Benthic Macroinvertebrate Communities of Southwestern Lake Ontario Following Invasion of Dreissena

A food web modeling analysis of a Midwestern, USA eutrophic lake dominated by non-native Common Carp and Zebra Mussels

“…However, in other respects zebra mussels and zooplankton function differently within the system. Zooplankton move energy "up" the pelagic food web, providing support for higher trophic levels, whereas zebra mussels shunt energy away from pelagic food webs by converting phytoplankton into pseudofeces (Berg et al, 1996;Vanderploeg et al, 2001) and into their own biomass which is then utilized by benthic consumers (e.g., amphipods, insects, benthivorous fishes) (Magoulick and Lewis, 2002;Stewart and Haynes, 1994;Stewart et al, 1998). Shunting energy away from the pelagic food web can reduce abundance and growth of sport fishes (Mayer et al, 2000;Miehls et al, 2009;Rutherford et al, 1999;Thayer et al, 1997).…”

“…Like common carp, zebra mussels also exert multiple effects encompassing habitat, water quality, food availability, and blue green algal abundance (Mayer et al, 2014). Zebra mussels rapidly attain high densities, increase water clarity (ReedAndersen et al, 2000), reduce phytoplankton (Madenjian, 1995;Caraco et al, 1997), shift phytoplankton ratios toward dominance by blue greens (Vanderploeg et al, 2001;Bierman et al, 2005), enhance benthic algal and macroinvertebrate production (Stewart and Haynes, 1994;Ricciardi et al, 1997), and alter habitat for benthic species (Stewart et al, 1998). They are also responsible for enormous economic and remediation costs resulting from their encrusting and degrading lake and shoreline infrastructure and lowering property values (Connelly et al, 2007;Limburg et al, 2010).…”

Early invasion population structure of quagga mussel and associated benthic invertebrate community composition on soft sediment in a large reservoir

“…Dreissenid mussels have been shown to decrease nondiatom phytoplankton (Chroomonas, Cryptomonas, Rhodomonas, Dinobryon and Chlamydomonas) directly through feeding and also increases of chlorophyll a (chl a), phytoplankton and nondiatom inedible algae (Microcystis) indirectly through selective feeding and significant ammonia and phosphate excretion in the postinvasion stage (DeStasio et al 2008, Zhang et al 2008. Nondreissenid macroinvertebrate communities increased in Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair under a dreissenid-dominated benthic community (79-91%) during the first 2 years of invasion , Griffiths 1993, Stewart and Haynes 1994. Lake St. Clair and Lake Huron have also experienced major species declines as a result of Dreissena invasion, resulting in significant sport fishery declines (OMNR 1995, MacIssac 1996.…”

Changes in the Freshwater Mussel Community of Lake St. Clair: from Unionidae to Dreissena polymorpha in Eight Years

“…As a result, energy is shifted from the pelagic to the benthic zones as particles are removed from the water column and deposited on the bottom as unassimilated feces and pseudofeces. In the Great Lakes, phytoplankton populations and primary production in the water column have declined (Holland 1993;Leach 1993;Nicholls and Hopkins 1993;Fahnenstiel et al 1995a, b), while 354 benthic algae and benthic macroinvertebrates have generally increased (Dermott et al 1993, Lowe and Pillsbury 1995, Stewart and Haynes 1994, Skubinna et al 1995) since this mollusk became established. One of the most direct and immediate impacts of D. polymorpha is its negative effect on freshwater bivalves of the family Unionidae.…”

“…In suitable habitats, D. polymorpha populations increase rapidly during the initial years of the invasion period but, over time, become more stable as food resources become limiting, suitable substrates are colonized, and factors related to density dependent predation limit population growth (Stanczykowska 1977, MacIsaac et al 1991, Stanczykowska and Lewandowski 1993. While a number of studies in North America have examined densities of D. polymorpha in both lake and riverine systems and related distributions to specific habitat features (Dermott and Munawar 1993, Mellina and Rasmussen 1994, Stewart and Haynes 1994, there have been few studies that have documented trends in populations over time. In studies that have examined density changes over several years, the population was in the early period of the invasion process and densities varied widely from year-to-year as the population continued to expand (Hebert et al 1991, Marsden et at.…”