Invasive Quagga Mussels Can Be Attenuated by Redear Sunfish (Lepomis microlophhus) in the Southwestern United States

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2013

Publication Title

Biological Control

Volume

64

Issue

3

First page number:

276

Last page number:

282

Abstract

The degree to which invasive quagga mussels have spread across the Southwestern United States is unprecedented, and until now, none of the controls currently available is risk-free to the environment or human health. Here we demonstrate that stocking high-density (0.42 fish/m3 or 1.90 fish/m2) redear sunfish (Lepomis microlophus) in an infested lake enclosure removed adult quagga mussels efficiently and appeared to suppress their growth and recruitment. However, mussels were not eradicated during the short term experimental course. Long-term study needs to be conducted to determine whether mussels can be completely eliminated by redear sunfish and what optimum density would be required for balancing high efficacy mussel control with cost-effectiveness. Redear sunfish is a species native to the Southeastern United States that has become a popular, stocked sportfish in the Southwest. Targeted stocking of redear sunfish may be an efficient and environmentally friendly approach to mitigate the colonization of invasive quagga mussels in suitable open water ecosystems, especially those with new dreissenid infestations or those threatened by invasion.

Keywords

Introduced aquatic organisms; Lepomis microlophhus; Quagga; Redear sunfish; Southwest; New

Disciplines

Environmental Health and Protection | Environmental Sciences | Natural Resources and Conservation | Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology

Language

English

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