Abstract
An outbreak of avian botulism in Whitewater Lake, Manitoba, Canada was associated with reducing sediments. But any linkage between sediments and botulism was only indirect; Clostridium botulinum was not observed in the sediments. The source of the C. botulinum was unclear but carcasses that overwintered appeared to perpetuate the outbreak. The algal toxins anatoxin-a and microcystin-LR were present (17≤mg/L) when many birds were moulting and unable to fly, likely making them more sensitive to botulism. The sediment anoxia released phosphorus into lakewater so that concentrations increased from about 73 to 470 mg/L and enhanced growth of Microcystis and Aphanizomenon. Wind resuspension of sediments resulted in areas with more algal biomass and associated algal toxins. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Environ Toxicol 15: 558–567, 2000
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