Document Type
Article
Abstract
Zebra mussels Dreissena polymorpha are an aquatic invasive species that has been spreading quickly throughout Minnesota water bodies since 1989. Zebra mussels are known to change certain morphological conditions in lakes such as turbidity, phytoplankton abundance, and aquatic invertebrate populations. However, studies showing impacts of the infestation of zebra mussels on the health of a fish community have been hard to prove due to a lack of repeated surveys and a suite of other confounding variables such as natural and seasonal variability, plant community, and lake morphometry. Therefore, the objective of this study is to determine whether zebra mussels have an impact on fish communities in Minnesota lakes. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR) has been collecting Fish Index of Biological Integrity (FIBI) scores since the early 2000’s to measure the health of the lakes fish community throughout Minnesota. Lakes in Minnesota that had an FIBI survey taken both before and after the introduction of zebra mussels were included in this study. The scores from these lakes were then graphed and analyzed by a paired t-test to determine changes in fish community health. Additionally, years since infestation and the change in the FIBI score was graphed and analyzed using regression statistics. This regression model determined the predicted change in score for every year that the lake has been infested. Variables included in FIBI calculation for each lake type were then ranked and plotted using NMDS plots as well to determine if one variable significantly influenced scores more than others. A significant difference in FIBI was found in scores before, versus after infestation (P < 0.01), however, no significant relationship was found between the years since infestation and change in FIBI score (P = 0.68). No single metric was influencing scores more than another.
Publication Date
2025
Recommended Citation
Strei, Benjamin D., "The Effect of Zebra Mussels on Minnesota Fish Communities" (2025). Journal of Earth and Life Science. 84.
https://pines.bemidjistate.edu/j-earth-life-sci/84
Included in
Aquaculture and Fisheries Commons, Biodiversity Commons, Biology Commons, Environmental Health and Protection Commons, Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment Commons, Environmental Monitoring Commons, Environmental Studies Commons, Laboratory and Basic Science Research Commons, Natural Resources and Conservation Commons, Natural Resources Management and Policy Commons, Sustainability Commons, Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons, Water Resource Management Commons
Comments
Faculty sponsor: Dr. Andrew Hafs, Department of Biology, Aquatic Biology Program