The objectives of this 3-year study are to: provide pre-invasion information on the community composition, density, biomass and production of benthic habitats in the Madison lakes; predict the effect of zebra mussel invasion on benthic communities in the Madison lakes through comparisons with data to be obtained in southeastern Wisconsin lakes and an extensive long-term database from Eastern European lakes; and to estimate the potential effect of zebra mussels on benthic and pelagic communities and associated fisheries in the Madison Lakes.
Results to date:
Benthic samples collected from Lake Mendota in 2003, 2004, and 2006 were identified during fall 2006 and winter and spring 2007. Eighty macroinvertebrate taxa were identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level in benthic samples from Lake Mendota, including 25 taxa to species level.
Dreissena polymorpha density was sampled in Delavan Lake and Upper Nemahbin Lake. In total, 107 samples were collected from various substrata throughout the lake. The average density of D. polymorpha in Delavan Lake was 21,141 ± 6,785 mussel m-2; biomass: 1,077 ± 268 g m-2. Maximum densities were found on macrophytes and maximum biomass was found on dead shells. These densities are higher than those reported from European lakes (Karatayev et al. 1998). The average density of D. polymorpha in the Upper Nemahbin Lake was much lower: 3,009 ± 971 mussel m-2; biomass: 71 ± 19 g m-2 (n = 38). Maximum density (and biomass) were found on macrophytes.
Limnology is a family business! June 2003, Lake Mendota
Sampling with a view on the Capital. Vadim Karatayev, June 2003. Photo: Lyubov Burlakova
Zebra mussels on macrophytes from Wisconsin lakes. June 2006. Photo: Lyubov Burlakova
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Sampling Wisconsin lakes. Heidi Bunk (Wisconsin DNR), Lyubov Burlakova and Tyler McCombs (UWM student), June 2006. Photo: Alexander Karatayev
Sunset on famous Mendota Lake. Photo: Lyubov Burlakova
