Aquatic Exotics In Wisconsin A Presentation Developed by Wisconsin Sea Grant Advisory Services March 2004

Aquatic Exotics In Wisconsin Wisconsin has become host to several aquatic species that never existed here naturally Some Atlantic Ocean species came in through the Welland Canal: –Lampreys, 1930’s –Alewife, 1949 –White perch, 1989 –Three-spine stickleback 1991

Aquatic Exotics In Wisconsin Some were intentionally introduced: –Chinook and Coho salmon 1963 –Rainbow trout 1963 –Brown trout 1960’s –Carp in 1880’s

Aquatic Exotics In Wisconsin Some escaped from lakes, ponds or as bait: –Smelt –Goldfish –Grass Carp –Rusty Crayfish –Purple Loosestrife

Aquatic Exotics In Wisconsin Some recent invaders came in the ballast water of sea-going ships: –Ruffe in 1986 –Zebra Mussels in 1988 –Spiny water flea in 1990 –Round goby in 1995

Invasive species traits: –High reproductive rate –Mature quickly –Eat various types of food –Tolerate poor water quality –Easily adapt to new habitats Aquatic Exotics In Wisconsin

Native species traits: –Have narrow food preferences –Require certain spawning habitat –Intolerant of poor water quality Aquatic Exotics In Wisconsin

A Quick look at six recent invaders: –Zebra mussels –Round goby –Ruffe –Purple loosestrife –Eurasian milfoil –Spiny water fleas Aquatic Exotics In Wisconsin

Zebra Mussel Max. size ~ 2’’ Introduced via ballast water from Europe First found in Lake St. Claire (MI) in 1988 Eats plankton,filters up to 1 liter of water per day Produce 40,000 eggs/year Densities up to 700,000 per sq. meter = 43,000 on a piece of notebook paper

Zebra Mussel Milwaukee Green Bay Madison

Settle to bottom and attach to substrate Planktonic up to 1 month Zebra Mussel Life Cycle Juvenile Adult Byssal Threads 4-5 Years Egg Veliger Post Veliger 3-5 Days Can be seen Microscopic Can be felt Wisconsin Sea Grant Advisory Services

Zebra Mussels Colonize Lots of Things

Zebra mussels get moved to new lakes by water in and weeds on boats.

Wisconsin Waters Infested with Zebra Mussels Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, Mississippi River and 52 inland waters: Brown County (1) Lower Fox River Calumet County(1) Lake Winnebago Dane County (1) Lake Monona Fond du Lac (2) Lake Winnebago Long Lake Forest County (1) Lake Metonga Kenosha County (5) Silver Lake Lake Andrea Elizabeth Lake Lake Mary Powers Lake

Manitowoc County (1) Cedar Lake Oconto County (1) Machickanee Flowage Sheboygan County (4) Sheboygan Marsh Big Elkhart Lake Crystal Lake Lake Ellen Racine County (4) Racine Quarry Waubeesee Lake Wind Lake Tichigan lake Shawano County (1) Shawano Lake Walworth County (4) Lake Geneva Beulah Lake Delavan Lake Lauderdale Chain of Lakes Wisconsin Waters Infested with Zebra Mussels

Lac La Belle Oconomowoc Lake Oconomowoc River Lake Nagawicka Little Muskego Lake Lower Nashotah Lake Upper and Lower Nemahbin Lakes Wisconsin Waters Infested with Zebra Mussels Bark River Crooked Lake Pewaukee Lake Okauchee Lake North lake Fowler Lake Golden lake Upper and Lower Phantom Lake Waukesha County (17)

Washington County (3) Big Cedar Lake Little Cedar Lake Pike Lake Waushara County (1) Long Lake Adams County (1) Arrowhead Lake Winnebago County (4) Lake Winnebago Lake Butte des Morts Lake Poygan Lake Winneconne Wood County (1) Lake Nepco Wisconsin River Wisconsin Waters Infested with Zebra Mussels

(17 counties, 51 lakes) Zebra Mussels 2004

Wisconsin Lakes With Zebra Mussels ? 51

Ruffe 3-4’’ Long Max. 10’’ Introduced via ballast water from Southern Europe Affects perch, whitefish and minnows Eats fish eggs, bottom-dwelling insects and worms First found in 1986 in Lake Superior Now Present in Lakes Superior, Huron and Michigan S. Zienert

Milwaukee Green Bay Ruffe Superior Madison

Round Goby 3-4’’ Long Max. 10’’ Introduced via ballast water from Europe Affects sculpins and other bottom-dwelling species Eats fish eggs, bottom-dwelling insects and worms Present in all the Great Lakes, Chicago River

Round Goby Green Bay Madison Superior Milwaukee Sturgeon Bay

v Purple Loosestrife 4-Sided Stem Destroys Habitat v Controlled by: Physical Removal Beetles Displaces Native Vegetation 2 Million Seeds per Year

Galerucella beetles: biocontrol for purple loosestrife

Purple Loosestrife

 Eurasian Watermilfoil - Displaces native vegetation - Clogs boating and swimming areas - Spread by boaters through fragmentation  Control: Northern milfoil beetle Chemical

Eurasian milfoil compared to Northern milfoil

Eurasian Milfoil Present in: > 52 counties > 400 waters

Native to southern U.S. Introduced with bait Aggressive Destroys vegetation as they feed Displaces native crayfish Present in many Wisconsin lakes Often spread as bait Rusty Crayfish

Documented Suspected

Spiny Water Flea - ‘BC’ & ‘CP’ Introduced via ballast water from Europe Foul fishing lines and nets (look fuzzy or gooey) Long spines make them hard for fish to eat Present in all the Great Lakes Bythotrephes cederstroemi & Cercopagis pengoi 5mm Long Max. 1/3’’

Spiny Zooplankton Milwaukee Green Bay Madison Superior

Drain bilge water Dispose of live bait Clean off weeds Preventing The Spread

If You Catch An Aquatic Exotic KEEP It: FREEZE It: Put it in a plastic bag or foil Put it in a freezer or ice chest REPORT It: Call: Wisconsin DNR Wisconsin Sea Grant or

How Can You Help? –Learn To Identify Them –Report If You Catch One –Know Their Effects on the Ecosystem –Prevent Their Spread –Teach Others Aquatic Exotics In Wisconsin

For More Information Visit the Sea Grant Nonindigenous Species Sites: Or Call: –Wisconsin Sea Grant (920) –Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (608)