What is an Ecosystem and Why is it Important: A Socio-Economic Perspective

Jeffrey M. Reutter, Ph.D. Director 1895—F.T. Stone Laboratory 1970—Center for Lake Erie Area Research (CLEAR) —Ohio Sea Grant College Program 1992—Great Lakes Aquatic Ecosystem Research Consortium (GLAERC) ; fax

Gibraltar Island Village of Put-in-Bay On South Bass Island

Stone Laboratory Gibraltar Island

Commom Definitions—1 Biology = the science of life Ecology = science of interrelationships between living organizms and their environment Populations = groups of the same kind of organisms (species) Community (or biotic community) = all of the “populations” occupying a given area

Commom Definitions—2 Major community = of sufficient size and completeness to be relatively independent of adjoining communities Ecosystem = the community (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) physical environment function as an “ecological system” or ecosystem

Ecosystem Management Manipulation of the populations and the abiotic environment to achieve a desired outcome Sometimes difficult to determine appropriate boundaries for the ecosystem, i.e. the more independent it is of adjoining systems, the better. Otherwise, we have to be able to manage the inputs and outputs between adjoining system.

Challenges Biology/life history of each species –Needs throughout life cycle –Range of travel/movement, i.e. how big is ecosystem Interactions between species –Native and AIS Impact of environmental alterations Impact of our land-based activities on aquatic environment

As a Result, Lake Erie Gets: More sediment More nutrients (fertilizers and sewage) More pesticides And is still biologically the most productive of the Great Lakes

Possible to get too much of a good thing, i.e. too many nutrients

“I heard Lake Erie is the place fish go to die.” --Johnny Carson, 1976

Blue-green Algae Bloom ~ , Lake Erie

Lake Erie Cross Section

Managing the Lake Erie Ecosystem Reduce phos loading from 29,000 to 11,000 tons –Walleye harvest 112,000 to 5 million –Econ value of walleye fishery $650 mil –Charter businesses: 34 to over 1,200 –Coastal related businesses: 207 to >425 –Are stocks discrete between basins: should each basin be managed alone

Boating Impact $1.4 billion on Ohio’s economy ~ 400,000 registered boaters 1 job for every 19 boats

Zebra Mussel vs Quagga Mussel

Byssal Threads

ANS/ZM History —ZM arrives in Lake St. Clair Not new—over 180 species have invaded the Great Lakes, and 2/3 since St. Lawrence Seaway opened in Oct. 1988First ZM found at Stone Laboratory 15 Nov. 1988First Sea Grant research project initiated 15 Oct. 1989ZM densities in western basin of Lake Erie reach 30,000/sq. meter

1974—Before Zebra Mussels

1994—After Zebra Mussels

Zebra Mussel Impacts Walleye population about 1/3 of previous levels and economic value falls to $250 mil Fishing effort reduced –Less licenses sold –Less boats sold Water clarity improves HABs return

Round Goby

Round Goby Impact Eat zebra mussels Bioaccumulate PCBs Transfer contaminants to SMBass (levels up without greater loading, i.e. importance of changes to trophic structure or ecosystem) Nuisance to anglers Eat SMBass eggs and fry Out compete native sculpins

Closing Thoughts Don’t understand current Phos changes Can enhance economic value by increasing habitat diversity—artificial reefs –12-66 times more fish –Pay for themselves 2.75 times/yr