| Project Abstract: |
The Great Lakes basin has a lengthy history of biological invasions. The spiny water flea (Bythotrephes longimanus) is an invasive zooplankter that received increasing attention over the past decade as its effects on Great Lakes ecology became apparent and invasion of the region’s inland waters began to occur. National park units in the western Great Lakes region (Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Isle Royale National Park, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore) feature abundant and valuable inland water resources that are vulnerable to invasion by Bythotrephes. Two lakes at Pictured Rocks have already been invaded. Effects of this invasion on lake ecology have not been evaluated, and it is unclear whether or not Bythotrephes has invaded inland lakes of other Great Lakes parks. The proposed study aims to 1) determine which inland lakes and parks have been invaded, 2) investigate the effects of Bythotrephes invasions on two inland lakes at Pictured Rocks, and 3) convey the implications of these findings to the public. Results of the study will establish a baseline against which to monitor future invasions of inland waters in Great Lakes parks and identify which aquatic resources may be most affected by such invasions. |
