Population regulation of the spiny water flea (<i>Bythotrephes longimanus</i>) in a reservoir: Implications for invasion

Brown, Meghan E.; Branstrator, Donn K.; Shannon, Lyle J.

doi:10.4319/lo.2012.57.1.0251

Cited by 17 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 72 publications

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“…Bythotrephes has reached higher densities in Lake Mendota than any other system in its native or invaded range (e.g., Jokela et al ; Young et al ). Brown et al () report a positive relationship between chlorophyll a (a measure of lake primary productivity) and Bythotrephes abundance, which partially explained elevated Bythotrephes densities in reservoirs over natural lakes. It is possible that the food web structure brought by biomanipulation of the highly productive Lake Mendota contributed to the establishment and elevated abundance of Bythotrephes (as described in Walsh et al b ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Invasive invertebrate predator, Bythotrephes longimanus, reverses trophic cascade in a north‐temperate lake

Walsh

Lathrop

Zanden

2017

Limnology & Oceanography

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Trophic cascades can determine the structure of aquatic food webs, a role often used to manage water quality in lakes. However, trophic cascades are subject to multiple interacting drivers of environmental change. For example, invasive species can dramatically alter food webs, though we know less about invasive species effects on managed trophic cascades. Here, we investigate the changing food web dynamics of Lake Mendota (Wisconsin, U.S.A.) over a 40‐yr time period. Piscivore stocking (biomanipulation) beginning in 1988 coupled with a 1987 die‐off of cisco (the dominant zooplanktivore) led to decreased zooplanktivory that cascaded to increases in the large‐bodied herbivorous zooplankton Daphnia pulicaria and greater water clarity. In 2009, the invasive spiny water flea Bythotrephes longimanus was first detected in Lake Mendota and soon reached record densities. As a result of this invasive invertebrate predator, zooplanktivory increased to 47% of the earlier cisco period. Concomitant with the spiny water flea population explosion were declines in D. pulicaria and water clarity as both exhibited a strong negative relationship to zooplanktivory across the 40‐yr time series. We argue that the trophic cascade of 1987–1988 created an environment of high food resources and low fish planktivory that promoted the proliferation of Bythotrephes as it functionally replaced cisco in Lake Mendota's food web. Our results highlight how a manipulated, eutrophic lake was vulnerable to adverse impacts by invasive species, calling attention to the importance of understanding interactions among drivers of environmental change.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Invasive invertebrate predator, Bythotrephes longimanus, reverses trophic cascade in a north‐temperate lake

Walsh

Lathrop

Zanden

2017

Limnology & Oceanography

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“…, Wang and Jackson ) but is more abundant in productive lakes (Brown et al. ) as well as lakes with higher prey availability (Young et al. , Walsh et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Detecting species at low densities: a new theoretical framework and an empirical test on an invasive zooplankton

2018

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Species often occur at low abundance and, as a result, may evade detection during sampling. Here, we develop a general theoretical model of how the probability of detecting a species in a discrete sample varies with its mean density in that location based on sampling statistics. We show that detection probability at low densities can be approximated with a simple one parameter saturating function: The probability of detection (P) should increase with the mean number of individuals in a discrete sample (N) as P ~ αN/(1 + αN). We further show how the parameter α will be affected by species spatial aggregation, within‐sample observability, and gear catchability. We use the case of the invasive zooplankter, spiny water flea (Bythotrephes longimanus), to demonstrate that this theoretical model fits the empirical pattern of detectability. In Lake Mendota, WI, Bythotrephes went undetected despite rigorous long‐term zooplankton monitoring (possibly as long as 14 yr with 15 sampling dates/yr). Using our modeling framework, we found that the likelihood of detecting Bythotrephes was low unless peak annual densities exceeded 0.1 individuals/m3 over multiple years. Despite using models based on Bythotrephes ecology to identify ways to increase detectability, detection probabilities remained low at low densities, such that cases of missed detection such as Lake Mendota are possible despite rigorous monitoring effort. As such, our theoretical model provides a simple rule of thumb for estimating sampling effort required to detect rare species when densities are expected to be low: The minimum samples required (S) to reliably detect a species can be approximated as S ~ (1 + N)/N.

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“…Midseason population declines in Bythotrephes abundance have been observed to occur in the Great Lakes Tuchman 2004, Cavaletto et al 2010), constructed reservoirs in Minnesota, USA (Brown et al 2012), and also occasionally in Canadian Shield lakes suggested that the midsummer decline in Bythothrephes abundance observed in Lake Michigan was driven by intense fish predation pressure, while Brown et al (2012) suggested population crashes were due to prey limitations. In Lake Simcoe, our results suggest that poor light penetration could also be responsible for a midseason decline in Bythotrephes abundance, at least in some years.…”

Section: Bythotrephes Seasonal Phenologymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, Bythotrephes change from large body size and abundance to smaller and less abundant midway through the season, which may allow cladoceran species a temporal refuge from predation. This could generate a pattern of classical predator-prey density cycles (e.g., Brown et al 2012) that could result in highly variable zooplankton abundances throughout the season. Many species of fish depend on crustacean zooplankton as their primary food source, particularly during the larval stages in the summer months.…”

Section: Consequences Of Bythotrephes Invasion To Lake Simcoementioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, the dynamics of this invader have not been well studied in its invaded range, having been examined in only a few different systems, such as the Canadian Shield lakes (e.g., Yan and Pawson 1998, Great Lakes (e.g. Pothoven et al 2001, 2003, or constructed reservoirs in Minnesota, USA (Brown et al 2012). The factors regulating Bythotrephes dynamics in Lake Simcoe may differ from other lakes due to differences in lake trophic Dynamics of Bythotrephes longimanus Inland Waters (2013) 3, pp.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Dynamics of the invasive spiny water flea, Bythotrephes longimanus, in Lake Simcoe, Ontario, Canada

Kelly

Young

Winter

et al. 2013

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The invasion of the nonindigenous zooplankter Bythotrephes longimanus in Lake Simcoe has the potential to impact overall ecosystem functioning, yet there is currently no information regarding the status and dynamics of its population. We used a combination of uni-and multivariate analyses to examine variation in Bythotrephes interannual and seasonal abundance, and life-history characteristics in Lake Simcoe from 1999 to 2007, and we explored the biotic (predators, prey) and/or abiotic (water quality, temperature) factors that may have regulated its population over this period. The mean annual abundance of Bythotrephes varied by an order of magnitude over the period of study and was significantly associated with epilimnetic temperature and prey and predator abundance. Bythotrephes typically appeared in early summer and had 2 seasonal abundance peaks, which varied in magnitude and timing within and among years. August and September Secchi depth and total phosphorus concentration predicted groups of years with similar Bythotrephes phenologies, lending further support to the role of water clarity as a significant component of this visual predator's habitat in its invaded range. Bythotrephes body size and reproductive patterns also varied seasonally, possibly reflecting the seasonal availability of cladoceran prey, predation pressure from planktivorous fish, or adaptations to avoid unfavourable conditions. Overall, a complex interaction of fish predation, food availability, temperature, and water clarity controlled the dynamics of Bythotrephes in Lake Simcoe. Changes to the Lake Simcoe ecosystem due to Bythotrephes invasion may have important consequences for the ecosystem services provided by the lake and merit further investigation.

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Population regulation of the spiny water flea (Bythotrephes longimanus) in a reservoir: Implications for invasion

Cited by 17 publications

References 72 publications

Invasive invertebrate predator, Bythotrephes longimanus, reverses trophic cascade in a north‐temperate lake

Invasive invertebrate predator, Bythotrephes longimanus, reverses trophic cascade in a north‐temperate lake

Detecting species at low densities: a new theoretical framework and an empirical test on an invasive zooplankton

Dynamics of the invasive spiny water flea, Bythotrephes longimanus, in Lake Simcoe, Ontario, Canada

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