Monitoring Mussels to Manage Algal Blooms
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The document summarizes research on dreissenid mussel monitoring for the Great Lakes Nutrient Initiative from 2012-2015. The initiative's goal is to set phosphorus concentration targets for Lake Erie to limit nuisance algal blooms. Researchers monitored mussel biomass and tissue phosphorus at nearshore sites to understand the relationship between mussels and algae levels since mussels filter water and influence phosphorus availability. The summary describes lab procedures for processing mussel samples and analyzing the data to interpret size distributions and biomass/density trends over the study period. The overall aim is to study how water quality relates to biological conditions in Lake Erie.
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Monitoring Mussels to Manage Algal Blooms
- 1. Water Quality Monitoring and Surveillance Division Jillian Belcot BSc (Hons) & Zach Leslie BA (Hons) Dreissenid Mussel Monitoring for the Great Lakes Nutrient Initiative (GLNI) 2012-2015
- 2. Page 2 – December 3, 2015 Outline of Presentation • Great Lakes Nutrient Initiative (GLNI) Objective • Nuisance Algae (Cladophora) • Background Research on Dreissena Mussels • Focusing on GLNI’s Nearshore Program – Focusing on the phosphorus bioavailability from mussels • Lab Procedures • Data Analysis and Interpretation • Conclusion
- 3. Page 3 – December 3, 2015 The Great Lakes Nutrient Initiative (GLNI) • GLNI’s goal is to set phosphorus concentration targets for the tributaries, nearshore and open waters of Lake Erie – These targets will help determine the best management practices to limit the recurrence of nuisance (Cladophora) and harmful algae blooms
- 4. Page 4 – December 3, 2015 Nuisance Algae (Cladophora) • Cladophora Glomerata forms extensive blooms in nearshore areas of eastern Lake Erie • Implications: – Restrict recreational uses of beaches – cause odor problems – create problems for water intakes – foul the nets of commercial fishermen – reduce property values
- 5. Page 5 – December 3, 2015 Background: Nuisance Algae After detaching, Cladophora accumulates and decomposes on shore.
- 6. Page 6 – December 3, 2015 Background: Nuisance Algae Cladophora often grows in the same vicinity as mussels.
- 7. Page 7 – December 3, 2015 Mussel Background • Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) were first discovered in Lake St. Clair in 1988 • Zebra and Quagga mussels filter 1L of water per day • Female mussels can produce up to one million eggs each year
- 8. Page 8 – December 3, 2015 Mussels as Biological Indicators • The objective is to reduce algae (Cladophora) - The focus is on studying the relationship between mussels and Cladophora • How? - Monitor mussel biomass and tissue phosphorus
- 9. Page 9 – December 3, 2015 Nearshore Sites End goal is to have biomass estimates at all Nearshore Sites! We can estimate mussel biomass and total abundance in relation to Cladopohra
- 10. Page 10 – December 3, 2015 Lab Procedures Standard Operation Procedures Implemented Step 1 : Sieving • Empty freeze-dried mussels into sieving nests • Sieves range in size: 16 mm, 14mm, 12.5mm, 10 mm, 8mm, 6.3mm, 4mm, 2mm
- 11. Page 11 – December 3, 2015 Lab Procedures Step 2: Sorting • From each size fraction, collect and remove all live mussels (shells containing tissue) Standard Operation Procedures Implemented
- 12. Page 12 – December 3, 2015 Lab Procedures Standard Operation Procedures Implemented Step 3: Counting • Count the number of mussels in each size fraction in the sample and accurately record in the data worksheet • The total number of mussels (Total Abundance) will be automatically calculated
- 13. Page 13 – December 3, 2015 Lab Procedures Standard Operating Procedures Implemented Step 4: Weighing • Weight of each size fraction is obtained • The combined weight (Total Biomass) of all portions is the dry biomass for that sample.
- 14. Page 14 – December 3, 2015 Lab Procedures Standard Operating Procedures Implemented Step 5: Dividing Sub Sample • Combine and gently mix the live mussels collected, counted, and weighted from all the sieved size fractions • The transect selected for processing must be selected at random using a random number selector
- 15. Page 15 – December 3, 2015 Lab Procedures Standard Operating Procedures Implemented Step 6: Weighing Sub Sample • A minimum of 20% of the samples total biomass will be subsampled randomly and processed
- 16. Page 16 – December 3, 2015 Lab Procedures Step 7: Shucking • Using a No.10 Scalpel to cut mussel length wise, and extract the bulk of the mussel tissue • Weighing by difference, weigh the vial + lid + extracted mussel tissue and from this subtract the weight of the empty vial Standard Operating Procedures Implemented
- 17. Page 17 – December 3, 2015 Standard Operating Procedures Implemented Step 8: Grinding • Retch MM400 Mixing Mill is used to grind mussel tissue • Sample is homogenized Lab Procedures
- 18. Page 18 – December 3, 2015 Standard Operating Procedures Implemented Step 9: TP Analysis • Each sample submission requires between 1.0 to 2.0 mg of mussel tissue added to a 120mL French square glass bottle, and the addition of 1mL of 30% H2SO4 and 100mL of Milli-Q water • Sent to NLET to determine the samples TP particulate concentration Lab Procedures
- 19. Page 19 – December 3, 2015 Lab Procedures: Mussel Processing Cycle Sieve Sort Count Weigh Divide Sub Sample Weigh Sub Sample Shuck Sub Sample Weigh Tissue Grind TP Analysis Tissue P Concentration Shell Free Biomass Biomass Abundance
- 20. Page 20 – December 3, 2015 Data Analysis Mussel Data Processing Worksheet Station information includes the station number (PSN), sampling date, quadrat number (1, 2 or 3)
- 21. Page 21 – December 3, 2015 0.0000 0.0500 0.1000 0.1500 0.2000 0.2500 0.3000 0.3500 0.4000 2 mm 4 mm 6.3 mm 8 mm 10 mm 12.5 mm 14 mm 16 mm RelativeFrequency Sieve Size (mm) Sieve Sizes (mm) vs. Relative Frequency from 2012-2015 2012 2013 2014 2015 Data Interpretation: Size Distribution
- 22. Page 22 – December 3, 2015 Data Interpretation: Biomass & Density
- 23. Page 23 – December 3, 2015 Conclusion • Environment Canada is working with provincial and U.S. federal counterparts to understand the relationships between phosphorus levels, invasive mussel species and nuisance algal growth • The overall aim is to study the relationship between water quality and biological conditions
- 24. Page 24 – December 3, 2015 Acknowledgments • Special thanks to: - Alice Dove – Environmental Scientist, Project Lead - Sean Backus – Section Chief Great Lakes Watershed - John Struger – Environmental Scientist - Tina Hooey – Environmental Technician Supervisor - Andrew Mummery – Environmental Technician - Kyle Hamilton – Student
Editor's Notes
- -Numerous Lake Erie science cruises and automated sampling equipment was deployed in watersheds to collect water samples -Specifically, GLNI’s nearshore program includes water quality monitoring, mussel (dreissena) sampling, algae (cladophora) sampling, as well as hydrodynamics -We sample zebra & quagga mussels to determine their biomass and tissue phosphorus… -The purpose of the nearshore program is to better understand the influence of aquatic invasive species as well as other factors contributing to the algae problem (http://actionplan.gc.ca/en/initiative/great-lakes-nutrient-initiative) -The Great Lakes Nutrient Initiative will advance the science to understand and address the complex problem of recurrent toxic and nuisance algae in the Great Lakes. The Initiative is focused on Lake Erie, the smallest and shallowest of the Great Lakes and most susceptible to nearshore water quality issues. The science and policy approaches developed through this Initiative will be transferable to the other Great Lakes and bodies of water in Canada.
- Cladophora glomerata is a filamentous green algae that currently forms extensive blooms in nearshore areas of eastern Lake Erie as well as Lake Ontario, Lake Michigan, and isolated locations in Lake Huron. It breaks away from anchor points and accumulates and decomposeson shore in unsightly foul-smelling piles and clogs intakes at Power plants potentially resulting in emergency shutdowns -Benthic indicators were monitored in the eastern basin of Lake Erie in the vicinity of a large input (Grand River) Potential Effects of Nutrient Addition on Aquatic Ecosystems: Enhanced Plant Growth leads to: -impaired recreational use and aesthetics -changes in aquatic community composition -impaired oxygen conditions Toxic algal blooms Taste and odour problems with drinking water supplies
- But instead P sources from tributaries - but that's the loading piece of GLNI not the biological indicators that you're working on related to eastern basin cladophora blooms and mussel cycling of P
- -The zebra mussel species was originally native to the lakes of Southern Russia including the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. Scientists believe that zebra mussels arrived in the ballast water of a ship travelling from a European port. In 1988 zebra mussels were first discovered in Lake St. Clair, by 1990 the zebra mussels had rapidly colonized in the five great lakes. Zebra and Quagga mussels are referred to as biofoulers because of their ability to attach to solid underwater substrates (rocks, intake pipes) using their tough elastic strands called byssal threads. -Quagga mussels and zebra mussels are similar in appearance and biology, but can live in deeper, colder waters. The quagga mussel was introduced via ship ballast water to the Great Lakes in the 1980’s and has similar impacts as the zebra mussel. -Zebra and Quagga mussel have very efficient filtering properties and can filter water to the point where food sources (plankton) are removed altering the food web -Both the zebra and quagga mussel range in size from 3 to 5 cm about the size of an adult human thumbnail, quagga mussels and zebra mussels both contain the zig-zagged pattern, however quagga mussels appear more pale near the hinge of the species. -The reproduction rate of mussels is very high with a production rate of 1 million eggs per year, however, reproduction rate usually begins when the waters are near 12⁰c
- -At the very least we need to monitor mussel biomass for method development for possibly monitoring mussels and cladophora in the future -Why asses biological conditions: To be able to link water quality with indicators to develop targets HOW? Monitor mussel biomass and tissue phosphorus by observing how it varies and looking at relationships over time and space. Additional concerns How much phosphorus (on a mass balance basis) is sequestered by mussels at the bottom of the lake? Do the mussel biomass relate to loadings or nearshore health?
- the end goal is to have biomass estimates (indicator) at all the nearshore sites – our spreadsheets have calculations to do that We can estimate total mussel biomass and total abundance at these locations and compare the relationship to instances of cladophora growth We will also have
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- This data is then inputted into a summary sheet so easily compare Quadrants, PSN’s and dates. We cross reference this data with deck logs and diver observations. This helps in terms of monitoring Dreissena at different depths and locations through seasonal changes. Total Biomass: Combined weight of all shell sizes (sieved 14mm-2mm) with biomass Sub Sample Target: 20% weight of live shells required for sub-sample Sub Sample Weight: Actual weight of sub sample Sub Sample Tissue Wt: Weight of tissue collected from sub-sample (aka Shell-free biomass) Shell Free Biomass: Scaled up from subsample to entire sample Sub Sample Shells: Weight of the sub-sample shells after tissue has been removed (empty shells)`
- Took an average of all the percent frequencies (16 mm, 14 mm, 12.5 mm, 10 mm, 8 mm, 6.3 mm, 4mm, 2mm) for each year, compared them based on sieve size. Distribution shows the size of mussels from 2012-2015. Gives an idea of how the size of mussels change over the years which could account for different seasonal changes.
- Therefore, the overall aim is to study the biomass and how this varies between sites, seasons and years. We did this work between 2012-2014 with multiple campaigns each summer. The end goal is to examine for any relationship between biomass and water quality, with comparing water quality with biological measures - % cover of cladophora or dreissenids, biomass and abundance. Discussion: -Are there water quality correlates with the biological conditions? (Water quality affect biological conditions) **side note Management, Next steps (mussels): -the management of all invasive species must center on prevention, it is the most successful and economically viable method for ecosystem protection. -Stopping ballast water inputs of exotic species could be a prioity -Attention to geographic human activity patterns (boaters traveling from one body of water to another) this can help predict future large-scale colonization of other invasive species -continued research is needed to improve understanding of food web changes and dynamics -regular monitoring to understand the potential spread of mussels from the deep water zone to the more costal areas and the possible occurrence of hybridization between the zebra and quagga mussel