Remote sensing of biotic effects: Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) influence on water clarity in Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron

Microcystis aeruginosa, a planktonic colonial cyanobacterium, was not abundant in the 2-year period before zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) establishment in Saginaw Bay (Lake Huron) but became abundant in three of five summers subsequent of mussel establishment. Using novel methods, we determined clearance, capture, and assimilation rates for zebra mussels feeding on natural and laboratory M. aeruginosa strains offered alone or in combination with other algae. Results were consistent with the hypothesis that zebra mussels promoted blooms of toxic M. aeruginosa in Saginaw Bay, western Lake Erie, and other lakes through selective rejection in pseudofeces. Mussels exhibited high feeding rates similar to those seen for a highly desirable food alga (Cryptomonas) with both large ( >53 µm) and small (<53 µm) colonies of a nontoxic and a toxic laboratory strain of M. aeruginosa known to cause blockage of feeding in zooplankton. In experiments with naturally occurring toxic M. aeruginosa from Saginaw Bay and Lake Erie and a toxic isolate from Lake Erie, mussels exhibited lowered or normal filtering rates with rejection of M. aeruginosa in pseudofeces. Selective rejection depended on "unpalatable" toxic strains of M. aeruginosa occurring as large colonies that could be rejected efficiently while small desirable algae were ingested.

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Ecosystem-Level Effects of Zebra Mussels (Dreissena polymorpha): An Enclosure Experiment in Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron

Journal of Great Lakes Research ◽

10.1016/s0380-1330(95)71062-0 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 21 (4) ◽

pp. 501-516 ◽

Cited By ~ 93

Author(s):

Robert T. Heath ◽

Gary L. Fahnenstiel ◽

Wayne S. Gardner ◽

Joann F. Cavaletto ◽

Soon-Jin Hwang

Keyword(s):

Dreissena Polymorpha ◽

Zebra Mussels ◽

Lake Huron ◽

Saginaw Bay ◽

Enclosure Experiment ◽

Ecosystem Level

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Zooplankton Grazing During the Zebra Mussel ( Dreissena polymorpha ) Colonization of Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron

Journal of Great Lakes Research ◽

10.1016/s0380-1330(95)71067-x ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 21 (4) ◽

pp. 567-573 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

Thomas B. Bridgeman ◽

Gary L. Fahnenstiel ◽

Gregory A. Lang ◽

Thomas F. Nalepa

Keyword(s):

Zebra Mussel ◽

Dreissena Polymorpha ◽

Lake Huron ◽

Zooplankton Grazing ◽

Saginaw Bay

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Effects of Zebra Mussel ( Dreissena polymorpha ) Colonization on Water Quality Parameters in Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron

Journal of Great Lakes Research ◽

10.1016/s0380-1330(95)71057-7 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 21 (4) ◽

pp. 435-448 ◽

Cited By ~ 140

Author(s):

Gary L. Fahnenstiel ◽

Gregory A. Lang ◽

Thomas F. Nalepa ◽

Thomas H. Johengen

Keyword(s):

Water Quality ◽

Zebra Mussel ◽

Dreissena Polymorpha ◽

Quality Parameters ◽

Water Quality Parameters ◽

Lake Huron ◽

Saginaw Bay

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Response of yellow perch (Perca flavescens) in Oneida Lake, New York, to the establishment of zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha)

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences ◽

10.1139/f00-009 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 57 (4) ◽

pp. 742-754 ◽

Cited By ~ 38

Author(s):

C M Mayer ◽

A J VanDeValk ◽

J L Forney ◽

L G Rudstam ◽

E L Mills

Keyword(s):

New York ◽

Zebra Mussel ◽

Dreissena Polymorpha ◽

Yellow Perch ◽

Perca Flavescens ◽

Water Clarity ◽

Zebra Mussels ◽

Oneida Lake ◽

Zooplankton Size ◽

Adult Growth

We used long-term data on Oneida Lake, New York, to evaluate hypotheses about the effects of introduced zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) on yellow perch (Perca flavescens). We detected no change in survival, diet, or numbers of young-of-the-year (YOY) yellow perch. YOY growth increased in association with zebra mussel introduction and was marginally correlated with zooplankton size, which increased after zebra mussel introduction. Low numbers of YOY in recent years did not explain their increased growth rate. The percentage of age 3 and older yellow perch that consumed zooplankton and benthos increased after zebra mussel introduction. Water clarity, which has increased since zebra mussel introduction, was inversely related to the percentage of the adult population with empty stomachs and positively related to the percentage that consumed benthos. The percentage of adult yellow perch that consumed zooplankton was positively related to zooplankton size. Despite the increase in percentage of adults consuming both types of invertebrate prey, we detected no changes in adult growth associated with zebra mussel introduction. This suggests that the principal effects of zebra mussels on yellow perch in Oneida Lake were not via benthic pathways but through modifications of water clarity and zooplankton. Thus far, these effects have not been negative for the yellow perch population.

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