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Survey of Food Chain Macro-Invertebrates: Torch Lake & Lake Bellaire 2009

This study examines the impact of invasive mussels on the food chain in Torch Lake and Lake Bellaire. Data collection methods and findings are detailed, highlighting the distribution of zebra mussels and native diporeia. The study also discusses the importance of bottom-dwelling fish in the food chain and the density changes observed in both lakes.

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Survey of Food Chain Macro-Invertebrates: Torch Lake & Lake Bellaire 2009

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  1. Survey ofFood Chain Macro-Invertebrates: Torch Lake & Lake Bellaire 2009 Braden Ackerman Billy Bohannon Jordan Gunderson Alisha Youmans David Witt Wilhelmina Witt Three Lakes Association 9/14/09

  2. Braden Ackerman Elk Rapids HS Billy Bohannon Bellaire HS Jordan Gunderson Kalkaska HS Wilhelmina Witt Central Lake HS David Witt Central Lake HS Alishia Youmans Central Lake HS

  3. Invasive Mussels • Zebra Mussels – have already invaded the Elk River Chain of Lakes and have changed the food chain • Quagga Mussels – have replaced zebra mussels in Lake Michigan and inhabit a larger portion of the lake • It is feared that quagga mussels will invade the Chain of Lakes and make similar changes

  4. Plan • Make a survey and create records of invasive species populations • Two organisms were surveyed, one native (diporeia) and one invasive (zebra mussels), which compete for the same food resources • This is a snapshot of the Torch Lake and Lake Bellaire before the invasion of quagga mussels

  5. Method To collect data, we used a variety of tools: • PONAR Dredge- collected 0.022 m2 of bottom sediment • Submarine-Remote controlled camera platform • Hydrolab- Collected depth and temperature profiles

  6. Macro-Invertebrate Depth Distribution • Zebra mussels do not live below ~40 ft. • Diporeia mainly live below ~40 ft. • This is true in both Torch Lake and Lake Bellaire • Torch Lake appears to have less zebra mussels than Bellaire • There were similar densities of Diporeia in both lakes but more zebra mussels in Lake Bellaire

  7. Survey Macro-Invertebrates |◄1 cm►| |◄-3 mm-►| Zebra Mussels Diporeia

  8. Torch Bottom at 30 ft showing seagrass on sand

  9. Torch Lake Perch Video

  10. Conclusions • Bottom-dwelling fish consume Diporeia, making them an important part in food chain • 2007 Diporeia densities were about 100 samples per square meter in Bellaire, Torch, and Elk Lakes • 2009 Diporeia densities were 500-1500 per square meter in Bellaire and Torch Lakes • 2009 Zebra densities were 100-1,000 per square meter, less in Torch than Bellaire • No quagga mussels found

  11. Acknowledgements • The 2009 interns would like to thank TLA volunteers Norton Bretz, Trisha Narwold, Dean Branson, and Bob Kollin • The Inland Seas Association let us use their PONAR dredge for sampling • The Antrim County Conservation District let us use their meeting room for writing and analyzing data

  12. 2009 TLA Student Interns

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