| Abstract Detail
Ecological Section Binggeli, Casey A. [1], Mihuc, Timothy B. [2]. The effect of aquatic macrophytes on macroinvertebrate and zooplankton communities in Lake Champlain. Invasive species are a serious ecological problem. The effects of invasive aquatic macrophytes have been well documented in freshwater systems. Very little research has been done, however, on the effects of invasive aquatic macrophytes on associated animal communities in Lake Champlain. The objective of this study is to determine the effects of invasive macrophytes on macrinvertebrate and zooplankton communities. This study compares macroinvertebrate and zooplankton communities from native and non-native littoral plants in Lake Champlain. The invasive macrophytes are Trapa natans (water chestnut), Myriophyllum spicatum (Eurasian watermilfoil) and Hydrocharis morsus-ranae (European frog-bit). Plants and macroinvertebrates were collected using a 30 cm plankton net having a mesh size of 250 µm, while zooplankton species were collected using a Wisconsin net with a 63 µm mesh size The study has important applications because fish and waterfowl rely on macroinvertbrates as a food source. If invasive macrophytes alter macroinvertebrate community structure, then this could lead to indirect effects on the fish and waterfowl populations. Broader Impacts:
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1 - SUNY Plattsburgh, Lake Champlain Research Institute, 101 Broad St. , Plattsburgh, NY, 12901, USA
2 - SUNY Plattsburgh, Lake Champlain Research Institute and CEES
Keywords:
Invasive plants
zooplankton
aquatic insects
Trapa
Hydrocharis
Myriophyllum.
Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Sections
Session: P
Location: Hall A/Convention Center
Date: Monday, August 2nd, 2010
Time: 5:30 PM
Number: PEC014
Abstract ID:303 |
