Abstract
Impacts of dreissenid mussels (Dreissena spp.) on Great Lakes ecosystems are well documented, and a better understanding of mechanisms that cause variation in dreissenid abundance is needed. An outstanding question is how much dreissenid biomass is consumed by fish predation. A significant difficulty for investigating dreissenid consumption by fish is that dreissenids in stomachs are often a mix of indigestible shell and flesh, which can bias bioenergetics models and estimates of daily ration. Here, we develop an analysis to convert crushed shell and flesh mixtures found in fish diets to dry weight of digestible dreissenid flesh. Quagga Dreissena rostiformis bugensis and zebra Dreissena polymorpha mussels were used in separate dry weight analyses simulating stomach contents ranging from individual mussels to aggregates of each species. A species-specific dry weight relationship was observed when comparing flesh-only dry weight to total dry weight (shell + flesh) for individual dreissenid but not for aggregates. Thus, the model is applicable in providing more precise estimates of dreissenid flesh dry weight in fish diets.
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Data availability
Data are published at: Keretz, KR, Kraus RT, and Schmitt, JD (2020) Zebra and quagga mussel dry weight information, Lake Erie 2014. U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P941VMN.
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Acknowledgements
Information in the attached manuscript is important in the pursuit of understanding the effect that fish predation has on dreissenid mussel population dynamics in the Great Lakes Region by providing a simplified method for estimating digestible dreissenid flesh from masticated flesh-and-shell mixtures commonly found in molluscivorous fish diets. The method discussed may offer a more precise and accurate estimate of dreissenid mussel flesh consumed by fish being that estimates are made using species-specific dry-weight conversions versus historically used less precise wet-weight conversions. A better understanding of the ecological mechanisms that cause variation in dreissenid abundance (i.e. predation effects) is needed to support improved resource policy decision-making in Great Lakes ecosystems where dreissenids have become established. We are grateful for review of an early manuscript draft by Shay Keretz. We also thank the anonymous reviewers whose comments resulted in a much better manuscript. Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the US Government. The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
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Kevin R. Keretz led the field sample collection, lab processing, and writing along with contributions made to the analyses. Richard T. Kraus initiated the study, led the analyses and contributed to the writing. Joseph D. Schmitt contributed to the analyses and the writing.
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Keretz, K.R., Kraus, R.T. & Schmitt, J.D. Improved methods for understanding the role of predation on dreissenid population dynamics. Environ Biol Fish 104, 629–633 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-021-01054-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-021-01054-2