Changes in the Dreissenid Community in the Lower Great Lakes with Emphasis on Southern Lake Ontario

Mills, Edward L.; Chrisman, Jana R.; Baldwin, Brad S.; Owens, Randall W.; O’Gorman, Robert; Howell, E. Todd; Roseman, Edward F.; Raths, Melinda K.

doi:10.1016/s0380-1330(99)70727-6

Cited by 118 publications

(74 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…Similar trends are seen in other Great Lakes where quagga mussels have been replacing zebra mussels as the dominant dreissenid species (Mills et al 1999). Zebra mussels are still the dominant dreissenid species in Lake Simcoe (Ozersky et al 2011b), so it is possible that there is a release from grazing pressure by zebra mussels at colder temperatures, which may be related to the winter phytoplankton peaks seen here.…”

Section: Seasonal Changes In Phytoplankton Dynamicssupporting

confidence: 71%

Long-term seasonal effects of dreissenid mussels on phytoplankton in Lake Simcoe, Ontario, Canada

Baranowska

North

Winter

et al. 2013

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The invasion of dreissenid mussels to Lake Simcoe coincided with notable changes in the ecosystem, including a period of lower phytoplankton biovolume, particularly at shallower sites. Dreissenid grazing effects are typically most prominent during the summer season in the nearshore areas of lakes. Grazing effects in the winter are small because dreissenid filtration rates, especially those of zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha), decrease in cold temperatures. Phytoplankton dynamics in the winter season are poorly characterized, particularly in lakes that experience ice cover. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of dreissenids on the seasonality of phytoplankton dynamics in the nearshore waters of the lake using long-term monitoring data from unchlorinated water treatment plant (WTP) intake pipes. The long-term dataset from the WTPs showed significant and sustained declines in phytoplankton biovolumes and chlorophyll a (Chl-a) concentrations in the 12-year period following the invasion of dreissenid mussels to Lake Simcoe. The decline was smallest during the ice-covered winter months (Jan-Mar). The fall phytoplankton peak observed in the pre-dreissenid years shifted to a smaller peak during the winter in post-dreissenid years. We hypothesized that reduced dreissenid grazing pressure during the winter, and possible improved under-ice light conditions that we attribute to climate change, may be contributing to this shift. Phytoplankton biovolume data collection continues to be important in Lake Simcoe as a measure of phytoplankton biomass. Our results also indicate that winter phytoplankton biovolumes should be considered when managing lakes experiencing both climate change and dreissenid mussel effects.

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Section: Seasonal Changes In Phytoplankton Dynamicssupporting

confidence: 71%

Long-term seasonal effects of dreissenid mussels on phytoplankton in Lake Simcoe, Ontario, Canada

Baranowska

North

Winter

et al. 2013

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“…For instance, large zebra mussels (.25 mm) were present at offshore locations with §37 m depth but were absent or underrepresented on rocks collected at nearshore sites near Middle Sister Island in western Lake Erie, USA (MacIsaac 1996a). In contrast, Mills et al (1999) found no relationship between dreissenid mean size and water depth from collections at 10-m intervals from 15 to 85 m in Lake Ontario, USA, in either 1992 or 1995. The direction of changes in population structure of mussels along a depth gradient in lakes can be related to changes in food limitation, habitat disturbance, and recruitment limitation with depth (Menge 1991, MacIsaac 1996a.…”

Section: ] Zebra Mussels Predation Physical Factors 449mentioning

confidence: 74%

Predation and physical environment structure the density and population size structure of zebra mussels

Naddafi

Pettersson

Eklöv

2010

Journal of the North American Benthological Society

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Abstract. The zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) provides one example of successful invaders in novel environments. However, little attention has been devoted to exploring the factors regulating zebra mussel density and population size structure at the local scale. We tested effects of physicochemical factors and fish predation on the density of zebra mussels at several sites and between years in a natural lake. Water depth and roach (Rutilus rutilus) density were the most important variables affecting local zebra mussel density. Substrate was also an important factor but affected Dreissena density only at the shallowest depth examined (2 m), which also supported a large population of the mussels. Mean shell length of Dreissena increased with water depth. Our results indicate that predation pressure, intraspecific competition, and food limitation might be responsible for variation in zebra mussel density and population size structure in space and time and that fish predation might have strong top-down effects on zebra mussel populations.

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“…Of the two species, the zebra mussel has spread more quickly throughout the Great Lakes and inland waterways but the quagga mussel might eventually achieve a more extensive habitat range. Quagga mussels are displacing zebra mussels in shallow-water habitats (Jarvis et al, 2000;Mills et al, 1996;Mills et al, 1999;Stoeckmann, 2003) and have also colonized deep-water habitats (>50m) in very high numbers. In contrast, zebra mussels have remained more restricted to shallow-water habitats (see Mills et al, 1993).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Developmental plasticity of shell morphology of quagga mussels from shallow and deep-water habitats of the Great Lakes

Peyer

Hermanson

Lee

2010

Journal of Experimental Biology

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SUMMARYThe invasive zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) has quickly colonized shallow-water habitats in the North American Great Lakes since the 1980s but the quagga mussel (Dreissena bugensis) is becoming dominant in both shallow and deep-water habitats. While quagga mussel shell morphology differs between shallow and deep habitats, functional causes and consequences of such difference are unknown. We examined whether quagga mussel shell morphology could be induced by three environmental variables through developmental plasticity. We predicted that shallow-water conditions (high temperature, food quantity, water motion) would yield a morphotype typical of wild quagga mussels from shallow habitats, while deep-water conditions (low temperature, food quantity, water motion) would yield a morphotype present in deep habitats. We tested this prediction by examining shell morphology and growth rate of quagga mussels collected from shallow and deep habitats and reared under common-garden treatments that manipulated the three variables. Shell morphology was quantified using the polar moment of inertia. Of the variables tested, temperature had the greatest effect on shell morphology. Higher temperature (~18-20°C) yielded a morphotype typical of wild shallow mussels regardless of the levels of food quantity or water motion. In contrast, lower temperature (~6-8°C) yielded a morphotype approaching that of wild deep mussels. If shell morphology has functional consequences in particular habitats, a plastic response might confer quagga mussels with a greater ability than zebra mussels to colonize a wider range of habitats within the Great Lakes.

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Changes in the Dreissenid Community in the Lower Great Lakes with Emphasis on Southern Lake Ontario

Cited by 118 publications

References 26 publications

Long-term seasonal effects of dreissenid mussels on phytoplankton in Lake Simcoe, Ontario, Canada

Long-term seasonal effects of dreissenid mussels on phytoplankton in Lake Simcoe, Ontario, Canada

Predation and physical environment structure the density and population size structure of zebra mussels

Developmental plasticity of shell morphology of quagga mussels from shallow and deep-water habitats of the Great Lakes

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