Ricciardi, A. and H.M. Reiswig, 2000. Comment on "Zebra Mussel Destruction by a Lake Michigan Sponge: Populations, in Vivo P-31 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, and Phospholipid Profiling", Dalhousie University.

Reprinted with permission from Environmental Science & Technology (2000) 34(7): 1379-1380. Copyright 2000 American Chemical Society.

Comment on "Zebra Mussel Destruction by a Lake Michigan Sponge: Populations, in Vivo P-31 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, and Phospholipid Profiling"

Abstract
SIR: We take issue with the paper by Early and Glonek (1) dealing with a remarkable biological interaction between native freshwater sponges and invading zebra mussels in the Great Lakes. The authors describe the effects of luxuriant overgrowth by the sponge Eunaplus fragiillis zebra mussels and interpret this interaction as a form of predation on mussel tissues. They imply that their study is the first to identify this native species "exerting a significant impact [on zebra mussels] on a local level". 

However, our study published in 1995 (2) showed that (i) sponge overgrowth (particularly by the species E. fragillis) on zebra mussels occurs frequently in Lake Erie and the St. Lawrence River, (ii) this overgrowth causes mussels to become emaciated and significantly increases population mortality, and (iii) sponge-induced mortality has little effect on zebra mussel densities beyond a local scale because of high mussel recruitment and environmental constraints on sponge growth. Early and Glonek have cited our study erroneously in reference to the effects of sponges on native unionid mussel species. 

Contact: Anthony Ricciardi, Dalhousie University, Department of Biology, Halifax, NS B3H 4J1, CANADA
Key Words: Zebra_mussel, Environmental_impacts, Population_dynamics
Product Type: Publication, Report, Impact
User Type: General