You are here:
Early Monitoring Approaches Developed from a Case Study on a Vulnerable Great Lakes Embayment
Citation:
KELLY, J. R., G. S. PETERSON, C. W. WEST, J. HOFFMANN, AND A. S. TREBITZ. Early Monitoring Approaches Developed from a Case Study on a Vulnerable Great Lakes Embayment. Presented at North American Lake Management Society (NALMS), Lake Louise, AB, CANADA, November 11 - 14, 2008.
Impact/Purpose:
Our study asked if efficiency can be gained by targeted sampling, in part directed by spatial information on probable vectors for introduction and distribution of in situ habitat. Analysis of sampled species distributions in relation to high-resolution spatial data is being used to evaluate cost-effective options for early detection monitoring.
Description:
Great Lakes harbors/embayments are at high risk of introduction of invasive species. Monitoring is needed to inform on new introductions, and to track success of programs to limit invasion or spread. A field case study was conducted in the Duluth-Superior Harbor/St. Louis River, an at-risk shipping port on Lake Superior. We used an “oversampling” strategy, comprehensive, high-density sampling designs with a variety of collection gears, aided by morphological and genetic taxonomic analyses. The strategy successfully captured all previously known invasive fish and invertebrates and additionally provided first detection of (still rare) invasive species, including the New Zealand mudsnail, Quagga mussel, and 7 other exotic benthic invertebrates. The nine new taxa found in 2005-2007 increased the known invaders to ~21 fish and invertebrate species in the last 20 years, enhancing the notoriety of Duluth-Superior as an invasion hotspot. “Oversampling” provided an empirical basis to model the rate of species acquisition as a function of effort. The modeling illustrates a prime dilemma with early detection of still rare, but newly-invading species detection probability can be improved by increased sampling effort, but at increased cost. The related technical issue is to how to develop cost-efficiency. Our study asked if efficiency can be gained by targeted sampling, in part directed by spatial information on probable vectors for introduction and distribution of in situ habitat. Analysis of sampled species distributions in relation to high-resolution spatial data is being used to evaluate cost-effective options for early detection monitoring. This abstract does not necessarily reflect USEPA policy.