Development of macroinvertebrate community structure associated with zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) colonization of artificial substrates

Abstract

We used artificial substrates (rocks < 1500 cm2 surface area) in shallow water (2 m) to assess the development of epilithic macroinvertebrate communities in the presence of zebra mussels. At a turbulent site (Wheatley, Lake Erie), previously colonized (with a non-zebra mussel community) and uncolonized rocks left for 1 year both had lower densities of total invertebrates than previously colonized rocks recovered after only 1 day. As zebra mussels colonized the rocks, Gammarus sp. (amphipods) increased in density, while Chironomini and Tanypodinae (midges), Polycentropus sp. (caddisflies), and Physella sp. and Pleurocera sp. (snails) declined. At a protected site (Stoney Point, Lake St. Clair), previously colonized rocks initially (2 months) had higher densities of many taxa, including zebra mussels, than uncolonized rocks. This difference disappeared after 1 year, as zebra mussels increased on all rocks. Gammarus sp. maintained its numbers, while Tricladida (flatworms) increased and Oecetis sp. (caddisflies), Physella sp., Pleurocera sp., and Tanypodinae declined. Although a similar "zebra mussel -amphipod" community developed on rocks at both sites, we hypothesize that at the turbulent site, zebra mussels and amphipods have a shared tolerance of unstable habitats, and zebra mussels facilitate amphipod colonization of rocks by increasing microhabitat stability and food supply. At the protected site, zebra mussels outcompete other surface dwellers like snails for space, and facilitate the colonization of scavenger-omnivores like amphipods and flatworms.RCsumC : Nous avons utilisk des substrats artificiels (pierres < 1500 cm2 de surface) en eau peu profonde (2 m) pour mesurer la formation des communautks de macroinvertkbrks kpilithiques en presence de la Moule zkbrke. A un site de forte turbulence (Wheatley, lac ~r i k ) , des pierres dkji coloniskes (d'une communautk de moules autres que la Moule zkbrke) et des pierres non prkalablement coloniskes laisskes durant 1 an comportaient des communautks d'invertkbrks moins denses que des pierres dkji coloniskes recueillies aprks seulement 1 journke. Avec l'arrivke des Moules zkbrkes sur les pierres, la population de Gammarus sp. (amphipodes) a augmentk de densitk alors que les Chironimini et les Tanypodinae (chironomides) de meme que les Polycentropus sp. (trichoptkres) et que les Physella sp. et Pleurocera sp. (gastropodes) ont diminuk de densitk. A un site protkgk (Stoney Point, lac St. Clair), les pierres dkjh coloniskes avaient, dkji aprks 2 mois, des densitks plus klevkes de plusieurs taxons, dont les Moules zkbrkes, que les pierres non coloniskes prkckdemment. La diffkrence s'est effacke aprks 1 an alors que les Moules zkbrkes sont devenues plus nombreuses sur toutes les pierres. La densitk des Gammarus sp. est restke stable, alors que celle des Tricladida (vers plats) a augmentk et que celles des Oecetis sp. (trichoptkres), des Physella sp. et des Pleurocera sp., de meme que celle des Tanypodinae, one diminuk. Bien qu'il se soit form6 une association (( Moule zkbr...

Temporal variation in zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) density structure the benthic food web and community composition on hard substrates in Lake Constance, Germany

“…Wisenden and Bailey 1995). We found Temporal variation in zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) density 2735 the density of the dominant amphipod G. roeselii was also related to the production of zebra mussel biodeposits only in LLC (Figs.…”

“…In comparison, the sampling site in LLC on an east shore is more wind-exposed, and therefore more turbulent, which influences the benthic community structure (Scheifhacken et al 2007). Zebra mussels can tolerate and stabilize turbulent conditions simply by the physical presence of their shells, which may facilitate settlement of other invertebrates on soft as well as on hard substrates (Dusoge 1966;Wisenden and Bailey 1995;Bially and MacIsaac 2000). The differences in the benthic community in LLC were an interactive effect of zebra mussel density (via stabilisation) and wind exposure, whereas the stabilising effect of zebra mussels was of less importance in the more sheltered sampling site in ULC.…”

Separating the effects of physical and biological aspects of mussel beds on their associated assemblages

“…Experimental attempts have been made to interpret various roles provided by mussels in terms of protection from waves, provision of complex 3-dimensional habitat (Dean 1981) or creation of nutrient-rich sediments (Kautsky & Evans 1987) for marine (Suchanek 1985, Tsuchiya & Nishihira 1986) and freshwater mussels (Wisenden & Bailey 1995, Ricciardi et al 1997). In many of these studies, only some aspects of the physical and biological features of the mussels were investigated, and in only a few cases, assemblages in experimental clumps of mussels were compared to those among natural mussels (Ricciardi et al 1997).…”

Malacocoenoses of large lowland dam reservoirs of The Vistula River basin and selected aspects of their function

“…competition for space or overgrowing snail shells by the bivalve (e.g. DUSOGE 1966, GIZIÑSKI & WOLNOMIEJSKI 1982, TUCKER 1994, WISENDEN & BAILEY 1995, HOWELL et al 1996, RICCIARDI et al 1997, GREEN-WOOD et al 2001.…”