Community interactions affecting the relative abundances of native and invasive amphipods in the St. Lawrence River

2005 ◽  
Vol 62 (5) ◽  
pp. 1111-1118 ◽  
Author(s):  
M E Palmer ◽  
Anthony Ricciardi
Keyword(s):  
Dreissena Polymorpha ◽  
River System ◽  
Rapid Expansion ◽  
Amphipod Species ◽  
Community Interactions ◽  
Dreissena Bugensis ◽  
Exclusion Experiment ◽  
Predator Exclusion ◽  
Echinogammarus Ischnus ◽  
St Lawrence River

The Eurasian amphipod Echinogammarus ischnus is reportedly replacing the common native amphipod Gammarus fasciatus in the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence River system. A potential mechanism for this replacement is competition mediated by resident species. Other Eurasian invaders, dreissenid mussels (Dreissena polymorpha and Dreissena bugensis), dominate rocky substrates throughout the system and might be promoting the rapid expansion of E. ischnus by providing habitat and refugia from predation. Using an in-situ predator-exclusion experiment, we tested the hypothesis that E. ischnus is better able than G. fasciatus to use Dreissena spp. colonies as refugia and thus is less susceptible to predators in the St. Lawrence River. Co-occurring E. ischnus and G. fasciatus showed similar increases in density in the presence of Dreissena spp., in spite of E. ischnus having evolutionary experience with Dreissena spp. Predators reduced the density of both amphipod species, but E. ischnus was more susceptible to predation on dreissenid substrates, which suggests that predation mediates the coexistence of G. fasciatus and E. ischnus in the river.

Lethal and sublethal effects of sponge overgrowth on introduced dreissenid mussels in the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence River system

1995 ◽  
Vol 52 (12) ◽  
pp. 2695-2703 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony Ricciardi ◽  
Fred L. Snyder ◽  
David O. Kelch ◽  
Henry M. Reiswig
Keyword(s):  
Great Lakes ◽  
Dreissena Polymorpha ◽  
Sublethal Effects ◽  
Artificial Reef ◽  
River System ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Freshwater Sponges ◽  
Dreissena Bugensis ◽  
Weight Losses ◽  
St Lawrence River

Freshwater sponges in the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence River system overgrow and kill introduced zebra (Dreissena polymorpha) and quagga mussels (Dreissena bugensis) on solid substrates. Sponges overgrow and smother mussel siphons, thereby interfering with normal feeding and respiration. We tested the significance of sponge-enhanced mussel mortality by repeated sampling at several sites where both organisms were abundant in the upper St. Lawrence River and on an artificial reef in central Lake Erie. A small proportion (<10%) of the dreissenid population at each site was overgrown by sponge. Mussel colonies that were completely overgrown for 1 or more months invariably contained a significantly greater proportion of dead mussels than local uncovered populations. Mussels that survived prolonged periods (4–6 months) of overgrowth suffered significant tissue weight losses. Laboratory experiments and field observations suggest that dreissenids are not able to colonize sponges; therefore, sponges should always dominate competitive overgrowth situations. The overall impact of sponges on dreissenid populations in the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence River system will probably be negligible because of the high rate of mussel recruitment and the environmental constraints on sponge growth; however, our results suggest that sponges may control mussel abundance locally.

Occurrence of chironomid larvae (Paratanytarsus sp.) as commensals of dreissenid mussels (Dreissena polymorpha and D. bugensis)

1994 ◽  
Vol 72 (6) ◽  
pp. 1159-1162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony Ricciardi
Keyword(s):  
Dreissena Polymorpha ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Mantle Cavity ◽  
Dreissena Bugensis ◽  
Chironomid Larvae ◽  
Quagga Mussels ◽  
Elliptio Complanata ◽  
Dreissenid Mussels ◽  
First Case ◽  
St Lawrence River

Up to 38% of zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) and 10% of quagga mussels (Dreissena bugensis) collected from the upper St. Lawrence River in July 1993 were invaded by larvae of the tanytarsine chironomid Paratanytarsus sp. Third- and fourth-instar larvae were found living in the mantle cavity around the gills, gonads, and siphonal tissues. The larvae were never observed feeding on these tissues, and no tissue damage was detected. Most frequently, a single Paratanytarsus sp. larva occurred in a mussel; otherwise, two to six larvae were found. Invaded mussels were significantly larger than co-occurring non-invaded mussels. No chironomid larvae were found in young-of-the-year dreissenids. This is the first case of a large-scale endosymbiotic association, apparently a form of inquiline commensalism, between chironomid larvae and dreissenid mussels. Paratanytarsus sp. larvae also occurred in unionid bivalves (Elliptio complanata, Lampsilis radiata, Anodonta cataracta), but at relatively lower frequencies.

Aerial exposure tolerance off zebra and quagga mussels (Bivalvia: Dreissenidae): implications for overland dispersal

1995 ◽  
Vol 52 (3) ◽  
pp. 470-477 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony Ricciardi ◽  
Robert Serrouya ◽  
Frederick G. Whoriskey
Keyword(s):  
Zebra Mussel ◽  
Dreissena Polymorpha ◽  
Depth Distribution ◽  
Quagga Mussel ◽  
Relative Depth ◽  
Aerial Exposure ◽  
Dreissena Bugensis ◽  
Quagga Mussels ◽  
Weight Losses ◽  
St Lawrence River

We examined the effects of ambient temperature (10, 20, and 30 °C) and relative humidity (10, 50, and 95% RH) on the aerial exposure tolerance of adult zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) and quagga mussel (D. bugensis) collected from the St. Lawrence River. Survivorship of mussels in air significantly increased with increasing RH, decreasing temperature, and increasing mussel size. At 20 °C and 50% RH (early temperate summer conditions), large (21–28 mm) D. polymorpha survived more than 5 days exposure, whereas small (10–18 mm) D. polymorpha survived 1–3 days. Seventy-three percent of large D. polymorpha and 10% of small D. polymorpha survived 10 days exposure at conditions considered optimal for survivorship (10 °C and 95% RH). Survivorship of D. bugensis was tested at 20 °C and was 15–100% lower than that of D. polymorpha at all RH levels combined with exposures less than 5 days. Dreissena bugensis also suffered significantly higher percent weight losses because of desiccation than D. polymorpha. The differences in the desiccation tolerance of zebra and quagga mussels reflect their relative depth distribution in lakes. Our results suggest that, given temperate summer conditions, adult Dreissena may survive overland transport (e.g., on small trailered boats) to any location within 3–5 days' drive of infested waterbodies.

Predation on zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) by captive-reared map turtles (Graptemys geographica)

1995 ◽  
Vol 73 (12) ◽  
pp. 2238-2243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Serrouya ◽  
Anthony Ricciardi ◽  
Fred G. Whoriskey
Keyword(s):  
Great Lakes ◽  
Mississippi River ◽  
Dreissena Polymorpha ◽  
River System ◽  
Zebra Mussels ◽  
Important Prey ◽  
Bithynia Tentaculata ◽  
Map Turtles ◽  
Graptemys Geographica ◽  
St Lawrence River

The suitability of the Eurasian zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha, as prey for the common map turtle, Graptemys geographica, was tested under laboratory conditions. The turtles, which were reared in captivity without contact with molluscs, readily consumed zebra mussels in every feeding trial. Mussels were ingested whole. Repeated exposure to zebra mussels in successive trials did not increase consumption rates (ca. 11 mussels/turtle per day), suggesting that the turtles required little time to recognize and efficiently utilize zebra mussels as prey. The turtles were offered zebra mussels ranging from 4 to 34 mm in length and consumed mussels as large as 32 mm, but mussels larger than 25 mm were consumed at lower rates. Turtles consumed lower numbers of zebra mussels in the presence of an alternative prey, the prosobranch snail Bithynia tentaculata, which is common in map turtle habitats in the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence River system. Populations of map turtles and zebra mussels are sympatric in the upper St. Lawrence River, Lake Champlain, the lower Great Lakes, and the upper Mississippi River basin. Our results suggest that map turtles may forage on zebra mussels in nature, but zebra mussels will be important prey only when preferred or more profitable prey are scarce.

Influence of physicochemical factors on the distribution and biomass of invasive mussels (Dreissena polymorpha and Dreissena bugensis) in the St. Lawrence River

2005 ◽  
Vol 62 (9) ◽  
pp. 1953-1962 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa A Jones ◽  
Anthony Ricciardi
Keyword(s):  
Zebra Mussel ◽  
Dreissena Polymorpha ◽  
Calcium Concentration ◽  
Environmental Gradients ◽  
Stepwise Multiple Regression ◽  
Quagga Mussel ◽  
Dreissena Bugensis ◽  
Quagga Mussels ◽  
Substrate Size ◽  
St Lawrence River

Twenty sites along the St. Lawrence River were sampled to determine if the distribution and abundance of invasive mussels (zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) and quagga mussel (Dreissena bugensis)) are explained by physicochemical variables. Calcium concentration, substrate size, and depth independently explained significant proportions of variation in biomass for both species. Zebra mussel populations occurred at calcium levels as low as 8 mg Ca·L–1, but quagga mussels were absent below 12 mg Ca·L–1, suggesting that they have higher calcium requirements. Both species increased in biomass with increasing substrate size but displayed contrasting patterns with depth. Using combinations of these environmental variables, we developed stepwise multiple regression models to predict zebra mussel biomass and quagga mussel biomass. The zebra mussel model included calcium concentration, substrate size, and depth (r2 = 0.36, P < 0.0001), while the quagga mussel model included only substrate size and depth (r2 = 0.32, P < 0.0001). These results suggest that dreissenid mussel abundance (and correlated impacts) will vary predictably across environmental gradients, but the same predictive model will not be accurate for both species.

Loadings of Selected Chemicals into the St. Lawrence River System from Lake Ontario, 1986/87

1989 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 589-608 ◽  
Author(s):  
I.K. Tsanis ◽  
J. Biberhofer ◽  
C.R. Murthy ◽  
A. Sylvestre
Keyword(s):  
Mass Balance ◽  
Lake Ontario ◽  
River System ◽  
Vertical Gradient ◽  
The South ◽  
Measured Concentration ◽  
Chemical Monitoring ◽  
The North ◽  
Loading Estimates ◽  
St Lawrence River

Abstract Determination of the mass output through the St. Lawrence River outflow system is an important component in computing mass balance of chemical loadings to Lake Ontario. The total flow rate in the St. Lawrence River System at the Wolfe Island area was calculated from detailed time series current meter measurements from a network of current meters and Lagrangian drifter experiments. This flow is roughly distributed in the ratio of 55% to 45% in the South and North channel, respectively. Loading estimates of selected chemicals have been made by combining the above transport calculations with the ongoing chemical monitoring data at the St. Lawrence outflow. A vertical gradient in the concentration of some organic and inorganic chemicals was observed. The measured concentration for some of the chemicals was higher during the summer months and also is higher in the South Channel than in the North Channel of the St. Lawrence River. These loading estimates are useful not only for modelling the mass balance of chemicals in Lake Ontario but also for serving as input loadings to the St. Lawrence River system from Lake Ontario.

Assessing the role of generalist predators in the biological control of alfalfa weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

2017 ◽  
Vol 149 (4) ◽  
pp. 525-533 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatyana A. Rand
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Biological Control ◽  
Experimental Work ◽  
United States Of America ◽  
Acyrthosiphon Pisum ◽  
The United States ◽  
Generalist Predators ◽  
Alfalfa Weevil ◽  
Exclusion Experiment ◽  
Predator Exclusion

AbstractAlfalfa weevil (Coleoptera:Curculionidae) is a major pest of alfalfa throughout the United States of America. Biological control research has disproportionately focussed on introduced parasitoids. Generalist predators may also be important, but experimental work evaluating their impacts is lacking. I combined a cross-site survey with a predator exclusion experiment to identify key predators, and test for impacts on weevil survival and plant defoliation levels in Montana and North Dakota, United States of America. Spiders (Araneae) dominated the complex, followed by Nabidae (Hemiptera) and Coccinellidae (Coleoptera). None of the dominant predators showed aggregative responses to weevil (Hypera postica (Gyllenhal); Coleoptera: Curculionidae) or pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris); Hemiptera: Aphididae) densities across 10 sites surveyed. However, weevil densities were positively correlated with both coccinellid and nabid densities across transects at the experimental site. Thus, predator groups traditionally associated with aphids can show strong aggregative numerical responses to alfalfa weevil larvae at smaller scales. Predator exclusion revealed no significant predator effects on larval survival or alfalfa damage. However, final densities of pea aphids were significantly higher in exclusion treatments relative to controls. The results suggest that even under conditions where predators exert significant pressure on aphids, they may still have minimal impacts on weevils. Additional experimental work is necessary to determine the broader potential of generalist predators as alfalfa weevil control agents.

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