Invasive Species of Lake Champlain Basin

Ty Bereskie, Alyssa Kaliszewski, Monica Beers

Problem Statement

• There are 48 different invasive species in the Lake Champlain Basin that out compete native species and alter the ecosystem structure.

http://cat.middlebury.edu/~lcrc/images/colormap.jpg

Background • An invasive species is an exotic

species whose introduction into an ecosystem (in which the species is not native) causes environmental or economic damage

• Invasive species are harmful to our natural resources because they disrupt natural communities and ecological processes. Invasive species can outcompete native species for food and habitats.

- US Fish and Wildlife Service

Purpose Statement

The goal of this project is to create a ranking system that determines which key invasive species pose risk to sub-watersheds of the Lake Champlain Basin

Objectives

1. Identify key invasive species that are affecting Lake Champlain

2. Identify what types of habitat are being affected by invasive species

3. To create a ranking system that shows the severity of interactions between invasive species and habitats within the Lake Champlain Basin

Identifying Key Invasive SpeciesOur process for selecting species was to choose one organism from each of the sub-groups on the list of 48 invasive species from Marsden & Hauser 2009.

Asterisks identify species that are nuisances in Lake Champlain or elsewhere. Source indicates closest range to Lake Champlain prior to arrival in the lake. Date indicates !rst sighting of the species in the Lake Champlain watershed. Authorized stocking of !sh is noted as stocked (d); stocked (u) includes organisms brought into the basin deliberately but without authorization. VTDEC: Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, VTDFS: Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife.

White Perch

http://www.unb.ca/fredericton/science/biology/Fish_key/Percichthyidae/WhitePerch2.jpg

•Shallow water, ≤ 5 meters•Eutrophic conditions •Turbid water conditions, with high conductivity•Low presence of yellow perch (Perca flavescens)

Rusty Crayfish

•Affects streams and rivers through out the Lake Champlain Basin•Shallow water within Lake Champlain ≤ 6 meters

Water Chestnut

• Lake Champlain Shallow waters (0.3-2m)

• Streams and Rivers• Other Lakes and Ponds• Nutrient rich waters• Moderate alkalinity

Zebra Mussel

• Live in Lake Champlain depths of ≤ 25 ft, but have been in up to 225 ft

• Can be found in Lakes outside Lake Champlain, but not typically found in streams or rivers

Affected HabitatsLake Depth

> 6 ftLake Depth

< 6 ft

Lake/Rivers other

than LCDeveloped Forest Herbaceous Agric. Wetlands

White Perch 0 1 1 0.5 0 0 0 0

Rusty Crayfish 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0

WaterChestnut 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0

Zebra Mussel 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0

1- indicates that the stressor does affect the habitat0.5- indicates that the stressor may affect the habitat but more information is needed0- indicates that the stressor does not affect the habitat

Lake Depth > 6 ft

Lake Depth < 6

ft

Lake/Rivers other than

LCDeveloped Forest Herbaceous Agric. Wetlands

Rank 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0

Sources of Invasive Species

Agriculture Urban Water Treatment Plants

Dams Roads Fisheries Marinas Forested Areas

Industrial

Rank 0 1 0 0 0 0.5 1 0 0

0 - Indicates no connection0.5 – Indicates there may be a connection, but need more information1 – Indicates a connection

Relationship Between Invasive Species and Source for the Lake Champlain Basin

Urban

• Aquarium Dumping • Escaped ornamentals

Marinas• Large amount of boat traffic- invasive species

transported from one body of water to another

• Live wells• Fishing/bait

Fisheries• Depends on the type of fish being raised• Depends on the food they are being fed

Importance FilterLake

Depth > 6 ft

Lake Depth <

6 ft

Lake/Rivers other than

LCDeveloped Forest Herbaceous Agric. Wetlands

Importance 2 4 4 2 0 0 0 0

0- There is no importance of invasive species impact0.5- There could be an importance of invasive species impact, but is unknown2- There is an importance of invasive species impact4- There is a significant importance of invasive species impact

Conclusions• Urban areas, marinas, and possibly fisheries are all

sources of invasive species in the Lake Champlain Basin

• Invasive species affect shallow and deep water habitats, along with lakes and streams outside of the lake, and developed areas

Recommendations• Boat checks at boat launches• Educational outreach • Removal initiatives

Acknowledgements

• Breck Bowden• Pooja Kanwar• Pam Johnston• Rebecca Gorney• ENSC 202 Lecture