Aquatic Invasive Species in Iowa

1. Aquatic Invasive Species in Iowa Kim Bogenschutz Iowa Department of Natural Resources Aquatic Nuisance Species Program Terms - nuisance, invasive, exotic, nonindigenous Definition � nonnative aquatic plants, animals, and other organisms that dominate ecosystems where they are introduced and have harmful impacts on natural resources, the economy, and human use of these resources. Over the past 200 years, thousands of nonnative plants and animals (both terrestrial and aquatic) have become established in the United States. About 1 in 7 has become invasive (zebra mussels vs. pheasants); 183 total AIS in Great Lakes. AIS can be introduced intentionally, but most are unintentionally introduced through commerce, travel, or cultivation. Terms - nuisance, invasive, exotic, nonindigenous Definition � nonnative aquatic plants, animals, and other organisms that dominate ecosystems where they are introduced and have harmful impacts on natural resources, the economy, and human use of these resources. Over the past 200 years, thousands of nonnative plants and animals (both terrestrial and aquatic) have become established in the United States. About 1 in 7 has become invasive (zebra mussels vs. pheasants); 183 total AIS in Great Lakes. AIS can be introduced intentionally, but most are unintentionally introduced through commerce, travel, or cultivation.

2. Characteristics of Invasive Species Tolerate a wide range of environmental conditions Reproduce early, often, in large numbers, and in multiple ways Grow rapidly Colonize disturbed sites Have few natural enemies Preventing their introduction and spread is the best control we have for AIS.Preventing their introduction and spread is the best control we have for AIS.

3. Invasive Aquatic Plants Eurasian watermilfoil* Purple Loosestrife* Brittle Naiad* Curlyleaf Pondweed* Flowering Rush Salt Cedar Federal Aquatic Noxious Weeds Iowa has an AIS Law and Rule prohibiting AIS. Showing these lists to show the variety and number of AIS threatening Iowa. Examples of Federal Noxious Weeds - hydrilla, giant salvinia, melaleucaIowa has an AIS Law and Rule prohibiting AIS. Showing these lists to show the variety and number of AIS threatening Iowa. Examples of Federal Noxious Weeds - hydrilla, giant salvinia, melaleuca

4. Invasive Aquatic Fish Bighead Carp* Silver Carp* Black Carp White Perch* Round Goby Rudd Ruffe Federal Injurious Aquatic Wildlife Federal Injurious Wildlife - snakeheads, walking catfish Federal Injurious Wildlife - snakeheads, walking catfish

5. Invasive Aquatic Invertebrates Zebra Mussel* Quagga Mussel Rusty Crayfish* Fishhook Waterflea New Zealand Mudsnail Spiny Water Flea Federal Injurious Aquatic Wildlife Rusty Crayfish - example of North American species that is invasive outside its native range (streams of Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Illinois, Indiana), introduced through bait Federal Injurious Species - zebra mussel, quagga mussel, mitten crabRusty Crayfish - example of North American species that is invasive outside its native range (streams of Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Illinois, Indiana), introduced through bait Federal Injurious Species - zebra mussel, quagga mussel, mitten crab

6. Eurasian Watermilfoil(Myriophyllum spicatum) Native to Europe and Asia Introduced into North America in the 1940�s Has spread to at least 45 states and 3 Canadian provinces Rapid spread attributed mainly to boat traffic; plant fragments were accidentally transported from one lake to another on boats and trailersRapid spread attributed mainly to boat traffic; plant fragments were accidentally transported from one lake to another on boats and trailers

7. Eurasian Watermilfoil Infestations in Iowa through 2006 First discovered in Crystal Lake (Hancock) in 1993. 26 locations - lakes, ponds, wetlands, Mississippi River 1994 - St. Benedicts Pond (Kossuth), Walnut Creek Marsh (Ringgold) 1995 - Koutny Pond (Buchanan) 1996 - Snyder Bend (Woodbury), Wilson Grove Pond (Bremer) 1997 - Sweet Marsh (Bremer), St. Benedicts Pond, Koutny Pond 1998 - Mitchell Avenue Pit, South Prairie Lake (Black Hawk); Sportsman�s Lake (Palo Alto) 1999 - Mile High Lake, Keg Creek Lake (Mills); Scott A Lake (Fremont) 2000 - Beeds Lake (Franklin), Horseshoe Pond (Jackson) 2001 - Camp Sunnyside (Polk), Sweet Marsh 2002 - Airport Lake (Chickasaw), Walnut Acres Pond (Jones), Maxwell Pond (Story), Winnebago Bend? (Woodbury), Ottumwa Pond (Wapello), O�Brien Pond (Emmet), St. Benedicts Pond, Koutny Pond 2003 - Rudd Lake (Floyd), Grundy County Lake (Grundy), Siems Park Ponds (Kossuth), St. Benedicts Pond, Scott A Lake, Sweet Marsh, Sportsman�s Lake 2004 - Camp Sunnyside 150+ Minnesota lakes, ~400 Wisconsin lakesFirst discovered in Crystal Lake (Hancock) in 1993. 26 locations - lakes, ponds, wetlands, Mississippi River 1994 - St. Benedicts Pond (Kossuth), Walnut Creek Marsh (Ringgold) 1995 - Koutny Pond (Buchanan) 1996 - Snyder Bend (Woodbury), Wilson Grove Pond (Bremer) 1997 - Sweet Marsh (Bremer), St. Benedicts Pond, Koutny Pond 1998 - Mitchell Avenue Pit, South Prairie Lake (Black Hawk); Sportsman�s Lake (Palo Alto) 1999 - Mile High Lake, Keg Creek Lake (Mills); Scott A Lake (Fremont) 2000 - Beeds Lake (Franklin), Horseshoe Pond (Jackson) 2001 - Camp Sunnyside (Polk), Sweet Marsh 2002 - Airport Lake (Chickasaw), Walnut Acres Pond (Jones), Maxwell Pond (Story), Winnebago Bend? (Woodbury), Ottumwa Pond (Wapello), O�Brien Pond (Emmet), St. Benedicts Pond, Koutny Pond 2003 - Rudd Lake (Floyd), Grundy County Lake (Grundy), Siems Park Ponds (Kossuth), St. Benedicts Pond, Scott A Lake, Sweet Marsh, Sportsman�s Lake 2004 - Camp Sunnyside 150+ Minnesota lakes, ~400 Wisconsin lakes

8. Eurasian Watermilfoil(Myriophyllum spicatum) 12-21 pairs of leaflets Fragile appearance - leaves collapse against stem when removed from water Branches profusely at water surface forming dense mats Northern Watermilfoil - 5-10 pairs leaflets, leaves rigid out of water Northern Watermilfoil - 5-10 pairs leaflets, leaves rigid out of water

9. Purple Loosestrife(Lythrum salicaria) Native to Europe and Asia By the early 1800�s was well established along the east coast of the U.S. Currently found in almost all states and all Canadian provinces Probably introduced as an ornamental Popularity as a garden plant and prolific reproduction caused spreadProbably introduced as an ornamental Popularity as a garden plant and prolific reproduction caused spread

10. Iowa Counties with Documented Purple Loosestrife Infestations through 2006 These locations were reported by county weed commissioners, wildlife and fisheries biologists, and others. There are probably infestations in some of the counties that have not been documented or reported.These locations were reported by county weed commissioners, wildlife and fisheries biologists, and others. There are probably infestations in some of the counties that have not been documented or reported.

11. Purple Loosestrife(Lythrum salicaria) Plant height 2-7 feet Linear leaves with smooth edges, usually opposite Long spikes of purple or magenta flowers with 5-6 petals Flowers in July and August

12. Brittle Naiad(Najas minor) Native to Europe Introduced into North America in the 1930�s Has spread to at least 24 states in the eastern and southern United States First identified in Iowa in 2003 Was not on our radar screen as a high risk invader. Was not on our radar screen as a high risk invader.

13. Brittle Naiad Infestations in Iowa through 2006 Infestations in close proximity in distinct geographic areas. Closed boat ramps at several of the lakes to prevent spread because fragments readily cling to boats and equipment. Yellow Smoke Lake, Nelson Park Pond (Crawford) Crawford Creek Lake, Moorehead Park Pond (Ida) Little Sioux Park Pond (Woodbury) Willow Lake (Harrison) Casey Lake (Tama) Hannen Lake (Benton) Kounty Pond (Buchanan) Pleasant Creek Lake (Linn) Volga Lake (Fayette) Lake Wapello (Davis) Lacey-Keosauqua Lake, Lake Sugema, Morris Park Pond (Van Buren) Geode Lake (Henry) Mississippi River Infestations in close proximity in distinct geographic areas. Closed boat ramps at several of the lakes to prevent spread because fragments readily cling to boats and equipment. Yellow Smoke Lake, Nelson Park Pond (Crawford) Crawford Creek Lake, Moorehead Park Pond (Ida) Little Sioux Park Pond (Woodbury) Willow Lake (Harrison) Casey Lake (Tama) Hannen Lake (Benton) Kounty Pond (Buchanan) Pleasant Creek Lake (Linn) Volga Lake (Fayette) Lake Wapello (Davis) Lacey-Keosauqua Lake, Lake Sugema, Morris Park Pond (Van Buren) Geode Lake (Henry) Mississippi River

14. Brittle Naiad(Najas minor) Stems - up to 4 feet long, highly branched, crowded terminal nodes Leaves - opposite, about 1 inch long, prominent marginal teeth, often recurved Similar to bushy pondweed (no or small marginal teeth, leaves not recurved) and Chara (algae, leaf-like structures in whorls around stem)Similar to bushy pondweed (no or small marginal teeth, leaves not recurved) and Chara (algae, leaf-like structures in whorls around stem)

15. Aquatic Invasive Plant Impacts Displace native aquatic vegetation and wildlife Form dense surface mats/stands that restrict boating, water-skiing, fishing, and other aquatic recreation Lower value of lakefront property Spread from lake to lake by watercraft and/or water movement Highly invasive and compete aggressively with native aquatic plants EWM - loss of property value is a large economic impact in Minnesota and other states, reproduces primarily through vegetative propagation (single fragment of stem or leaves can take root and form new colony), plants can grow up to 2�/day, grows in many types of waterbodies and almost any substrate PL - can infest almost any shallow water site, single plants produce up to 2 million seeds each year, roots and underground shoots also produce new plants BN - annual plants, reproduces by fragmentation and seeds (seeds remain in leaf axils after fragmentation), plant is very brittle, breaks apart, and spreads from lake to lake by watercraft and water movement Highly invasive and compete aggressively with native aquatic plants EWM - loss of property value is a large economic impact in Minnesota and other states, reproduces primarily through vegetative propagation (single fragment of stem or leaves can take root and form new colony), plants can grow up to 2�/day, grows in many types of waterbodies and almost any substrate PL - can infest almost any shallow water site, single plants produce up to 2 million seeds each year, roots and underground shoots also produce new plants BN - annual plants, reproduces by fragmentation and seeds (seeds remain in leaf axils after fragmentation), plant is very brittle, breaks apart, and spreads from lake to lake by watercraft and water movement

16. Bighead and Silver Carp(Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) Native to central and southern China (bighead) and eastern Asia (silver) Introduced in 1970�s by Arkansas fish farmers Have spread to at least 23 (bighead) and 16 (silver) states Likely escaped from aquaculture facilities to the wild.Likely escaped from aquaculture facilities to the wild.

17. Bighead and Silver Carp(Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) Both species found in the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers bordering Iowa Bighead carp also in the Des Moines, Iowa, Chariton, Cedar, Platte, Nodaway, and Big Sioux Rivers and smaller tributaries Silver carp also in the Des Moines River

18. Bighead and Silver Carp(Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) Bighead carp - dark gray back and upper sides grading to off-white on lower sides and belly, dark to black irregular-shaped blotches over entire body, pectoral fin tip extends past pelvic fin base, gill rakers long and comblike, ventral keel extends to base of pelvic fins Silver carp - olivaceous back and upper sides grading to silver on lower sides and belly, no blotches, pectoral fin tip does not extend past pelvic fin base, gill rakers spongelike, ventral keel extends past base of pelvic fins to isthmus (base of gills)Bighead carp - dark gray back and upper sides grading to off-white on lower sides and belly, dark to black irregular-shaped blotches over entire body, pectoral fin tip extends past pelvic fin base, gill rakers long and comblike, ventral keel extends to base of pelvic fins Silver carp - olivaceous back and upper sides grading to silver on lower sides and belly, no blotches, pectoral fin tip does not extend past pelvic fin base, gill rakers spongelike, ventral keel extends past base of pelvic fins to isthmus (base of gills)

19. Bighead and Silver Carp(Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) Compete with native filter-feeders (paddlefish, buffalo, mussels, larval fish) Disrupt commercial fishing Leap out of water when boats approach

20. Bighead and Silver Carp(Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) Video from Illinois RiverVideo from Illinois River

21. Zebra Mussel(Dreissena polymorpha) Native to the Caspian Sea region of Asia First found in North America in Lake St. Clair in 1988 Two years later found in all the Great Lakes Have spread to at least 26 states Most likely entered in ballast water of transatlantic ships. Spreading through inland rivers but also in lakes Latest discoveries in 2007 were quagga mussels in Lakes Mead, Havasu, and Mohave on the Colorado River in Nevada, California, and Arizona. Most likely entered in ballast water of transatlantic ships. Spreading through inland rivers but also in lakes Latest discoveries in 2007 were quagga mussels in Lakes Mead, Havasu, and Mohave on the Colorado River in Nevada, California, and Arizona.

22. Zebra Mussel(Dreissena polymorpha) First found in Iowa in 1992 in the Mississippi River In one year, spread from border to border Veligers collected in 2003 from Missouri River in South Dakota Discovered in Clear Lake in 2005 Discovered in Lake Delhi in 2006 Two adults found in Clear Lake in 2005. Several adults and juveniles found in scattered locations around Clear Lake in 2006. Identified in Base Lake at Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha in April 2006. Two adults found on lower unit of boat motor at Parks Marina in March 2006. Many individuals and size classes found on rocks near Lake Delhi dam in 2006.Two adults found in Clear Lake in 2005. Several adults and juveniles found in scattered locations around Clear Lake in 2006. Identified in Base Lake at Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha in April 2006. Two adults found on lower unit of boat motor at Parks Marina in March 2006. Many individuals and size classes found on rocks near Lake Delhi dam in 2006.

23. Zebra Mussel(Dreissena polymorpha) Yellow and/or brown D-shaped shells up to 2 inches long with alternating light and dark bands Usually grow in clusters containing numerous individuals Only freshwater mollusc that attaches to solid objects Veligers are microscopic No native mussel is similar in appearance. Veligers are free swimming and move with the currentsNo native mussel is similar in appearance. Veligers are free swimming and move with the currents

24. Zebra Mussel(Dreissena polymorpha) Clog pipes, beaches, motors Kill native mussels, plants, crayfish, etc. Compete with small fish and native mussels for food Affect water quality Huge economic impact to water and power plants Hamper boating - block engine cooling systems, jam steering equipment and centerboard wells on sailboats, increase drag Huge economic impact to water and power plants Hamper boating - block engine cooling systems, jam steering equipment and centerboard wells on sailboats, increase drag

25. Zebra Mussel(Dreissena polymorpha) Increased water clarity Increased benthic algae and vegetation Increased benthic invertebrates Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) blooms Decreased zooplankton and planktivorous fish Decreased benthic algae and vegetation Increased water clarity/reduced turbidity due to filtering of phytoplankton from water (decreased chlorophyll). Increased benthic invertebrates by redirecting nutrients from pelagic to benthic habitats and by increasing habitat in the form of shells Promote cyanobacteria blooms by selectively rejecting blue-green algae, increasing water column phosphorous, reducing nitrogen:phosphorous ratios (nitrogen levels decrease because converts to gas when pseudofeces deposited while phosphorous not affected), and reducing diatom biomass. Cyanobacteria blooms may reduce benthic algae and macrophyte production through shading.Increased water clarity/reduced turbidity due to filtering of phytoplankton from water (decreased chlorophyll). Increased benthic invertebrates by redirecting nutrients from pelagic to benthic habitats and by increasing habitat in the form of shells Promote cyanobacteria blooms by selectively rejecting blue-green algae, increasing water column phosphorous, reducing nitrogen:phosphorous ratios (nitrogen levels decrease because converts to gas when pseudofeces deposited while phosphorous not affected), and reducing diatom biomass. Cyanobacteria blooms may reduce benthic algae and macrophyte production through shading.

26. Limiting the Spread of AIS Public Outreach Vegetation and Zebra Mussel Surveys Monitoring of Asian Carp Distribution Treatment of Aquatic Invasive Species Infestations Cooperative Projects on Mississippi and Missouri Rivers Watercraft Inspections Volunteer Watercraft Inspection Opportunities Volunteer Watercraft Inspection Opportunities

27. Preventing the Spread of AIS Remove any visible plants, fish, animals or mud from boat, trailer, and other equipment. Drain water from all equipment � motor, livewell, bilge, transom well Clean and dry anything that comes into contact with water - equipment, boots, clothing, dogs. Before transporting to another waterbody, rinse boat and equipment with water 104 degrees or hotter, spray boat and trailer with high-pressure water at a car wash, or dry boat and equipment for at least five days. Never release fish, animals or plants into a waterbody unless they came from that waterbody. Empty unwanted bait in trash. Learn to identify aquatic invasive species and report any suspected infestations to the nearest DNR fisheries station.

28. For Additional Information or to Volunteer Contact Kim Bogenschutz Aquatic Nuisance Species Program Coordinator Iowa Department of Natural Resources 1436 255th Street Boone, Iowa 50036 515-432-2823 Kim.Bogenschutz@dnr.state.ia.us