Zebra Mussel Impacts on the Bay of Quinte Food Web

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Zebra Mussel Impacts on the Bay of Quinte Food Web

• Scott Millard
• Fisheries Oceans Canada
• Great Lakes Lab for Fisheries Aquatic Science
• Burlington.

2
Zebra Mussel Impacts on the Bay of Quinte Food Web

• What is Project Quinte?
• Tour of Field and Lab Duty
• Historical Trends Recent Changes in the Bay of
  Quinte
• Status of Beneficial Uses
• Future Studies

3
Project Members

• Fisheries Oceans - GLLFAS OMNR - Fish
• Scott Millard - Primary Production Tom Stewart -
  fishery
• Ron Dermott - Benthos Jim Hoyle - fishery
• Dr. Ora Johannsson - Zooplankton Dr. John
  Casselman - fishery
• Dr. Mohi Munawar - Microbial Food Web OME
• Dr. Ken Minns - Fish Habitat Other (formerly
  OME)
• Kelly Bowen - Zooplankton Ken Nicholls
  - Phytoplankton
• Michele Burley - technical support
• Heather Niblock - technical support
• Jocelyn Gerlofsma - technical support
• Robert Bonnell - technical support
• Kathy Seifried U of T- Macrophytes
• OME - Kingston
• Bob Helliar - Nutrients, Phosphorus Loading,
  report publication

Pioneers Murray Johnson - DFO Don Hurley -
OMNR Jack Chrisite - OMNR Glenn Owen - OME
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Trophic Dynamics Section GLLFAS
Left to right Silvina Carou, Robert Bonnell, Dr.
Mohi Munawar (Scientist), Dr. Ora Johannsson
(Scientist), Ron Dermott, Scott Millard (Section
Head), Jocelyn Gerlofsma, Heather Niblock, Kelly
Bowen, Michele Burley.
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Trophic Dynamics What We Do Trophic Interactions
- Bacteria to Fish.
Supply/Demand. Production, consumption, biomass
and species composition.
How do nutrients, exotics, and climate change
affect food webs and the ability of ecosystems
to produce fish.
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History of Project Quinte

• First year of study 1972
• Initial goal to evaluate effectiveness of
  phosphorus reduction on the bay
• Focus of study
• 1972-77 pre P control
• 1977-82 post P control
• 1982-1987 low-level monitoring
• 1988 - present evaluate in-bay response to RAP
  activities, impacts of exotic species
  (Dreissenids, Cercopagis)

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Skyway Bridge
Photo by Terry Sprague
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A Tour of Field Duty in ... Project Quinte
Michele Burley DFO
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Partners

• Fisheries Oceans Canada
• Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
• Ontario Ministry of Environment

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Field Crew
Heather Niblock
Michele Burley
Blaine Peters
Jocelyn Gerlofsma
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HMS - Willet
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Vessel Component

• Physical Parameters
• Temperature profile
• Secchi disc
• Light extinction

• Sample Collection
• Integrated water sample
• Water chemistry
• Microbial Loop
• Phytoplankton
• Zooplankton
• Rotifers
• Sediment

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Sampling for Zooplankton and Benthos
After a morning on the water.
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Back to the Lab
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Lab component

• Water chemistry
• Chlorophylls, Sestons
• Microbial Loop dynamics
• Preservation and experimentation
• Phytoplankton photosynthesis
• Photosynthesis vs. light experiments
• Algal Fractionation Bioassays

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Phytoplankton Production radio-isotope
(14C) innoculation.
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Phytoplankton photosynthesis incubator
-simulation of water column light gradient
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Acidification bubbling assay
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Lighthouse Component
Pt. Petrie Solar Radiation Data
22

• Download of logged light data
• Sensor check

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Pt. Petre
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Zebra Mussels Impacts on the Bay of Quinte Food
Web

• Who we are.
• Tour of Field and Lab Duty
• Historical Trends Recent Changes in the Bay of
  Quinte
• Status of Beneficial Uses
• Future Studies

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Trophic History in the Bay of Quinte
100
22
20
90
18
80
Phytoplankton
P Loading STPs
16
70
Total P
)
14
-1
60
12
50

Total P (ug L
10
Biomass (g m-3) Phosphorus Loading (Kg P
day-1/10)
40
8
30
RAP Phosphorus Target
6
20
4
P Control
10
2
Zebra Mussel Invasion
0
0
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000

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Long-term Trends in Transparency
Long-termTrends in Transparency
2.2
2.0
Dreissenid Invasion
1.8
)
-1
1.6
1.4
Light Attenuation (m
1.2
1.0
0.8
B - upper
0.6
HB- middle
C - lower
0.4
Lake Ontario
0.2
Zebra Mussel Invasion
0.0
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000

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Impact of Zebra Mussels on Chlorophyll vs.
Phosphorus
Impact of Zebra Mussels on Phytoplankton Biomass
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The Culprit
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Zebra Mussels Filtering
Filtering Rate up to 1 Litre day-1 per
adult. Paricle Sizes 1-250 microns
Exhalant syphon
Inhalant syphon
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Dreissenid Biomass wet wt. Shell on (g m-2)
1998 Ponar
4184
726
825
3599
415
1876
3124
Transition to Quagga mussels
N
2000 Ponar divers
2534
4488
2023
4191
1682
3126
5865
N
Ron Dermott - DFO Burlington
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Percent Macrophyte Cover in the Bay of Quinte
For All Surveys Conducted From 1972 to 2000
100
Dreissenid Invasion
80
60
Mean Cover
40
20
0
72
73
74
79
82
85
87
88
89
90
91
92
94
95
99
00
Year
Kathy Seifried Univ. Toronto/DFO
Crowder
Dushenko
Electrofishing
Echosounding
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Macrophyte Survey Summer 2000
Im Trapped I Cant Get Out
The Weed Man
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Study Challenges
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Inshore Macrophyte Habitat
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Zebra Mussel Invasion
Tom Stewart Jim Hoyle - OMNR Glenora Fisheries
Station
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Zebra Mussels Impacts on the Bay of Quinte Food
Web

• Who we are.
• Tour of Field and Lab Duty
• Historical Trends Recent Changes in the Bay of
  Quinte
• Status of Beneficial Uses
• Future Studies

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How to Assess Beneficial Use Impairment of
Benthos, Zooplankton, Phytoplankton

• Compare Before After Resoration or to
  Historical Conditions
• Comparison to Unimpacted sites.
• Comparison to a Reference State or Condition.
• Comparison to a Potential.

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Ordination of Upper Bay Phytoplankton Community
Similarities
Post Zebra Mussels
III
98
Current Trajectory
Post P Control Pre Zebra Mussels
97
99
II
82
85
Axis II
96
Reference Lake
84
86
79
89

95
91
94
87
80
92
81
83
West Lake
93
78
90
W80
76
72
88
W85
77
73
Target
75
74
W86
I
W87
Pre P Control
Axis I

K. Nicholls Scott Millard DFO
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Ordination of Upper Bay Zooplankton Community
Similarities
Reference Lakes
Sturgeon Lake
Stn B
S10-88
92
S11-88
S10 -87
Cooks Bay - L. Simcoe
Target
S11-87
95
Axis II
93
98
89
94
80
C6 -88
C9 -88
88
75
97
79
99
91
C6 -87
96
82
86
81
90
C9 -87
85
87
83
84
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Penetang Bay
P3-87
P3-88
00
P1-87
P1-88
Axis I
Dr. O. Johannsson DFO K. Nicholls
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Benthic Assessment of Sediment- BEAST
3
3
3
3
gt 99 Severely stressed
99 stressed
95 potentially stressed

• Predictive Approach to Assessment of Sediment
  Quality
• Community Impairment

90 unstressed
1
1
1
1












Reference Site
Axis 2
Conway




Big Bay
L. Ontario
Trenton


Glenora
-1
-1
-1
-1
Trent R. Mouth
Belleville
Moira R. Mouth
-3
-3
-3
-3
-4
-2
0
2
4
-4
-2
0
2
4
-4
-2
0
2
4
-4
-2
0
2
4
Axis 1
Ron Dermott -DFO Dr. Trefor Reynoldson EC
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Assessment of Sediment Toxicity
3
3
3
3
gt 99 toxic
99 toxic
95 toxic
1
1
1
1
90 non-toxic




Reference Site
Axis 3
Axis 3
Axis 3
Axis 3

-1
-1
-1
-1


Belleville
Moira R.
Trent R.
Trenton
-3
-3
-3
-3
-4
-2
0
2
4
-4
-2
0
2
4
-4
-2
0
2
4
-4
-2
0
2
4
Axis 2
Axis 2
Axis 2
Axis 2
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Phytoplankton Production - Assessing Potential
350
300
Y367.4 TP/15.6TP
2
R
0.78
250
200
Seasonal Phytoplankton Production (g C m-2)
150
L. Ontario 1989-95
100
L. Erie W, WC, E2
L. Erie E1E3
Quinte 1989-95
Quinte 1999
50
Y270.3 TP/17.0TP
Quinte 1996-00
2
R
0.59
0
0
10
20
30
40
50
Seasonal Mean Total Phosphorus (ug L-1)
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Assessing Fish and Habitat Relationships Electr
o-fishing Techniques
Dr. Bob Randall Christine Brousseau - DFO
Burlington
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Sample Processing Aboard the Kingfisher
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Changes in the Index of Biotic Integrity Scores
for Fish Communities - Impact of Macrophytes
Centrarchids Bass Pumpkinseed
IBI Scores 60-80 Good 40-60 Fair
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Zebra Mussels Impacts on the Bay of Quinte Food
Web

• Who we are.
• Tour of Field and Lab Duty
• Historical Trends Recent Changes in the Bay of
  Quinte
• Status of Beneficial Uses
• Ongoing Future Studies

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Ecosystem Modelling in the Bay of Quinte Using
ECOPATH/ECOSIM

No Fish is an Island.

From www.ecopath.org
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What is an Ecosystem Modeland Why Build One?

• Conceptual and mathematical description of
  ecosystem structure and function.
• Formalizes trophic linkages. Interaction of
  disciplines.
• Gain insight to how ecosystem might work.
• Evaluate the simultaneous influence of factors
  such as (phosphorus, zebra mussels,
  macrophytes, predation, fish harvest).

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What Will We Do With the Model? Test Hypotheses

• How will future changes in zebra mussel biomass
  impact the ecosystem.
• How will an changes in P loading affect zebra
  mussels.
• Will an increase in P loading increase the
  abundance of either Walleye or Yellow Perch.
• What effect do changes in Walleye fishing
  pressure have on their biomass and that of their
  competitors.

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Model Input
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Defining Foodweb Components in an ECOPATH Model

• 30 Components.
• 1 Detrital Pool
• 2 Primary Producers - Phytoplankton
  Macrophytes.
• 4 Zooplankton - Herbivores, Predators, Copepods,
  Cercopagis
• 6 Benthos - Gastropods, Bivalves,
  Oligochaetes/Chironomids, Amphipods, Isopods,
  Dreissenids, Others.
• 11 fish - Walleye, Yellow and White Perch,
  Alewife, Panfish, Drum, Gizzard Shad, SM Bass,
  Carp, Other Piscivores, Planktivores,
  Invertivores, Gobies.
• 4 split fish pools. Walleye, Yellow Perch, White
  Perch, Pan Fish.

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Model Output - Time Dynamic Simulation
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What Next??

• Continued biomonitoring to
• assess recovery of lower trophic levels
• provide biomass and production data for ecosystem
  model
• Joint submission to GLFC for Oneida Lake/Quinte
  ecosystem modelling project.

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Summary

• Bay of Quinte the most intensely studied and well
  understood AOC.
• Phytoplankton species composition is impaired due
  to zebra mussels.
• Zooplankton species composition is moving toward
  restoration target but biomass may be impacted by
  mussels.
• Benthos not impaired but sediments have some
  toxicity.
• Transparency has increased dramatically leading
  to massive resurgence of macrophytes.
• Macrophyte growth has led to ecosystem
  restructuring.
• Ecosystem modelling holds promise for
  understanding the Bay of Quinte Ecosystem.

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