Potential ecological consequences of invasion of the quagga mussel (Dreissena bugensis) into Lake Mead, Nevada–Arizona

Authors

Wai Hing Wong, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
Todd Tietjen, Southern Nevada Water Authority
Shawn Gerstenberger, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
G. Chris Holdren, U.S. Department of the Interior
Sara Ann Mueting, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
Eric Michael Loomis, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
Peggy Roefer, Southern Nevada Water Authority
Bryan Moore, Lake Mead National Recreation AreaFollow
Kent Turner, Lake Mead National Recreational AreaFollow
Imad Hannoun, Flow Science Incorporated

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2010

Publication Title

Flow Science Incorporated

Volume

26

Issue

4

First page number:

306

Last page number:

315

Abstract

The recent invasion of the quagga mussel (Dreissena bugensis) in Lake Mead, Nevada–Arizona, USA has the potential to alter biological relationships in this western reservoir. We evaluated the potential impacts by examining several measurements in the Boulder Basin of Lake Mead after the introduction of quagga mussel (2007–2008). Analysis of variance did not reveal any basin-wide changes in chlorophyll a concentrations or water clarity (Secchi disk depth). Although significantly lower chlorophyll a concentrations were found in the outer basin, this reduction was likely related to the decline of dissolved phosphorus concentrations. The abundance of cladocerans, copepods or rotifers has not changed since 2007. Overall, the results suggest that there are no statistically significant changes to many of the standard water quality indices routinely measured in the Boulder Basin of Lake Mead; however, given the complexity of biological, chemical and physical processes driving this ecosystem, the long-term impacts of quagga mussels remain uncertain. This manuscript identifies impacts known to be altered by quagga and zebra mussels in other systems and aims to help lake managers develop experimental and monitoring programs that will accurately address the impacts of quagga mussels.

Keywords

Chlorophyll a; Dreissena bugensis; Environmental impact analysis; Introduced aquatic organisms; Invasive species; Quagga mussel; United States – Lake Mead; Water quality; Zebra mussel

Disciplines

Environmental Health and Protection | Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment | Environmental Sciences | Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology | Water Resource Management

Language

English

Permissions

Use Find in Your Library, contact the author, or use interlibrary loan to garner a copy of the article. Publisher copyright policy allows author to archive post-print (author’s final manuscript). When post-print is available or publisher policy changes, the article will be deposited

Repository Citation

Wong, W. H., Tietjen, T., Gerstenberger, S., Holdren, G., Mueting, S. A., Loomis, E. M., Roefer, P., Moore, B., Turner, K., Hannoun, I. (2010). Potential ecological consequences of invasion of the quagga mussel (Dreissena bugensis) into Lake Mead, Nevada–Arizona. Flow Science Incorporated, 26(4), 306-315.