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USGS2026

CrustCheck: A conceptual framework for interpreting biocrust trait–function relationships in drylands

Introduction Biocrusts are increasingly recognized for their contribution to soil stability, hydrology, nutrient cycling, and energy balance in drylands, yet practical field methods for assessing functional roles are limited. Existing approaches typically rely on cover estimates, taxonomic identification, or laboratory analyses, providing little insight into functional variation among biocrust types. To address this gap, we developed CrustCheck, a literature-derived conceptual framework that synthesizes potential relationships between easily observable biocrust traits and key ecological functions. The framework provides a foundation for future empirical validation of these relationships. Objectives We aimed to: (1) identify visual characteristics of biocrusts potentially associated with key ecological functions, and (2) synthesize these relationships into a literature-derived conceptual framework for comparative interpretation of potential biocrust contributions to landscape function. Methods We conducted a structured review of global literature on biocrusts' contribution to landscape function, drawing on multiple databases, targeted journals, and identifying relevant scientific publications from reference lists. We screened sources for information on relationships between visual traits and metrics of landscape function, synthesized relationships thematically, and used them to develop a multi-trait, function-oriented conceptual framework to inform further testing of these hypotheses in the field. Results Our review revealed that visual traits such as thickness/height, patchiness, cover, and surface roughness emerged as potential indicators of surface stability, hydrological function, and nutrient accumulation. Community composition was also frequently associated with these functions, while color reflected energy balance and carbon fixation potential. Conclusions Literature reveals that visual traits of biocrusts may serve as proxies for landscape function. CrustCheck is presented here as a conceptual synthesis framework intended to support interpretation of potential trait–function relationships rather than as a quantitatively validated predictive tool.

Restoration Ecology↗

USGS2014

Occurrence, habitat, and movements of the endangered northern madtom ( Noturus stigmosus ) in the Detroit River, 2003-2011

The northern madtom ( Noturus stigmosus or NOM) is a small catfish, native to North America. It is globally vulnerable and endangered in Canada, Ontario, and Michigan. In 1994 and 1996, it was found in the St. Clair River and in Lake St. Clair, respectively. However, it had not been found downstream in the Detroit River since 1978. We report catches of 304 NOM from 2003 to 2011 and describe their mud and sand habitats in the deep (10 m), dark, Detroit River. We found adult NOM, including 3 ripe males (90–107 mm SL) in head waters of the river near Belle Isle in Michigan waters, and both adult and 4 juvenile NOM (21–30 mm SL) near Peche Island in Ontario waters. From 2009 to 2011, in the river's middle reach, we caught 7 adult NOM for the first time near Fighting Island in Ontario waters, but no NOM in the river's lower reach. Our mark–recapture results showed that within 6 weeks, 2 adult NOM moved east 2.0 km from Michigan waters near Belle Isle across the deep (10 m) Fleming Channel of the Detroit River to Canadian waters near Peche Island. Analysis of annuli from pectoral spines of 7 dead NOM revealed that they live to at least 6 years of age in the Detroit River. This is the first age data that we could find for a NOM population. Our findings extended our knowledge of habitat, reproductive ecology, age, and distribution of NOM in the Detroit River corridor.

Michigan, Ontario↗

USGS2008

Microenvironments and microscale productivity of cyanobacterial desert crusts

We used microsensors to characterize physicochemical microenvironments and photosynthesis occurring immediately after water saturation in two desert soil crusts from southeastern Utah, which were formed by the cyanobacteria Microcoleus vaginatus Gomont, Nostoc spp., and Scytonema sp. The light fields within the crusts presented steep vertical gradients in magnitude and spectral composition. Near-surface light-trapping zones were formed due to the scattering nature of the sand particles, but strong light attenuation resulted in euphotic zones only ca. 1 mm deep, which were progressively enriched in longer wavelengths with depth. Rates of gross photosynthesis (3.4a??9.4 mmol O2A?ma??2A?ha??1) and dark respiration (0.81a??3.1 mmol Oa??2A?ma??2A?ha??1) occurring within 1 to several mm from the surface were high enough to drive the formation of marked oxygen microenvironments that ranged from oxygen supersaturation to anoxia. The photosynthetic activity also resulted in localized pH values in excess of 10, 2a??3 units above the soil pH. Differences in metabolic parameters and community structure between two types of crusts were consistent with a successional pattern, which could be partially explained on the basis of the microenvironments. We discuss the significance of high metabolic rates and the formation of microenvironments for the ecology of desert crusts, as well as the advantages and limitations of microsensor-based methods for crust investigation.

Journal of Phycology↗

USGS2015

The effects of heterospecifics and climatic conditions on incubation behavior within a mixed-species colony

Parental incubation behavior largely influences nest survival, a critical demographic process in avian population dynamics, and behaviors vary across species with different life history breeding strategies. Although research has identified nest survival advantages of mixing colonies, behavioral mechanisms that might explain these effects is largely lacking. We examined parental incubation behavior using video-monitoring techniques on Alcatraz Island, California, of black-crowned night-heron Nycticorax nycticorax (hereinafter, night-heron) in a mixed-species colony with California gulls Larus californicus and western gulls L. occidentalis . We first quantified general nesting behaviors (i.e. incubation constancy, and nest attendance), and a suite of specific nesting behaviors (i.e. inactivity, vigilance, preening, and nest maintenance) with respect to six different daily time periods. We employed linear mixed effects models to investigate environmental and temporal factors as sources of variation in incubation constancy and nest attendance using 211 nest days across three nesting seasons (2010–2012). We found incubation constancy (percent of time on the eggs) and nest attendance (percent of time at the nest) were lower for nests that were located < 3 m from one or more gull nest, which indirectly supports the predator protection hypothesis, whereby heterospecifics provide protection allowing more time for foraging and other self-maintenance activities. To our knowledge, this is the first empirical evidence of the influence of one nesting species on the incubation behavior of another. We also identified distinct differences between incubation constancy and nest attentiveness, indicating that these biparental incubating species do not share similar energetic constraints as those that are observed for uniparental species. Additionally, we found that variation in incubation behavior was a function of temperature and precipitation, where the strength of these effects was dependent on the time of day. Overall, these findings strengthen our understanding of incubation behavior and nest ecology of a colonial-nesting species.

California↗

USGS2006

Ontogenetic dynamics of mercury accumulation in Northwest Atlantic sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus)

We examined the ontogenetic dynamics of mercury accumulation in sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) from the Connecticut River, USA. Mercury concentrations in eggs (mean 84 ng??g-1 wet weight) were lowest of all life stages and correlated to concentrations in females. There was a higher rate of maternal transfer of mercury to eggs compared with teleosts. Ammocoetes had high mercury concentrations for their trophic level (e.g., mean of age-4 ammocoetes 492 ng??g-1 wet weight). A further investigation of four streams showed that ammocoetes reflected the level of contamination in their nursery streams. Concentrations of mercury decreased during metamorphosis from ammocoete to adult. Mercury concentrations in adults ranged from 83 to 942 ng??g-1 wet weight and, unlike teleosts, showed no relation to sex, length, or weight. We provide evidence from stable isotope analyses that this high variability is due to feeding ecology. There are fundamental differences in mercury accumulation between sea lamprey and teleosts. ?? 2006 NRC Canada.

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences↗

USGS2007

Disruptions of stream sediment size and stability by lakes in mountain watersheds: Potential effects on periphyton biomass

The location of a stream reach relative to other landforms in a watershed is an important attribute. We hypothesized that lakes disrupt the frequency of finer, more mobile sediments and thereby change sediment transport processes such that benthic substrates are more stable (i.e., less mobile) below lakes than above lakes. In turn, we hypothesized that this reduced mobility would lead to greater periphyton biomass below lakes. We tested these hypotheses in study reaches above and below lakes in 3 mountain watersheds. To expand this comparison, we analyzed the relationship between sediment attributes and periphyton biomass in one watershed with and one watershed without a lake. We hypothesized that no clear pattern or change in sediment size or chlorophyll a (chl a) would be observed over a 3-km-long study reach without a lake. In contrast, we expected a clear discontinuity in both sediment size and chl a in a 7-km-long study reach interrupted by a lake. Average median sediment size (D50) was significantly larger (p < 0.01) in lake-outlet than lake-inlet reaches (41 mm vs 10 mm). Bed sediments in lake-outlet reaches were immobile during bankfull flows, whereas sediments at lake-inlet reaches were mobile during bankfull flows. Chlorophyll a was ???10x greater in lake-outlet reaches than in lake-inlet reaches, although this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.17). The longitudinal analysis clearly showed geomorphic transitions in sediment size and mobility downstream of mountain lakes, and these geomorphic transitions might be associated with changes in periphyton biomass. Geomorphic transitions can alter sediment transport and should be considered in concert with other factors that are considered more commonly in benthic ecology, such as light, nutrients, and temperature. ?? 2007 by The North American Benthological Society.

Journal of the North American Benthological Societ↗

USGS2016

Hydrologic impacts of thawing permafrost—A review

Where present, permafrost exerts a primary control on water fluxes, flowpaths, and distribution. Climate warming and related drivers of soil thermal change are expected to modify the distribution of permafrost, leading to changing hydrologic conditions, including alterations in soil moisture, connectivity of inland waters, streamflow seasonality, and the partitioning of water stored above and below ground. The field of permafrost hydrology is undergoing rapid advancement with respect to multiscale observations, subsurface characterization, modeling, and integration with other disciplines. However, gaining predictive capability of the many interrelated consequences of climate change is a persistent challenge due to several factors. Observations of hydrologic change have been causally linked to permafrost thaw, but applications of process-based models needed to support and enhance the transferability of empirical linkages have often been restricted to generalized representations. Limitations stem from inadequate baseline permafrost and unfrozen hydrogeologic characterization, lack of historical data, and simplifications in structure and process representation needed to counter the high computational demands of cryohydrogeologic simulations. Further, due in part to the large degree of subsurface heterogeneity of permafrost landscapes and the nonuniformity in thaw patterns and rates, associations between various modes of permafrost thaw and hydrologic change are not readily scalable; even trajectories of change can differ. This review highlights promising advances in characterization and modeling of permafrost regions and presents ongoing research challenges toward projecting hydrologic and ecologic consequences of permafrost thaw at time and spatial scales that are useful to managers and researchers.

Vadose Zone Journal↗

USGS2021

Ensemble species distribution model identifies survey opportunities for at-risk bearded beaksedge (Rhynchospora crinipes) in the southeastern United States

Locating additional occurrences of at-risk species can inform assessments of their status and conservation needs (including potential legal protections). The perennial bearded beaksedge ( Rhynchospora crinipes ) ranges from Mississippi to North Carolina, but known occurrences are limited. Because of the species' apparent rarity, a model to identify areas with suitable habitat conditions for the species will allow conservationists to effectively prioritize and allocate scarce surveying resources. We used known occurrence records, a suite of environmental datasets, and four species distribution modeling techniques (generalized additive, GAM; maximum entropy, MaxEnt; generalized boosted, GBM; and weighted ensemble) to generate maps to inform surveys for R. crinipes . The ensemble approach improved predictive performance (AUC-PR = 0.95) compared to other techniques (individual model AUC-PR ranged from 0.7 to 0.8). We also obtained quantitative insights on the species' habitat relationships, including the likelihood of R. crinipes 's presence near Atlantic white cedar ( Chamaecyparis thyoides ) habitat and floodplains, which is consistent with prior field observations. The ensemble model indicated that 3.6% of the study area could be suitable habitat, but only 0.38% had high suitability. Small stream riparian habitats and Atlantic swamp forests in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia had the highest proportion of suitable areas. Prioritizing surveys in areas with model-indicated high habitat suitability is expected to reveal additional R. crinipes occurrences. We suggest surveying efforts for other at-risk species may benefit from using an ensemble modeling approach to identify and prioritize survey areas and improve ecological knowledge of these species.

Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Caro↗

USGS2023

Natal contributions of Kokanee salmon to Flaming Gorge Reservoir, Wyoming–Utah: An evaluation using otolith microchemistry

In a system that uses supplemental stocking to enhance a fishery that serves a dual purpose, an understanding of the contributions from natural and hatchery-produced fish is important so that hatchery resources can be appropriately allocated. Kokanee Oncorhynchus nerka were first stocked in Flaming Gorge Reservoir (FGR), Wyoming–Utah, in 1963 and serve a dual purpose as a prey resource and sport fish. Although natural recruitment occurs in the reservoir, a supplemental stocking program was initiated in 1991. We sought to identify the natal origin (i.e., natural, hatchery) of kokanee in FGR using otolith microchemistry. We evaluated return to the creel, composition of spawning aggregates, and growth of kokanee in FGR and focused on differences associated with natal origin. We analyzed kokanee otoliths that we collected from hatcheries ( n = 60) and FGR ( n = 1,003) for the strontium isotope ratio, 87 Sr/ 86 Sr, using laser ablation and a multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. We conducted Kruskal–Wallis tests to compare the strontium isotope ratios from the otolith edge of kokanee that we sampled from hatcheries and FGR. Based on 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios, we could distinguish natural-origin kokanee from 11 of the 12 hatcheries ( P < 0.01); however, the Wigwam Hatchery was not significantly different from FGR ( P = 0.84). We used model-based discriminant function analysis to assign natal origins for kokanee caught in FGR. Hatchery contribution to the population at large varied from 21 to 50% among year classes from 2014 to 2018. The percentage of hatchery origin kokanee in the creel (18–50%) was similar to what we observed in the population. Hatchery-produced kokanee contributed a higher proportion to tributary-spawning aggregates (40–90%) than shoreline-spawning aggregates (19–58%) by sample year. Growth of natural and hatchery kokanee was similar, suggesting similar performance in the system. Results from this study identify that hatchery supplementation contributes to the population and recreational harvest of kokanee in FGR. This research also provides insight into the ecology of kokanee that is useful for better understanding kokanee population dynamics in reservoir systems.

Utah, Wyoming↗

USGS2008

Molecular sequences derived from Paleocene Fort Union Formation coals vs. associated produced waters: Implications for CBM regeneration

Coalbed methane regeneration is of increasing interest, and is gaining global attention with respect to enhancement of gas recovery. The objective of this study is to determine if there are differences in methanogen nucleic acid sequences associated with low rank coals from the Powder River Basin, Wyoming, in comparison with sequences that can be recovered from coal bed-associated produced waters. Based on results obtained to date, the sequences from the coals appear to be associated with putatively deep-rooted thermophilic autotrophic methanogens, whereas the sequences from the waters are associated with thermophilic autotrophic and heterotrophic methanogens. The recovered sequences associated with coal thus appear to be both phylogenetically and functionally distinct from those that are more closely associated with the produced water. To be able to relate such recovered sequences to organisms that might be present and possibly active in these environments, it is suggested that direct observation, followed by isolation and single cell-based physiological/molecular analyses, be used to characterize methanogenic consortia possibly associated with coals and/or produced waters. It is also important to characterize the microenvironment where these microbes might be found, in both ecological and geological contexts, to be able to develop effective, ecologically relevant coalbed methane regeneration processes.

International Journal of Coal Geology↗

USGS2013

Habitat use and diet composition of juvenile Atlantic salmon in a tributary of Lake Ontario

The habitat use and diet of juvenile Atlantic salmon Salmo salar was examined in the South Sandy Creek drainage that discharges into eastern Lake Ontario. Subyearling salmon were stocked in early May during two consecutive years, and habitat and diet evaluations were made in mid-July and mid-October in 2005 and 2006. Both subyearling and yearling Atlantic salmon occupied deeper and faster areas that had more cover and larger sized substrate materials than was present, on average, within the study reach. Differences in habitat use between subyearling and yearling salmon only occurred in summer. Principal component analysis showed that of the habitat variables examined, the amount of cover and size of substrate were more important to juvenile salmon in summer, whereas depth and velocity were more important in the fall. Trichopteran larvae (mainly hydropsychids) dominated the diet of juvenile Atlantic salmon, and parr were feeding most heavily from the substrate as compared to the drift. The juvenile ecology of this re-introduced population of Atlantic salmon is consistent with that reported in other studies throughout the species native range.

Journal of Great Lakes Research↗

USGS2018

Assessing the risk of diploid grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella in the certified triploid supply chain in Ohio

Non-native grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) have been stocked in the United States for vegetation control since the 1970s, and recent evidence suggests some natural reproduction in the Great Lakes basin. Despite all states and provinces bordering Lake Erie either banning grass carp or requiring imports of only sterile, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)-certified triploids, the majority of grass carp captured and analyzed from Lake Erie are diploid, or reproductively viable. Potential sources of diploid grass carp include illegal importation, compromises in the USFWS-certified triploid shipments, migration from legal diploid states, or natural reproduction resulting from diploid stockings prior to the 1988 Ohio law requiring only certified triploids. The goal of this study was to explore the risk that diploid grass carp occur in the USFWS-certified triploid supply chain destined for Ohio. During 2015 and 2016, undercover Ohio Department of Natural Resources-Division of Wildlife law enforcement purchased 1200 grass carp from 16 distributors, and overnighted 80 dissected grass carp head and eyeball sample shipments (n = 15 fish per shipment) for ploidy analysis by flow cytometry. Standardized methods for both field and laboratory processing were established. No diploid grass carp were detected in these collections, indicating fidelity of the USFWS-certified triploid grass carp supply chain in Ohio. Thus, these shipments are not a likely source of diploid grass carp in Lake Erie. This study is the first large-scale evaluation of the potential for ecological risk from diploid grass carp occurrence in USFSW-certified shipments of triploids for national distribution.

Ohio↗

USGS2019

Zooplankton dynamics in a Great Lakes connecting channel: Exploring the seasonal composition within the St. Clair-Detroit River System

The connecting channels linking the Laurentian Great Lakes provide important migration routes, spawning grounds, and nursery habitat for fish, but their role as conduits between lakes for zooplankton is less understood. To address this knowledge gap in the St. Clair–Detroit River System (SCDRS), a comprehensive survey of crustacean zooplankton was performed in both riverine and lacustrine habitats from spring to fall 2014, providing the first system-wide assessment of zooplankton in the SCDRS. Zooplankton density and biomass were greatest in northern reaches of the system (southern Lake Huron and the St. Clair River) and decreased downstream towards Lake Erie. The composition of zooplankton also changed moving downstream, transitioning from a community dominated by calanoid copepods, to more cyclopoids and cladocerans in the Detroit River, and to cladocerans dominant in western Lake Erie. Coincidentally, species richness increased as sampling progressed downstream, and we estimated that our single-year sampling regime identified ~88% of potential taxa. Other species assemblages have responded positively to recent water quality and habitat restoration efforts in the SCDRS, and this survey of the zooplankton community provides benchmark information necessary to assess its response to continued recovery. In addition, information regarding the lower trophic levels of the system is integral to understanding recruitment of ecologically and economically valuable fish species targeted for recovery in the SCDRS.

St. Clair-Detroit River System↗

USGS2021

Activity-based, genome-resolved metagenomics uncovers key populations and pathways involved in subsurface conversions of coal to methane

Microbial metabolisms and interactions that facilitate subsurface conversions of recalcitrant carbon to methane are poorly understood. We deployed an in situ enrichment device in a subsurface coal seam in the Powder River Basin (PRB), USA, and used BONCAT-FACS-Metagenomics to identify translationally active populations involved in methane generation from a variety of coal-derived aromatic hydrocarbons. From the active fraction, high-quality metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) were recovered for the acetoclastic methanogen, Methanothrix paradoxum , and a novel member of the Chlorobi with the potential to generate acetate via the Pta-Ack pathway. Members of the Bacteroides and Geobacter also encoded Pta-Ack and together, all four populations had the putative ability to degrade ethylbenzene, phenylphosphate, phenylethanol, toluene, xylene, and phenol. Metabolic reconstructions, gene analyses, and environmental parameters also indicated that redox fluctuations likely promote facultative energy metabolisms in the coal seam. The active “ Chlorobi PRB” MAG encoded enzymes for fermentation, nitrate reduction, and multiple oxygenases with varying binding affinities for oxygen. “ M. paradoxum PRB” encoded an extradiol dioxygenase for aerobic phenylacetate degradation, which was also present in previously published Methanothrix genomes. These observations outline underlying processes for bio-methane from subbituminous coal by translationally active populations and demonstrate activity-based metagenomics as a powerful strategy in next generation physiology to understand ecologically relevant microbial populations.

Montana, Wyoming↗

USGS2012

Encroachment of oriental bittersweet into Pitcher’s thistle habitat

Common invasive species and rare endemic species can grow and interact at the ecotone between forested and non-forested dune habitats. To investigate these interactions, a comparison of the proximity and community associates of a sympatric invasive ( Celastrus orbiculatus ; oriental bittersweet) and native ( C. scandens ; American bittersweet) liana species to federally threatened Cirsium pitcheri (Pitcher's thistle) in the dunes habitats of Lake Michigan was conducted. Overall, the density of the invasive liana species was significantly greater in proximity to C. pitcheri than the native species. On the basis of composition, the three focal species occurred in both foredune and blowout habitats. The plant communities associated with the three focal species overlapped in ordination space, but there were significant differences in composition. The ability of C. orbiculatus to rapidly grow and change the ecological dynamics of invasion sites adds an additional threat to the successional habitats of C. pitcheri .

Lake Michigan↗

USGS2023

Stimulation of aquatic bacteria from Mammoth Cave, Kentucky, by sublethal concentrations of antibiotics

Many microorganisms secrete secondary metabolites with antibiotic properties; however, there is debate whether the secretions evolved as a means to gain a competitive edge or as a chemical signal to coordinate community growth. The objective of this research was to investigate if select antibiotics acted as a weapon or as a chemical signal by exposing communities of aquatic cave bacteria to increasing concentrations of antibiotics. Water samples were collected from six cave locations where actinobacterial mats appeared to be plentiful. Bacterial growth was measured using colony counts on 10 % tryptic soy agar augmented with increasing concentrations of erythromycin, tetracycline, kanamycin, gentamicin, or quaternary ammonia compounds (QAC). Colony counts generally decreased as the gentamicin, kanamycin and QAC dose increased. In contrast, the colony numbers increased on agar plates supplemented with 0.01 mg L −1 , 0.10 mg L −1 and 1.00 mg L −1 erythromycin or tetracycline. A 10.00 mg L −1 dose of each antibiotic treatment reduced bacteria colonies by 98 % or more. Community-level physiological capabilities were evaluated using Ecolog plates inoculated with cave water dosed with either 0.00 mg L −1 or 0.10 mg L −1 of erythromycin. Incubation with the antibiotic almost doubled the number of food substrates used in the first 24 hours. There was a significant increase in the use of acetyl glucosamine, arginine, and putrescine when bacteria were exposed to 0.10 mg L −1 erythromycin triggered by the antibiotic acting as a chemical messenger. Principal component analysis confirmed a shift in substrate preferences when erythromycin was added. A conceptual ecological model is proposed based on the response of aquatic cave bacteria to sublethal antibiotics.

Kentucky↗

USGS2013

Computationally efficient statistical differential equation modeling using homogenization

Statistical models using partial differential equations (PDEs) to describe dynamically evolving natural systems are appearing in the scientific literature with some regularity in recent years. Often such studies seek to characterize the dynamics of temporal or spatio-temporal phenomena such as invasive species, consumer-resource interactions, community evolution, and resource selection. Specifically, in the spatial setting, data are often available at varying spatial and temporal scales. Additionally, the necessary numerical integration of a PDE may be computationally infeasible over the spatial support of interest. We present an approach to impose computationally advantageous changes of support in statistical implementations of PDE models and demonstrate its utility through simulation using a form of PDE known as “ecological diffusion.” We also apply a statistical ecological diffusion model to a data set involving the spread of mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) in Idaho, USA.

Journal of Agricultural, Biological, and Environme↗

USGS2026

Predatory impact of freshwater drum on dreissenid populations in western Lake Erie

Impacts of dreissenid mussels ( Dreissena spp.) on Great Lakes ecosystems are well documented, but the mechanisms driving variation in their abundance remain poorly understood. Dreissenid mussels have been incorporated into fish diets throughout the Great Lakes; however, studies quantifying the amount of dreissenid mussels consumed by fish predators are limited. To date, attention has mainly focused on invasive round goby ( Neogobius melanostomus ) predation of dreissenid mussels. Biomass of native molluscivores, namely the freshwater drum ( Aplodinotus grunniens ), may exceed round goby biomass by an order of magnitude in some areas. Thus, the role of predation on dreissenid mussel population dynamics may be greater than currently assumed. Here, we combine estimates of diet composition and fish biomass to estimate kg/ha of dreissenid mussels consumed by freshwater drum in the West Basin of Lake Erie. Annual consumption estimates of dreissenids by freshwater drum were large (averaging 23.79 kg/ha shell-free mass), and generally exceeded existing dreissenid consumption estimates for round goby. Our results support evaluation of ecological mechanisms, such as predation, to improve our knowledge of factors that may influence dreissenid mussel abundance.

western Lake Erie↗