Wetland Characteristics of Avian Cholera Outbreaks and Surface Water Transfer in the Nebraska Rainwater Basin Area

Avian Cholera (Pateurella multocida) has infected and killed thousands of migrating waterfowl each year since 1975 in Nebraska’s rainwater basin area. Disease outbreaks in migrating waterfowl populations just prior to the nesting season are of concern to biologists. Feedlots and itner-wetland basin surface water transfer mechanisms of the avian cholera causative agent, P. multocida, were investigated using remote sensing techniques. Wetland basin characteristics (classification type, adjacent landuse, basin landuse, and basin densities) were also investigated for relationships to 1981 avian cholera outbreaks. No surface drainage relationships were found that would permit the transfer of P. multocida from one wetland basin to another. Feedlots were not found to be associated with avian cholera outbreaks. My findings suggest that wetland basin density, basin landuse, water regimes, and adjacent landuse are related to and may have an influence on avian cholera outbreaks in the Nebraska rainwater basin area. Management recommendations include evaluation of hazing techniques, managing wetlands for open areas of surface water, and the development of a plan for wetlands restoration to increase basin density