Effect of Zebra Mussels, Dreissena polymorpha, on Macroinvertebrates in a Lake-outlet Stream

1999 ◽  
Vol 142 (2) ◽  
pp. 340-347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas G. Horvath ◽  
Kristine M. Martin ◽  
Gary A. Lamberti
1997 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 120-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
W L Perry ◽  
D M Lodge ◽  
G A Lamberti

To test the hypothesis that Orconectes spp. crayfishes could be a significant source of zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) mortality in streams, we conducted a laboratory experiment and a field experiment. In the laboratory experiment, maximum zebra mussel size consumed increased with increasing crayfish size for Orconectes rusticus, Orconectes propinquus, and Orconectes virilis. Slopes differed among crayfish species but not between O. rusticus sexes. To quantify crayfish impacts on seminatural zebra mussel populations, we placed 16 enclosures (0.2 m2) lined with artificial cobble substrata in a midwestern lake-outlet stream (mean width 17 m). Zebra mussels were stocked in each cage (20000 individuals/m2) 14 days before male O. rusticus (20 individuals/m2) were stocked in each of eight enclosures. Densities of all sizes of zebra mussels were reduced in enclosures, with a total density reduction of 31% over the 28 days of the experiment, relative to the exclosures. Crayfish also reduced gastropod densities by 54%, but did not significantly affect other invertebrates. Laboratory and field results suggest that predation by Orconectes crayfishes may significantly reduce zebra mussel populations in streams.


2006 ◽  
Vol 165 (2) ◽  
pp. 191-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcin Czarnołęski ◽  
Jan Kozłowski ◽  
Przemysław Kubajak ◽  
Krzysztof Lewandowski ◽  
Tomasz Müller ◽  
...  

1998 ◽  
Vol 32 (24) ◽  
pp. 3862-3867 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather A. Morrison ◽  
Frank A. P. C. Gobas ◽  
Rodica Lazar ◽  
D. Michael Whittle ◽  
G. Douglas Haffner

1997 ◽  
Vol 54 (8) ◽  
pp. 1903-1915 ◽  
Author(s):  
S A Thayer ◽  
R C Haas ◽  
R D Hunter ◽  
R H Kushler

Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) in enclosures located in an experimental pond adjacent to Lake St. Clair, Michigan, increased sedimentation rate but had relatively minor effects on percent organic matter and percent nitrogen content of sediment. In contrast, sediment from Lake St. Clair adjacent to zebra mussels was significantly higher in carbon than that 0.5 m away. Zebra mussels increase the nutritional value of surficial sediment and provide greater structural heterogeneity, which is probably more important in causing change among zoobenthos. Zoobenthos and yellow perch (Perca flavescens) diet were dominated by dipteran larvae and leeches. Zoobenthos was significantly different between enclosures with and without zebra mussels. Treatments with zebra mussels had significantly more oligochaetes and tended to have more crustaceans (isopods and amphipods). In June, yellow perch without zebra mussels consumed significantly more zooplankton, and those with mussels had more crustaceans in their diet. Zooplankton density was greater in treatments without zebra mussels. Yellow perch with zebra mussels grew significantly more than those without mussels. Zebra mussels in the enclosures neither reproduced nor were eaten by yellow perch; hence. the observed growth differences were due to indirect effects involving zebra mussel induced changes in benthic structure and biota.


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