bugwood

network:

Center

for

invasive

species

and

ecosystem

health

and

Army

Corps

Engineers:

Invasive

Aquatic

Nuisance

Species

Program.

will

also

link

the

Invasive

Plant

Management

Section:

Florida

Fish

and

Wildlife

Conservation

Commission.

http://www.warnell.uga.edu/swilde/

Schedule:

Year 1: 2017‐ 2018

Continue	hydrilla	sampling	from	Lake	Tohopekeliga	and	additional	lake	SAV	sampling
to	assess	seasonal	levels	of	AVM	toxin

Evaluate

samples

using

microscopy,

bioassays,

and

HPLC

Create

site‐specific

model

AVM

risk

assessment

based

prevalence

hydrilla,

hydrillicola,	AVM	toxin	concentration	and	bird	health.
Create	a	regional	AVM	risk	model	incorporating	water	quality,	sediment	class,

connectivity, and landscape level data.

Year	2:	2018‐	2019
Continue	hydrilla	sampling	from	Lake	Tohopekeliga	and	initiate	additional	lake	SAV

sampling

from

assess

seasonal

levels

AVM

toxin

Evaluate

samples

using

microscopy,

bioassays,

and

HPLC

Train

Florida

personnel

conduct

analytical

techniques

enhance

toxin

detection

Determine

locations

highest

risk

for

AVM

disease

using

density

hydrillicola

and

concentration	of	AVM	toxin
Complete	histological	evaluation	of	coot	collection	in	locations	with	highest	risk	of

AVM

disease

Create

site‐specific

models

AVM

risk

assessment

based

prevalence

hydrilla,

hydrillicola, AVM toxin concentration and bird health.

Year

2019‐

2020

Continue

hydrilla

sampling

from

Toho

and

additional

lakes

Evaluate

samples

using

microscopy,

bioassays,

and

HPLC

Conduct

coot

collection

locations

with

highest

risk

AVM

disease

Create

site‐specific

model

AVM

risk

assessment

based

prevalence

hydrilla,

hydrillicola,	AVM	toxin	concentration	and	bird	health.
Create	a	regional	AVM	risk	model	incorporating	water	quality,	sediment	class,

connectivity, and landscape level data.

Publications citing FFWCC support during 2016‐17:

Dodd,

Shelley

R.,

Rebecca

Haynie,

Susan

Williams,

and

Susan

Wilde.

2016.

Alternate

food‐chain

transfer

the

toxin

linked

Avian

Vacuolar

Myelinopathy

(AVM)

and

implications

for

endangered

Florida

snail

kite,

Rosthramus

sociabilis.

Journal

Wildlife

Diseases

52:335‐344.

doi:

http://dx.doi.org/10.7589/2015‐03‐061

Woods,

Wallace

III,

Brigette

Haram,

Susan

Wilde,

and

Jim

Ozier.

2016.

Avian

Vacuolar

Myelinopathy.

Wildlife

Management

Publication

Series.

Warnell

School

Forestry

and

Natural

Resources.

WSFNR

16‐08.

6pgs.

http://www.warnell.uga.edu/outreach/pubs/pdf/wildlife/Wilde_AVM_16‐ 08_May%202016.pdf

Presentations citing FFWCC support during 2016‐2017:

Haram,

B.,

Wilde,

(2016).

Waterbird

distribution

and

avian

vacuolar

myelinopathy

species

susceptibility

Georgia

reservoir

infested

with

the

aquatic

plant

hydrilla

(Hydrilla

verticillata).

The

Waterbird

Society

Conference.

Maerz,

C.,

Terrell,

V.,

Wilde,

S.,

Haram,

B.,

Nunez,

C.,

Trimmer,

(2016).

Seasonal

and

host

plant

specific

vulnerability

amphibians

the

invasion

novel

cyanobacteria.

101st

Ecological

Society

America

Annual

Meeting.

Brandon,

G.,

Wilde,

B.,

Jennings,

C.,

Camus,

(2016).

Incremental

stocking

and

monitoring

triploid

grass

carp

manage

hydrilla

and

reduce

the

risk

Avian

Vacuolar

Myelinopathy

Strom

Thurmond

Reservoir.

Joint

Meeting

the

Georgia

and

Alabama

and

Chapter

the

American

Fisheries

Society.

Wilde,

(2016).

Investigating

risk

and

management

Avian

Vacuolar

Myelinopathy

Florida.

FWC‐IFAS

Research

Review

for

Invasive

Plants

Florida.

Budget Justification 2017‐2018

1.	PERSONNEL
A.	Salaries:	The	personnel	for	this	project	include:

Research

Associate

rate

$23/hr

for

total

320

hrs

months).

($7,360)

PhD

student

paid

$24.50/hr

for

50%

time

for

total

400

hrs

(~5

months).

($9,800)

Research

technician

paid

$12.50/hr

for

400

hrs

(~2.5

months)

($5,000)

The

research

associate,

graduate

student

and

technician

will

assist

Dr.

Wilde

field

sampling,

algal

evaluation,

toxin

screening,

analyses

and

reports.

The

research

associate

and

graduate

student

will

coordinate

risk

assessment

analysis

and

mapping

for

Snail

Kites/Waterfowl/Eagles

and

assist

writing

peer‐reviewed

publications.

Total

Salary

$22,160.00

B. Fringe benefits

13%	for	research	associate.			($956.80)
6%	for	the	graduate	student	on	50%	research	assistantship.		($588)
22%	for	the	research	technician.			($1100)		Total	fringe:	$2,644.80

SUPPLIES

Supply

charges

include

consumable

materials

for

performing

field

sampling

and

laboratory

analysis

including

sampling

bags,

slides,

cover

slips,

extraction

glassware

and

chemicals

and

other

project

supplies

necessary

complete

the

project.

Field

sampling

and

laboratory

supplies

will

required

for

field

sampling,

microscopy,

and

genetic

screening

for

the

cyanobacterial

species

($1000).

Laboratory

supplies

including

glassware,

pipets,

and

chemicals

will

required

for

Ceriodaphnia

bioassay

($200).

The

Zebrafish

bioassay

requires

pipets,

tips,

glassware,

chemicals,

and

imaging

supplies

($200).

Chemical

extraction

requires

specialized

glassware,

pipets/tips,

solvent

chemicals,

and

filters

($613.38)

Total

supplies:

$2,013.38

3. EQUIPMENT N/A

TRAVEL

Travel

charges

will

cover

the

cost

travelling

Lake

Toho

and

additional

Florida

lakes

collect

hydrilla

order

screen

for

hydrillicola

and

AVM

toxin.

project

travel

days

with

two

people

$45/person/day

cover

food

and

$140

lodging/8

nights

for

people.

($1930)

Additional

travel

funds

are

requested

present

the

FFWCC

Research

meeting

Orlando,

FL.

estimated

the

cost

would

$45/day

per

diem

for

days

and

$100/night

lodging

for

nights.

($670).

Total travel: $2,600.00

5. CONTRACTUAL N/A

MISCELLANEOUS

–HPLC

toxin

analysis

will

cost

$8ea

for

samples

($400).

Toxin

analysis

will

cost

$12ea

for

samples.

Vehicle

charges

(estimated

travel

days

@$20/day

and

trips

Florida

~1,400

miles

each

@48

cents/mi)

will

incurred

for

travel

to/from

and

within

the

study

site

and

FFWCC

meeting

($2000).

Total

Misc:

$2,400.00

OVERHEAD/INDIRECT

Indirect

Costs

are

calculated

the

rate

10%

Total

Direct

Costs

($31,818.18).

This

the

rate

allowed

the

Florida

Fish

and

Wildlife

Conservation

Commission.

($3,181.82).

Total	Budget:		$35,000
Summary	Proposed	Budget	Year	2:	July	2018‐June	2019
Total	estimated:		$49,900

Summary	Proposed	Budget	Year	3:	July	2019‐June	2020
Total	estimated:		$49,950

FWC Invasive Plant Management Research Budget Form Project Name

Recurring project? Yes First Year Awarded (Fiscal Year July 1 - June 30) No

A detailed budget is required for FWC fixed price contracts; however, this form shall also be used for determining the maximum amount needed under cost reimbursement and fee schedule contracts as well. For fixed price contracts, this budget form is intended to provide the minimum information needed for budget approval. FWC reserves the right to require additional information when necessary for approval of the fixed price, and also to require that any part of the project be compensated on a cost reimbursement basis.

Attach a separate sheet to provide an explanation of travel, equipment (especially computers), subcontracts, and other supporting information. This form should list the total fixed price to be funded by FWC, or the total project budget when the FWC is to pay a percentage of the project total. Breakdowns by task or phase, or other division of work, should be shown on the separate attachment.

1. Personnel Expenses

Salaries – The Invasive Plant Management Section does not fund tuition fees, or tenure track or tenured faculty salaries. Identify the persons to be compensated for work on this project by name (if known), position, and title. Show the hourly cost and total hours to be charged for each person or position. If more space is needed, use a separate sheet to list individual positions and salaries, and show here the total hours for each title or position. Divide annual salaries by 2080 hours, and nine month academic salaries by 1560 hours, to find the hourly rate.

Salaries (Name/Title/Position) 1