Sea Lamprey Vs. Zebra Sea Lamprey Vs. Zebra MusselsMussels

Greg Lee – gilee@umich.eduGreg Lee – gilee@umich.eduChristine Hucal - hucalc@umich.eduChristine Hucal - hucalc@umich.eduDoug Galante - dgalante@umich.eduDoug Galante - dgalante@umich.edu

Section 8 Group 3

dnr.wi.gov/.../critter/invert/zebramussel.htm www-biol.paisley.ac.uk/.../lampr65_mouth.htm

IntroductionIntroduction

There have been numerous invasive There have been numerous invasive species introduced into the Great species introduced into the Great LakesLakes

Some examples include: sea Some examples include: sea lamprey, zebra muscles, carp, milfoil, lamprey, zebra muscles, carp, milfoil, white perch and many otherswhite perch and many others

Certain invasive species have a Certain invasive species have a larger impact on the ecosystem larger impact on the ecosystem compared to otherscompared to others

The questionThe question

Between zebra mussels and sea Between zebra mussels and sea lamprey, which invasive species has lamprey, which invasive species has a larger impact on their newly a larger impact on their newly invaded ecosystems?invaded ecosystems?

Our Hypothesis: Compared to sea Our Hypothesis: Compared to sea lamprey, we believe that the zebra lamprey, we believe that the zebra mussels have a larger impact on the mussels have a larger impact on the Great Lakes Region.Great Lakes Region.

Background information for sea Background information for sea lampreylamprey

Invaded the Great Lakes Region around Invaded the Great Lakes Region around 1932 (Coble 1990)1932 (Coble 1990)

Gained access into region after the Gained access into region after the completion of Welland Canal around completion of Welland Canal around Niagara Falls (Coble 1990)Niagara Falls (Coble 1990)

The average matured sea lamprey has a The average matured sea lamprey has a life span of 18 months. They spawn in June life span of 18 months. They spawn in June and then die after they spawn(Coble 1990) and then die after they spawn(Coble 1990)

Mature sea lampreys ascend tributaries Mature sea lampreys ascend tributaries from April to September (Coble 1990)from April to September (Coble 1990)

Background (cont)Background (cont)

Non-parasitic ammocoetes remain in substrate for Non-parasitic ammocoetes remain in substrate for 4-8 yrs (Coble 1990)4-8 yrs (Coble 1990)

Metamorphosize in July and mature in 1-1.5 yrs Metamorphosize in July and mature in 1-1.5 yrs (Coble 1990)(Coble 1990)

Shaped like eels and feed Shaped like eels and feed

by attaching to native by attaching to native

fish (such as lake trout) fish (such as lake trout)

and suck blood and other and suck blood and other

body fluids out ofbody fluids out of

them (Fetterolf 2006)them (Fetterolf 2006)

www.scar.utoronto.ca/~youson/lamprey-photo.htm

Background info on Zebra MusselsBackground info on Zebra Mussels

Dreissena polymorpha; a molluskDreissena polymorpha; a mollusk First found in Great Lakes Region in First found in Great Lakes Region in

1988 (Graham 2006)1988 (Graham 2006) Feed by filtering algaeFeed by filtering algae No natural predators in Great Lakes No natural predators in Great Lakes

region (Charlton 2006)region (Charlton 2006)

www.dgif.virginia.gov/wildlife/zebra_mussels.html

Background (cont)Background (cont)

Known as “ecosystem engineers” Known as “ecosystem engineers” (Zhu 2006)(Zhu 2006)

Able to move by muscular foot Able to move by muscular foot Feed and breathe by filtering water Feed and breathe by filtering water

through extensible tubes called through extensible tubes called siphons (Encyclopedia.com)siphons (Encyclopedia.com)

Can filter a quart of water per day Can filter a quart of water per day (Encyclopedia.com)(Encyclopedia.com)

www.lakegeorgeassociation.org/html/zebra_muss...

Effects of Sea Lamprey in Great Effects of Sea Lamprey in Great Lakes RegionLakes Region

Mainly impact fish communitiesMainly impact fish communities Suggested to have caused a decline in Suggested to have caused a decline in

burbot, trout, whitefish and herring burbot, trout, whitefish and herring (Fetterolf 2006)(Fetterolf 2006)

Most notable Most notable

damage damage

was seen in Lakewas seen in Lake

Trout Trout

(Fetterolf 2006)(Fetterolf 2006)

www.umesc.usgs.gov/.../tech_assistance.html

Effects (Cont)Effects (Cont)

Sea Lamprey suggested to be major Sea Lamprey suggested to be major cause of decline of Lake Trout in Lake cause of decline of Lake Trout in Lake Michigan and Huron but not Superior Michigan and Huron but not Superior (Coble 1990)(Coble 1990)

Even so, this hypothesis is still under Even so, this hypothesis is still under further investigation because decline of further investigation because decline of Lake Trout was shown to have occurred Lake Trout was shown to have occurred within a year of sea lamprey within a year of sea lamprey introduction which isn’t enough time to introduction which isn’t enough time to have caused such a drastic decline have caused such a drastic decline (Coble 1990)(Coble 1990)

www.sgnis.org/publicat/slide/sl_s5.htm www.invasive.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=1354049

Graph of decline in Lake TroutGraph of decline in Lake Trout(Coble 1990)(Coble 1990)

Sea Lamprey and Trout Predation Sea Lamprey and Trout Predation Stella ModelStella Model

Trout Population

Trout DeathsTrout Births

Sea lamprey

Population

Trout Birth Rate

Lamprey Births Lamprey Deaths

Phy siollogical ef f iciancy Lamprey Death Rate

Lamprey Predation

Assumptions for Stella model:

1)All death of trout are caused by Sea lamprey2)Trout are the only prey for sea lamprey3)There are no predators for the sea lamprey

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Scenario 2: The Trout population was increased by 200% (population 3999) as a result of restoration efforts. Because nothing was done about the sea lamprey, the population declined just as quickly

Scenario 1: Sea lamprey population: 500, trout population: 1333. The sea lamprey population grows as they eventually push the trout to extinction. The sea lamprey population only declines because we assumed that trout were their only prey

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Scenario 3: Sea lamprey population was reduced to 100 as a result of recovery efforts. The trout population was restocked by 200% once again (stays at 3999). The trout population still is destroyed by the sea lamprey

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•From the information gained using the Stella model, It can be said that the sea lamprey has great impact on the trout population and the population for other large fish within the great lakes

•However, it appears that the sea lamprey only have an effect on these fish and not much else

•Because fish such as Lake trout are In a high trophic level, there is less effect on the total ecosystem

Effects of Zebra Mussels in Great Effects of Zebra Mussels in Great Lakes RegionLakes Region

Since no natural predator, zebra mussel Since no natural predator, zebra mussel population has gotten very largepopulation has gotten very large

Harmed the lake bottoms, affecting fish habitat Harmed the lake bottoms, affecting fish habitat and spawning (Charlton 2004)and spawning (Charlton 2004)

Excrete nutrients which can lead to poor water Excrete nutrients which can lead to poor water quality (Charlton 2004)quality (Charlton 2004)

Promotes formation of algae growth along Promotes formation of algae growth along shorelines and outbreaks of botulism in wildlife shorelines and outbreaks of botulism in wildlife (Sullivan 2006)(Sullivan 2006)

Causes a big gap in food Causes a big gap in food chain by consuming a vast chain by consuming a vast quantity of planktonquantity of plankton (Giacomo 1993)(Giacomo 1993)

dnr.wi.gov/.../critter/invert/zebramussel.htm

Effects (cont)Effects (cont) Increase water clarity by filtering particles and Increase water clarity by filtering particles and

consuming them or binding them in pseudofeces (Zhu consuming them or binding them in pseudofeces (Zhu 2006)2006)

Leads to deeper light penetration and enhances Leads to deeper light penetration and enhances photosynthesis (Zhu 2006)photosynthesis (Zhu 2006)

See expanded distribution See expanded distribution and diversity of macrophytes and diversity of macrophytes due to increasing nutrient due to increasing nutrient availability by mussels availability by mussels (Zhu 2006)(Zhu 2006) Therefore they might Therefore they might actually be increasing actually be increasing biodiversitybiodiversity

http://epod.usra.edu/archive/images/zebra_1.jpg

Spread of Zebra Mussels Spread of Zebra Mussels in North America from in North America from 1988 to 19981988 to 1998 (Charlton 2004)(Charlton 2004)

Because zebra mussels have no natural predators, they have been able to spread across North America through rivers and streams.

Stella Model Representing AreasStella Model Representing Areas

Effected by Zebra MusselsEffected by Zebra Mussels

Introduction of

Zebra Mussels

Algae Growth

Plankton Consumed

Harmed Lake

Bottoms

Filtering and

consumption of particles

Nutrients Excreted

Harmful to Fish

and Habitat

Reduction In

Wildlife Population

Reduction of Biodiversity

Disruption in

Food Chain

Botulism

Water Quality

Water becomes

More Clear

Poor in Nutriants

Increased photosynthesis

Growth of new Pants

Increased Biodiversity

•Zebra mussels have many direct and indirect effects on the great lakes ecosystem

•Because zebra mussels are lower on the trophic level they effect many species that are higher on the trophic level

•They produce a wider ranging effect on a multitude of other native species by altering the environment.

•They impact the environment both in a positive and negative way

Analysis of Stella Chart

Take Home MessagesTake Home Messages Sea lamprey as a whole only affect small subset of fish Sea lamprey as a whole only affect small subset of fish

population with very little secondary affectspopulation with very little secondary affects The effect of sea lamprey are still under further The effect of sea lamprey are still under further

investigation as to whether or not they truly have a investigation as to whether or not they truly have a dramatic impact on the decline certain species of fishdramatic impact on the decline certain species of fish

Zebra mussels on the other hand are known to be Zebra mussels on the other hand are known to be “ecosystem engineers” and have a larger effect on their “ecosystem engineers” and have a larger effect on their newly acquired environment as a whole.newly acquired environment as a whole.

Images:Images:-Zebra Mussels clogging -Zebra Mussels clogging a pipe. (Left)a pipe. (Left)-Shopping cart that -Shopping cart that resided in Zebra musselresided in Zebra mussel infested waters for a few infested waters for a few months. (Right)months. (Right)

www.miseagrant.umich.edu/photos/ais/zmussel.html www.fnal.gov/.../archive_2006/today06-05-04.html

BibliographyBibliography Aldridge, D.C., Elliot, P., and Moggridge, G.D. 2003. Microencapsulated Aldridge, D.C., Elliot, P., and Moggridge, G.D. 2003. Microencapsulated

BioBullets for the Control of Biofoulling zebra mussels. Environmental BioBullets for the Control of Biofoulling zebra mussels. Environmental Science and Technology 40.3: 975-979Science and Technology 40.3: 975-979

Bially, A., & Macisaac, H. J. 2000. Fouling mussels (Bially, A., & Macisaac, H. J. 2000. Fouling mussels (DreissenaDreissena spp.) colonize spp.) colonize soft sediments in Lake Erie and facilitate benthic invertebrates. soft sediments in Lake Erie and facilitate benthic invertebrates. Freshwater Biology 43(1): 85-97

Coble, D.W., Bruesewitz, R.E., Fratt, T.W., and Scheirer, J.W. 1990. Lake Coble, D.W., Bruesewitz, R.E., Fratt, T.W., and Scheirer, J.W. 1990. Lake Trout, Sea lampreys, and Overfishing in the Upper Great Lakes: A Review Trout, Sea lampreys, and Overfishing in the Upper Great Lakes: A Review and Reanalysis. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 119:985-and Reanalysis. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 119:985-995995

Giacomo, R.S., and Randell, N.G. 1993. Invasion of the Zebra Mussels. Civil Engineering 63: 56-58

Reed, T., Wielgus, S.J., Barnes, A.K., Schiefelbein, J.J., and Fettes, A.L. 2004. Refugia and Local Controls: Benthic Invertebrate Dynamics in Lower Green Bay, Lake Michigan following Zebra Mussel Invasion. Great Lakes Res. 30(3):390–396

Zhu, B., Fitzgerald, D.G., Mayer, C.M., Rudstam, L.G., and Mills, E.L. 2006. Zhu, B., Fitzgerald, D.G., Mayer, C.M., Rudstam, L.G., and Mills, E.L. 2006. Alteration of Ecosystem Function by Zebra mussels in Oneida Lake: Alteration of Ecosystem Function by Zebra mussels in Oneida Lake: Impacts on Submerged Macrophytes. Ecosystems 9:1017-1028 Impacts on Submerged Macrophytes. Ecosystems 9:1017-1028

Internet ReferencesInternet References Charlton, M. “Are Zebra Mussels Reshaping Great Lakes Charlton, M. “Are Zebra Mussels Reshaping Great Lakes

Shorelines?” 2004. <http://www.nwri.ca/envirozine/issue35-Shorelines?” 2004. <http://www.nwri.ca/envirozine/issue35-e.html > e.html >

Fetterlof, C. “Sea lamprey in the Great Lakes”. 2003.Fetterlof, C. “Sea lamprey in the Great Lakes”. 2003. <<http://biology.usgs.gov/s+t/SNT/noframe/g1129.htm> Graham, L. “Invasives Destroying Great Lakes Food Chain”. Graham, L. “Invasives Destroying Great Lakes Food Chain”.

2006.2006. <http://glrc.org/transcript.php3?story_id=3213><http://glrc.org/transcript.php3?story_id=3213> Sullivan, P. “Invasive Species Starts to take a Toll”. 2006.Sullivan, P. “Invasive Species Starts to take a Toll”. 2006. < http://www.record-eagle.com/2006/nov/18bird.htm>< http://www.record-eagle.com/2006/nov/18bird.htm> http://http://www.encyclopedia.com/SearchResults.aspx?Qwww.encyclopedia.com/SearchResults.aspx?Q

=zebra%20mussels=zebra%20mussels