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Comparison of Four Sampling Gears in Detecting Invasive Invertebrates in the Duluth-Superior Harbor, Oral Presentation
Citation:
WEST, C. W., J. R. KELLY, J. HOFFMAN, A. S. TREBITZ, G. S. PETERSON, AND I. GRIGOROVICH. Comparison of Four Sampling Gears in Detecting Invasive Invertebrates in the Duluth-Superior Harbor, Oral Presentation. Presented at Minnesota Invasive Species Conference 2008, Duluth, MN, October 26 - 28, 2008.
Impact/Purpose:
It is important to conduct non-indigenous species assessments in areas at risk, such as ecosystems associated with Great Lakes harbors, both for the detection of new species and to determine the spread of existing ones.
Description:
It is important to conduct non-indigenous species assessments in areas at risk, such as ecosystems associated with Great Lakes harbors, both for the detection of new species and to determine the spread of existing ones. In addition to direct impacts on harbor ecosystems, additional risks are associated with possible establishment of invasives into near by pristine systems, via a number of transport vectors. In conducting surveys to document and detect the possible spread of new and known invasives, it is important to know what kind of sampling gear is effective and efficient at detecting invaders of interest. New invasives, such as New Zealand mud snails, Potamopyrgus antipodarum and quagga mussels, Dreissena bugensis (which were recently found by our research in the harbor), are prime examples. As part of an invasive species project to develop early detection methodology for at risk harbors throughout the Great Lakes, four distinct gear types were investigated in the collection of benthic samples. Samples collected with petite PONARs, benthic sleds, vegetation sweep nets and Hester-Dendys were compared for their ability to collect invasive invertebrates. Benthic sleds produced more invasive taxa per deployment, and Hester-Dendys collected more invasive individuals per deployment. Results indicate that by using a combination of gears, such as benthic sleds and Hester-Dendys, the probability of collecting invasive invertebrates improves.