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Construction The lab was originally constructed for research on whirling disease in salmonids. Because whirling disease attacks very young fish, the lab can be set up with as many as 200 10-gallon tanks. This configuration lends itself to projects researching early life stages of salmonids or entire life histories of smaller fish such as chubs and minnows. However, the lab is laid out in a modular fashion, with PVC piping and multi-purpose tank racks. These are easily configured to accommodate larger tanks and larger fish. With appropriate safeguards, concurrent work on different pathogens can be conducted in
A reconfiguration of the lab is planned in 2006. The new configuration will feature several independent recirculating systems, allowing even greater flexibility in working with multiple pathogens and water quality parameters. This lab renovation should give the Trout Lab the necessary tools to move into new and exciting research areas. Monitoring Systems Dissolved oxygen, pH, water temperature, ORP, conductivity and flow of the recirculation system are rigidly monitored and controlled. The monitoring is continuous, with water quality data downloaded to a computer on site. If one of the parameters varies from its preset limits an automatic pager contacts lab personnel, transmitting information that allows a diagnosis of malfunction from a remote location. Dissolved nitrogen species are assayed weekly, to track the status of the microbial nitrifying-denitrifying complex within the system. Wastewater The lab is uniquely suited for fish disease work, because of its highly-redundant wastewater purification system. In addition to UV irradiation, the lab utilizes a boiler for final sterilization of research wastewater. The wastewater from the aquaculture facility, utility sinks and floor drains is boiled for a specified time to kill the pathogens of concern. The purified wastewater is disposed via a septic drainfield. Sanitary wastewater is treated by a separate septic system, to prevent the inadvertent release of pathogens into the public wastewater system. The isolation and sterilization capabilities of the Wild Trout Laboratory render it well-suited for research on exotic or invasive aquatic species such as the New Zealand mud snail or the zebra mussel, as well as the secondary invertebrate hosts of fish pathogens. Researchers can conduct studies on these potentially dangerous organisms without the threat of release into the wild. Lab Use Fees For projects beginning in 2002, the rental charge for laboratory tanks is $4/gallon/month, or $40/month for a standard 10-gallon tank. The materials and services provided for this fee are:
Investigators who have used the laboratory include personnel from the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, the Idaho Department of Fish & Game, Wyoming Game & Fish, the Colorado Division of Wildlife, the US Fish & Wildlife Service, the Montana Cooperative Fishery Research Unit, the National Park Service, students of the Fish & Wildlife Management program at Montana State University, and Allied Engineering in Bozeman, Montana. For more information, contact the Laboratory Manager. |
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