Project
State of the science: Zebra and quagga mussel impacts and control in the Great Lakes
Invasive quagga and zebra mussels (collectively Dreissenids) have been established in the Great Lakes for more than three decades. These non-native species have affected ecosystems and fish populations, which needs to be considered in decision making and control and remediation actions. Although a large body of science on Dreissenid mussels in the Great Lakes exists, this information has not been summarized or presented in a way that is accessible to broad audiences. This project will synthesize the available information to produce communication products that will bring clarity to existing uncertainties regarding dreissenid mussel impacts, including, for example, uncertainties about underlying mechanisms, inconsistencies across studies, and anecdotal assertions lacking adequate evidence. A key outcome of this project will be to increase audience understanding of how system productivity relates to fish production and how this situation may affect fishing levels. More specifically, these products will show how the current reduced state of system productivity cannot support the same level of fishing as a more productive environment. The project will build on existing science transfer projects and will drill down into the processes affected by mussels in the transition from trophic levels 1 and 2 and the role of mussels as modifiers of energy and nutrients in the system. While the ecosystem impacts of Dreissenid mussels vary across the Great Lakes basin, this project will focus on a bigger picture assessment of the state of the science.