Interactions between zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) and microbial communities

2000 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
pp. 591-599 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc E Frischer ◽  
Sandra A Nierzwicki-Bauer ◽  
Robert H Parsons ◽  
Kanda Vathanodorn ◽  
Kelli R Waitkus
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Zebra Mussel ◽  
Dreissena Polymorpha ◽  
Hudson River ◽  
Zebra Mussels ◽  
Community Diversity ◽  
Ecological Effect ◽  
Clearance Rates ◽  
Surrounding Water ◽  
The Impact

Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) have had an enormous impact on aquatic environments. However, little is known concerning their interactions with microbial communities. In these studies, the ability of zebra mussels to derive nutrition from bacterioplankton and their effect on microbial community diversity were investigated in samples from the Hudson River, New York, and in laboratory studies. Clear physiological responses to starvation were observed, including decreases in respiration rates, lipid content, and total weight, that were reversed after feeding zebra mussels a diet of bacteria. Clearance rates of bacteria were correlated with bacteria size (r2= 0.995), with the lowest clearance rates associated with small indigenous river bacteria (size = 0.03 ± 0.04 µm3, clearance rate = 0.08 ± 0.02 mL·mussel-1·min-1). Comparison of the diversity of microbial communities in zebra mussel tissue extract, detritus, and pseudofecal material associated with zebra mussel colonies, surrounding water, and sediment samples revealed distinct microbial assemblages associated with these environments. The overall ecological effect and importance of bacteria - zebra mussel interactions remains unclear, but these studies indicate that these interactions occur and should be included in our efforts to better understand the impact of zebra mussels on aquatic systems.

Indirect effects of zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) on the planktonic food web

2003 ◽  
Vol 60 (11) ◽  
pp. 1353-1368 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erik G Noonburg ◽  
Brian J Shuter ◽  
Peter A Abrams
Keyword(s):  
Food Web ◽  
Indirect Effects ◽  
Zebra Mussel ◽  
Dreissena Polymorpha ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Zebra Mussels ◽  
Trophic Groups ◽  
Planktonic Food ◽  
Zooplankton Density ◽  
The Impact

The exotic zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) has caused dramatic reductions in phytoplankton density in lakes with dense mussel populations. However, the indirect effects of this invader on other trophic groups have been inconsistent and difficult to interpret. In some lakes, zebra mussels appear to have had little effect on zooplankton density, despite decreasing the abundance of their phytoplankton prey. We analyze food web models to test hypothesized mechanisms for the absence of a strong effect of dreissenids on zooplankton. Our results suggest that neither reduced inedible algal interference with zooplankton filtering nor reduced phytoplankton self-shading is sufficient to explain the insensitivity of zooplankton populations to dreissenid competition. Instead, we show how the impact of benthic filter feeders can be influenced by the rate of mixing within a basin, which limits phytoplankton delivery to the benthos. We explore the predictions of a simple spatially structured model and demonstrate that differences in abiotic factors that control mixing can result in large differences in direct and indirect effects of zebra mussel filtering.

Effects of the zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) invasion on the macrobenthos of the freshwater tidal Hudson River

1998 ◽  
Vol 76 (3) ◽  
pp. 419-425 ◽  
Author(s):  
David L Strayer ◽  
Lane C Smith ◽  
Dean C Hunter
Keyword(s):  
Shallow Water ◽  
Deep Water ◽  
Zebra Mussel ◽  
Dreissena Polymorpha ◽  
Hudson River ◽  
Zebra Mussels ◽  
Simple Change ◽  
Local Densities ◽  
Animal Communities ◽  
Hard Substrata

To assess the effect of the zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) invasion on benthic animal communities, we monitored the macrozoobenthos at eight sites in the freshwater tidal Hudson River in 1990-1995. Zebra mussels were absent or scarce in the Hudson River before September 1992, but abundant (mean 17 000/m2) on hard substrata in 1993-1995 and responsible for large declines in phytoplankton biomass. All of our monitoring stations had soft sediments, and so had low local densities of zebra mussels (mean 78/m2). Nevertheless, we observed marked changes in the macrozoobenthos at these stations. Sphaeriid clams declined by 67% between 1990-1992 and 1993-1995, but no other group of macrobenthos showed a simple change in density between 1990-1992 and 1993-1995 across all eight monitoring sites. Instead, most taxa showed a strong interaction between zebra mussel impacts and water depth. At deep-water sites, macrozoobenthic density declined by 33% between 1990-1992 and 1993-1995, while at shallow-water sites, density rose by 25%. We suggest that these changes were probably caused by reduced sedimentation of edible particles at deep-water sites combined with increased biomass of macrophytes and attached algae at shallow-water sites.

Effects of the exotic zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) on metal cycling in Lake Erie

1997 ◽  
Vol 54 (7) ◽  
pp. 1630-1638 ◽  
Author(s):  
P L Klerks ◽  
P C Fraleigh ◽  
J E Lawniczak
Keyword(s):  
Water Column ◽  
Coming Out ◽  
Zebra Mussel ◽  
Dreissena Polymorpha ◽  
Lake Erie ◽  
Zebra Mussels ◽  
Western Lake ◽  
Metal Levels ◽  
Lake Bottom ◽  
The Impact

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-2 · 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).

Seasonal effects of the zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) on sediment denitrification rates in Pool 8 of the Upper Mississippi River

2006 ◽  
Vol 63 (5) ◽  
pp. 957-969 ◽  
Author(s):  
Denise A Bruesewitz ◽  
Jennifer L Tank ◽  
Melody J Bernot ◽  
William B Richardson ◽  
Eric A Strauss
Keyword(s):  
Mississippi River ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Zebra Mussel ◽  
Dreissena Polymorpha ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Zebra Mussels ◽  
Seasonal Effects ◽  
Upper Mississippi River ◽  
Repeated Measures Analysis ◽  
The Impact

Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) have altered the structure of invaded ecosystems and exhibit characteristics that suggest they may influence ecosystem processes such as nitrogen (N) cycling. We measured denitrification rates seasonally on sediments underlying zebra mussel beds collected from the impounded zone of Navigation Pool 8 of the Upper Mississippi River. Denitrification assays were amended with nutrients to characterize variation in nutrient limitation of denitrification in the presence or absence of zebra mussels. Denitrification rates at zebra mussel sites were high relative to sites without zebra mussels in February 2004 (repeated measures analysis of variance (RM ANOVA), p = 0.005), potentially because of high NO3–-N variability from nitrification of high NH4+ zebra mussel waste. Denitrification rates were highest in June 2003 (RM ANOVA, p < 0.001), corresponding with the highest NO3–-N concentrations during the study (linear regression, R2 = 0.72, p < 0.001). Denitrification was always N-limited, but sites without zebra mussels showed the strongest response to N amendments relative to sites with zebra mussels (two-way ANOVA, p ≤ 0.01). Examining how zebra mussels influence denitrification rates will aid in developing a more complete understanding of the impact of zebra mussels and more effective management strategies of eutrophic waters.

Zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) effects on sediment, other zoobenthos, and the diet and growth of adult yellow perch (Perca flavescens) in pond enclosures

1997 ◽  
Vol 54 (8) ◽  
pp. 1903-1915 ◽  
Author(s):  
S A Thayer ◽  
R C Haas ◽  
R D Hunter ◽  
R H Kushler
Keyword(s):  
Zebra Mussel ◽  
Dreissena Polymorpha ◽  
Yellow Perch ◽  
Perca Flavescens ◽  
Structural Heterogeneity ◽  
Zebra Mussels ◽  
Zooplankton Density ◽  
Growth Differences ◽  
Percent Nitrogen ◽  
Induced Changes

Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) in enclosures located in an experimental pond adjacent to Lake St. Clair, Michigan, increased sedimentation rate but had relatively minor effects on percent organic matter and percent nitrogen content of sediment. In contrast, sediment from Lake St. Clair adjacent to zebra mussels was significantly higher in carbon than that 0.5 m away. Zebra mussels increase the nutritional value of surficial sediment and provide greater structural heterogeneity, which is probably more important in causing change among zoobenthos. Zoobenthos and yellow perch (Perca flavescens) diet were dominated by dipteran larvae and leeches. Zoobenthos was significantly different between enclosures with and without zebra mussels. Treatments with zebra mussels had significantly more oligochaetes and tended to have more crustaceans (isopods and amphipods). In June, yellow perch without zebra mussels consumed significantly more zooplankton, and those with mussels had more crustaceans in their diet. Zooplankton density was greater in treatments without zebra mussels. Yellow perch with zebra mussels grew significantly more than those without mussels. Zebra mussels in the enclosures neither reproduced nor were eaten by yellow perch; hence. the observed growth differences were due to indirect effects involving zebra mussel induced changes in benthic structure and biota.

scholarly journals Experimental evidence of chemical attraction in the mutualistic zebra mussel-killer shrimp system

PeerJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. e8075
Author(s):  
Matteo Rolla ◽  
Sofia Consuegra ◽  
Eleanor Carrington ◽  
David J. Hall ◽  
Carlos Garcia de Leaniz
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Zebra Mussel ◽  
Dreissena Polymorpha ◽  
Choice Test ◽  
Freshwater Species ◽  
Plausible Mechanism ◽  
Chemical Attraction ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
Artificial Grass ◽  
The Impact

Invasion facilitation, whereby one species has a positive effect on the establishment of another species, could help explain the rapid colonisation shown by some freshwater invasive species, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We employed two-choice test arenas to test whether the presence of zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) could facilitate the establishment of the killer shrimp (Dikerogammarus villosus). Killer shrimp preferred to settle on mats of zebra mussel, but this was unrelated to mat size, and was not different from attraction shown to artificial grass, suggesting that zebra mussel primarily provides substrate and refuge to the killer shrimp. Killer shrimp were strongly attracted to water scented by zebra mussel, but not to water scented by fish. Chemical attraction to the zebra mussel’s scent did not differ between sympatric and allopatric populations of killer shrimp, suggesting that chemical attraction is not an acquired or learned trait. Our study shows, for the first time, chemical attraction between two highly invasive freshwater species, thereby providing a plausible mechanism for invasion facilitation. This has implications for managing the spread of killer shrimp, and perhaps other freshwater invasive species, because chemical attraction could significantly increase establishment success in mutualistic systems. Failure to consider invasion facilitation may underestimate the risk of establishment, and likely also the impact of some aquatic invaders.

scholarly journals The Zebra Mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) as a Model Organism for Ecotoxicological Studies: A Prior 1H NMR Spectrum Interpretation of a Whole Body Extract for Metabolism Monitoring

Metabolites ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie Martine Prud’homme ◽  
Younes Mohamed Ismail Hani ◽  
Neil Cox ◽  
Guy Lippens ◽  
Jean-Marc Nuzillard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
1H Nmr ◽  
Zebra Mussel ◽  
Dreissena Polymorpha ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Physiological State ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Reference Spectrum ◽  
Nmr Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Interpretation ◽  
The Impact

The zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) represents a useful reference organism for the ecotoxicological study of inland waters, especially for the characterization of the disturbances induced by human activities. A nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabolomic approach was developed on this species. The investigation of its informative potential required the prior interpretation of a reference 1H NMR spectrum of a lipid-free zebra mussel extract. After the extraction of polar metabolites from a pool of whole-body D. polymorpha powder, the resulting highly complex 1D 1H NMR spectrum was interpreted and annotated through the analysis of the corresponding 2D homonuclear and heteronuclear NMR spectra. The spectrum interpretation was completed and validated by means of sample spiking with 24 commercial compounds. Among the 238 detected 1H signals, 53% were assigned, resulting in the identification of 37 metabolites with certainty or high confidence, while 5 metabolites were only putatively identified. The description of such a reference spectrum and its annotation are expected to speed up future analyses and interpretations of NMR-based metabolomic studies on D. polymorpha and to facilitate further explorations of the impact of environmental changes on its physiological state, more particularly in the context of large-scale ecological and ecotoxicological studies.

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