INVESTIGATING THIAMINE DEFICIENCY COMPLEX IN THE UPPER KLAMATH BASIN

Project ID: F22AC01810

Federal Agency: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Partner Institution: Oregon State University

Fiscal Year: 2022

Initial Funding: $70,047

Total Funding: $70,047

Abstract:

THE PURPOSE OF THIS AWARD IS TO CONDUCT AN INITIAL SURVEY OF THE UPPER KLAMATH BASIN (UKB) TO ASSESS SPATIAL AND SEASONAL PATTERNS OF AVAILABLE THIAMINE (VITAMIN B1), MICROBIAL COMMUNITIES, AND FISH TO BETTER UNDERSTAND POTENTIAL ISSUES FOR AQUATIC COMMUNITIES FOCUSED ON DISTRIBUTION OF NATIVE SUCKERS, SPECIFICALLY LOST RIVER AND SHORTNOSE SUCKER, AND REDBAND TROUT. IN ADDITION, WITH THE REMOVAL OF FOUR DAMS ON THE KLAMATH RIVER SCHEDULED FOR 2023, ANADROMOUS SALMONIDS INCLUDING CHINOOK SALMON AND STEELHEAD WILL HAVE ACCESS TO HISTORICALLY AVAILABLE HABITAT IN THE UKB. THE US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE IS COLLABORATING WITH NOAA-NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE (NMFS) AND OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY (OSU) TO CONDUCT ANALYSIS THIAMINE CYCLING WITHIN THE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH THESE FISH LIVE, MOVE, AND FEED. THESE ANALYSES INCLUDE DETERMINATION OF THE DISSOLVED THIAMINE CONCENTRATION IN THE WATER COLUMN AND BULK SEDIMENT POREWATER IN PARALLEL WITH MICROBIAL COMMUNITY DIVERSITY ANALYSIS VIA 16S AMPLICON SEQUENCING TO DETERMINE THE PRESENCE OF KNOWN THIAMINE PRODUCING CONSUMING MICROORGANISMS IN THE ENVIRONMENT. DEVELOPING A BASELINE OF ENVIRONMENTAL THIAMINE CONCENTRATION, SHOWN TO BE A SEVERELY LIMITING VITAMIN IN OTHER SPECIES COHORT COLLAPSE EVENTS, MAY INFORM CHANGES IN HABITAT USE AND REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS IN THE NA