Edwards, A.J., 1997.  Unassisted Range Expansion of Ruffe in the Great Lakes, U.S. Geological Survey

Proceedings of the International Symposium on Biology and Management of Ruffe, March 21-23, 1997

Unassisted Range Expansion of Ruffe in the Great Lakes

Abstract
Ruffe were first discovered in the St. Louis River estuary, western Lake Superior, in 1986, and by December 1996 had extended their range from Thunder Bay, Ontario to Ontonagon, Michigan in Lake Superior and to a Lake Huron harbor at Alpena, Michigan. The presence of ruffe has been confirmed in 24 locations outside the St. Louis River. Ballast water transport was likely responsible for moving ruffe to Thunder Bay, Ontario and Alpena, Michigan, but not for all other range expansions in Lake Superior. We examined the unassisted range expansion of ruffe in the Great Lakes, explored potential expansion mechanisms, discussed environmental factors as aides and barriers to unassisted expansion, calculated theoretical expansion rates, and predicted future dates of ruffe establishment beyond their current range.

Contact: Andrew J. Edwards, U.S. Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division, Great Lakes Science Center, Lake Superior Biological Station, Ashland, WI 54806
Keywords: Ruffe, Dispersal_mechanisms, Population_dynamics
Product Type: Publications, Conference_proceedings
User Type: General