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Klerks, P.L., P.C Fraleigh, and J.E. Lawniczak, 1997. Effects of the Exotic Zebra
Mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) on the Metal Cycling in Lake Erie, University of
Southwestern Louisiana
Reprinted from Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
(1997) 54:
1630-1638
Effects of the Exotic Zebra Mussel (Dreissena polymorpha)
on the Metal Cycling in Lake Erie
Abstract
This research demonstrated the impact of high densities of the zebra mussel (Dreissena
polymorpha) on the cycling of copper, nickel, and zinc in a lake environment.
Experiments with mussels on sedimentation traps in western Lake Erie and with mussels in
flow-through tanks receiving Lake Erie water showed that zebra mussels remove metals from
the water column, incorporate metals in their tissues, and deposit metals on the lake
bottom. Removal of metals from the water column was estimated at 10-17%·day -1 of the amounts present. This material was largely
deposited on the lake bottom; zebra mussels more than doubled the rate at which metals
were being added to the lake bottom. Metal biodeposition rates were extremely high (e.g.,
50 mg Zn·m ·day -1
) in high-turbidity areas with elevated metal levels. Two factors contributed to
metal biodeposition by zebra mussels. First, their production of feces and pseudofeces
increased the rate at which suspended matter was being added to the sediment (accounting
for 92% of the increased metal biodeposition). Second, the material coming out of
suspension had higher metal concentrations when zebra mussels were present (constituting
8% of the increased biodeposition).
Entire Paper
Contact: P.L. Klerks, Department of Biology, University of Southwestern
Louisiana, P.O. Box 42451, Lafayette, LA 70504
Keywords: Zebra_mussel, Ecological_interactions, Bio_accumulation, Environmental_impact
Product Type: Research,
Impact
User Type: Resource_management
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