Accessing and Mobilizing “New” Data to Evaluate Emerging Environmental Impacts on Semi-Aquatic Mammals

This paper describes how knowledge mobilization evolved during a study that assessed a proposed increase in industrial water withdrawals from the Athabasca River in northern Alberta, Canada, and potential impacts on a suite of freshwater semi-aquatic mammals in the broader ecosystem. The oil sands region in northeastern Alberta faces various pressures that require rapid knowledge mobilization and decision making, while still acknowledging ecological sensitivities immediately downstream in the Peace-Athabasca Delta (PAD) in the Wood Buffalo National Park. Data were acquired using a multi-faceted approach, including literature reviews, acquisition and synthesis of raw data, and interviews with local knowledge holders. The final outcome of the study was then contextualized relative to elements of knowledge mobilization: (1) research, (2) dissemination, (3) uptake, (4) implementation, and (5) impact. Knowledge mobilization was easiest to quantify for the first two elements, yet was still present in varying forms in the latter stages. The cultural importance of beavers, muskrats, river otters, and mink for communities associated with the Athabasca River and the PAD allowed for increased engagement during all stages of the research process, which then facilitated the co-production of potential solutions among different organization and perspectives.

The River Runs Through It: the Athabasca River Delivers Mercury to Aquatic Birds Breeding Far Downstream

This study examined factors contributing to temporal variability (2009-2017) in total mercury (THg) concentrations in aquatic bird eggs collected in the Peace-Athabasca Delta and Lake Athabasca in northern Alberta. Factors examined included annual changes in oil sands production, bird diets, forest fires, and flow of the Athabasca River. Surface mining activities associated with Alberta’s Athabasca oil sands are centered north of Fort McMurray, Alberta, adjacent to the northward-flowing Athabasca River. Previous studies have found that oil sands industrial operations release mercury into the local (within ~50 km) environment. However, temporal trends in egg THg levels did not track trends in synthetic oil production from the oil sands. Intraspecific fluctuations in bird diet also could not explain annual variability in egg THg levels. Annual extent of forest fires in Alberta was only related to egg THg concentrations in California Gulls from Lake Athabasca; annual levels in other species showed no relationship with fire extent. The inclusion of more terrestrial foods in gull diets may have contributed to this difference. For the majority of species, annual fluctuations in maximal flow of the Athabasca River were important in influencing annual egg THg levels. Eggs collected following years of high flow had higher THg concentrations with distinct stable Hg isotope compositions. Riverine processes associated with suspended sediment were likely critical in regulating Hg availability to nesting birds. This study highlights the importance of the Athabasca River as a conduit for Hg transport to ecologically-sensitive downstream ecosystems such as the Peace-Athabasca Delta and Wood Buffalo National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Human activities that increase atmospheric Hg deposition to the Athabasca River watershed, or that enhance Hg releases to the river through erosion of Hg-bearing soils, will likely increase the availability of Hg to organisms inhabiting downstream areas.

Fuel accumulation in a high-frequency boreal wildfire regime: from wetland to upland

Although it is increasingly accepted that young (e.g., ≤30 years) stands originating from wildfire are considerably less flammable than older stands in the boreal forest of North America, the role of fuel availability and structure in this phenomenon has not been thoroughly investigated. As a regional study in a high-frequency fire regime, detailed wildfire fuel loading and structure were measured in 66 sites including both wetlands and uplands in the Boreal Plains landscape of Wood Buffalo National Park in northwestern Canada. Overall, a significant increase in total flammable biomass occurred in upland sites over 97 years, but this increase was not consistently observed in wetlands, except where there was dense tree cover. Fuel accumulation was highly moderated by canopy fuels, as surface fuels were relatively constant across differing site types and time since fire, averaging 0.4 kg·m−2. Significant but gradual canopy fuel accumulation was observed in moist conifer upland forests dominated by mature black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) or white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) over 100 years since fire. Outside of these mature moist conifer uplands, there was no difference in total fuel loading between other upland forests and across the gradient of treed to open wetlands.

140 EFFECTIVENESS OF WASHING PROCEDURES FOR REMOVING BRUCELLA ABORTUS FROM IN VIVO-DERIVED WOOD BISON EMBRYOS

Endemic brucellosis threatens wild herds of wood bison (Bison bison athabascae) in and around Wood Buffalo National Park, the largest genetic reserve of wood bison in the world. The overall goal of our project was to produce and preserve disease-free embryos for the purpose of conserving the genetic diversity of this species. The aim of the present experiment was to determine the effectiveness of washing procedures for removing Brucella bacteria from in vivo-derived wood bison embryos exposed in vitro to the pathogen. Wood bison cows were given 300 mg im of Folltropin diluted in 0.5% hyaluronan on the day of follicle wave emergence (Day 0) and 100 mg im of hyaluronan on Day 2, and then given 2500 IU im of hCG on Day 5 and inseminated 12 and 24 h later. Embryos were collected on Day 13. The experiment was done in 6 replicates (n = 4 bison/replicate) and an average of 9 embryos/replicate were collected. Zona pellucida-intact embryos were kept in holding medium (PBS + 2% fetal calf serum) and transported to a Biosafety Level 3 laboratory at the International Vaccine Centre, University of Saskatchewan. Embryos were transferred through 5 aliquots of holding medium to remove any contaminant before exposure to Brucella. Embryos were divided equally into 2 Petri dishes (representing later wash groups with v. without antibiotics) containing 2.7 mL of holding medium (n = 2 to 7 embryos per dish/replicate). In a Class II biosafety cabinet, Brucella abortus biovar 1 (1 × 107 to 1 × 109 CFU mL–1 in 0.3 mL) was added to each Petri dish and incubated for 2 h at 37°C in 8% CO2. A sample of holding medium was taken before exposure and after incubation for culture as negative and positive controls, respectively. After incubation, embryos in each Petri dish were subjected to a 10-step washing procedure (according to the IETS Manual, 2010) using wash medium (PBS + 0.4% BSA) without antibiotics or with antibiotics (100 IU mL–1 of penicillin + 100 μg mL–1 of streptomycin). The embryo wash medium was cultured at wash steps 1, 3, 6, and 9. After the tenth wash, the zona pellucida of each embryo was ruptured mechanically using a glass pipette and embryos were cultured individually. Culturing of samples was done on sheep blood agar and specific identification of Brucella organisms was done by PCR. Brucella abortus was detected in 3 embryos from the group washed in medium without antibiotics (3/27), whereas all embryos washed in medium with antibiotics were culture negative (0/27). Brucella abortus was not detected in wash media after the third wash in either group (with or without antibiotics). In summary, Brucella abortus was removed from 89% of in vitro-exposed wood bison embryos using the washing procedure without antibiotics, and from 100% using the washing procedure with antibiotics. Results validate the embryo washing technique for producing Brucella-free wood bison embryos. Thanks to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency for the field strain of Brucella abortus, Bioniche AH for Folltropin and embryo collection supplies, Merck AH for hCG (Chorulon), and Intervac/VIDO for technical and logistical support.

Genetic Diversity among Bacillus anthracis Soil Isolates at Fine Geographic Scales

ABSTRACTEnvironmental samples were collected from carcass sites during and after anthrax outbreaks in 2000 and 2001 in the bison (Bison bison) population within Wood Buffalo National Park and the Hook Lake Region north of Wood Buffalo National Park.Bacillus anthracisspores were isolated from these samples and confirmed using phenotypic characterization and real-time PCR. ConfirmedB. anthracisisolates were typed using multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA15) and single-nucleotide-repeat analysis (SNRA).B. anthracisisolates split into two clades based on MLVA15, while SNRA allowed some isolates between carcass sites to be distinguished from each other. SNRA polymorphisms were also present within a single carcass site. Some isolates from different carcass sites having the same SNRA type had divergent MLVA types; this finding leads to questions about hierarchical typing methods and the robustness of the fine-scale typing ofBacillus anthracis.

227 SUPEROVULATION AND EMBRYO COLLECTION IN WOOD BISON DURING THE ANOVULATORY SEASON

Brucellosis and tuberculosis are endemic in Wood Buffalo National Park, the largest reserve of wood bison (Bison bison athabascae) in Canada. Our goal is to produce and preserve disease-free embryos for the purpose of wood bison repopulation. This study was designed to determine if embryo collection is feasible in wood bison during the anovulatory season (May–July) and to test if progesterone priming is required for superovulation. A 2-by-2 design was used to determine the effectiveness of LH (Lutropin) or hCG (Chorulon) for induction of ovulation with or without intravaginal progesterone releasing device (PRID) in 32 wood bison cows. Follicular wave emergence was synchronized among bison by transvaginal ultrasound-guided follicle ablation. Synchronized bison were assigned to 4 groups: PRID+LH (n = 12), PRID+hCG (n = 4), no-PRID+LH (n = 12) and no-PRID+hCG (n = 4). A PRID was inserted on the day of follicular ablation in the respective groups. A single SC dose of 400 mg FSH (Folltropin) in a slow-release formulation was given the day after follicular ablation (i.e. on the expected day of a new follicular wave emergence, Day 0). The PRID was removed on Day 4 and either 25 mg LH or 2000 IU hCG was given IM on Day 5. Artificial insemination was done at 24, 36 and 48 h after LH or hCG treatment. Embryos were collected nonsurgically on Day 13 using commercial bovine equipment. Transrectal ultrasonography was done on Days 0, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 13 to record follicular and ovulatory responses. Count data (mean ± SEM) were analysed by two-way ANOVA and proportions by chi square. The number of ovulatory-sized follicles (≥10 mm) on Day 5 did not differ among groups (P = 0.33; Table 1). Ovulation rate (number of ovulations/number of follicles ≥10 mm) was greater in bison treated with hCG (P < 0.05; Table 1). The number of corpora lutea (CL) on Day 13 was greater in bison treated with hCG without a PRID (P < 0.05; Table 1). No differences in number of ova/embryos and transferable embryos were found among groups (P = 0.36 and P = 0.52, respectively; Table 1). In conclusion, progesterone priming (PRID) had no effect on ovarian superstimulation in wood bison in the anovulatory season. The ovulatory response was satisfactory only in bison treated with hCG. Embryo collection is feasible in wood bison, but the reasons for a low embryo collection rate in all groups remain unclear. Table 1.Response to superovulation and embryo collection in wood bison Funded by Advancing Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food and Agri-Food Innovation.