Aquatic Exotics In Wisconsin

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

2. 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

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

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

5. 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

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

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

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

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

10. Zebra Mussel Green Bay Milwaukee Madison

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

12. Zebra Mussels Colonize Lots of Things

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

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

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

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

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

18. Zebra Mussels 2004 (17 counties, 51 lakes)

19. ? Wisconsin Lakes With Zebra Mussels 51

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

21. Superior Green Bay Ruffe Madison Milwaukee

22. 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

23. Superior Round Goby Sturgeon Bay Green Bay Madison Milwaukee

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

25. Galerucella beetles: biocontrol for purple loosestrife

26. Purple Loosestrife

27. Eurasian Watermilfoil • - Displaces native vegetation- Clogs boating and swimming areas- Spread by boaters through fragmentation • Control:Northern milfoil beetleChemical

28. Eurasian milfoil compared to Northern milfoil

29. Eurasian Milfoil Present in:> 52 counties > 400 waters

30. Rusty Crayfish • 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

31. Rusty Crayfish Documented Suspected

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

33. Superior Spiny Zooplankton Green Bay Madison Milwaukee

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

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

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

37. For More Information • Visit the Sea Grant Nonindigenous Species Sites: • www.sgnis.org • www.seagrant.wisc.edu • Or Call: • Wisconsin Sea Grant • (920) 683-4697 • Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources • (608) 266-9270