Mellina, E.,  J. B. Rasmussen,  and E. L. Mills,   1995.   Impact of Zebra Mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) on Phosphorus Cycling and Chlorophyll in Lakes,  McGill University,  Cornell University

-- Reprinted from Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci., Vol. 52, 1995:2552-2573 with permission from NRC Research Press

Impact of Zebra Mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) on Phosphorus Cycling and Chlorophyll in Lakes

Abstract:
We determined the effects of zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) on water column phosphorus (P) and chlorophyll a levels and algal community size structure as well as rates of P excretion in laboratory experiments. Zebra mussel at a threshold density of 0.25/L were able to decouple the nutrient-chlorophyll relationship, to induce erratic patterns in P and chlorophyll a trends, and to decrease mean algal cell sizes. Using shell length we explained 75 and 71% of the variability in P excretion rates in trials held at 17 and 22°C. Using mass balance modeling, we examined the effects of zebra mussel growth and mortality on mean annual steady-state P levels as functions of hydraulic flushing and P loadings for the western basin of Lake Erie, for Lake St. Clair. and for Oneida Lake. Zebra mussel affected water column P levels only when the annual P accumulated into mussel biomass represented > 20% of the lake's annual P loading. The mussel populations in all three lakes did not substantially affect water column P levels but decoupling of the nutrient-chlorophyll relationship was observed in lakes Erie and St. Clair. No evidence was found for increased decoupling of this relationship with increasing zebra mussel density in European lakes.

Entire Paper - Part 1, Entire Paper - Part 2
Contact: E. L. Mills at Department of Natural Resources, Cornell University Biological Field Station, Bridgeport, NY 13030 or elm5@come11.edu
Keywords: Bio-accumulation, Environmental_impacts, Zebra_mussel
Product Type: Impact, Research
User Type: Resource_management