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The Aquatic Community Associated with Native and Invasive Macrophytes in Lake Erie Coastal Wetlands

Johnson, Jaimie L
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1535382268156399

Abstract Details

2018, Master of Science (MS), Bowling Green State University, Biological Sciences.
Invasive macrophytes, such as European frogbit (Hydrocharis morsus-ranae), may negatively impact wetlands and increase the difficulty to properly manage wetland ecosystems. Thus, the central focus of this study was to determine the abiotic and biotic wetland community characteristics that differentiate these aquatic macrophyte habitats. Monotypic patches of four species of macrophytes; European frogbit, flowering rush, water smartweed, broadleaf arrowhead, plus open water were sampled at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge (Ohio) in July and September 2017 quantifying water chemistry, macrophyte biomass, periphyton growth, macroinvertebrates, fish and waterbirds associated with each habitat. Dissolved oxygen measurements (at sunrise and midday; DO) in European frogbit showed hypoxic conditions consistently < 1.0 mg O2/L, whereas DO in all other habitats was always >2.0 mg O2/L, sometimes reaching >10 mg O2/L. Correlated with low dissolved oxygen levels in European frogbit I found a significant increase in low DO tolerant species such as common carp (Cyprinus carpio), goldfish (Carassius auratus), and central mudminnows (Umbra limi) and fewer low DO intolerant species such as bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) and pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus). A higher abundance of mobile orders of macroinvertebrates, such as gastropods and odonates, were found in sites of European frogbit and no waterbirds were surveyed using European frogbit for habitat or for hunting purposes. This research suggests that European frogbit can be a highly impactful invader in wetlands, justifying the attention of managers and natural resource agencies towards the management and prevention of further spread.
Jeffrey Miner, PhD (Advisor)
Verner Bingman, PhD (Committee Member)
Helen Michaels, PhD (Committee Member)
41 p.
Biology
Coastal wetlands; invasive macrophytes; aquatic ecology

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Johnson, J. L. (2018). The Aquatic Community Associated with Native and Invasive Macrophytes in Lake Erie Coastal Wetlands [Master's thesis, Bowling Green State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1535382268156399

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Johnson, Jaimie. The Aquatic Community Associated with Native and Invasive Macrophytes in Lake Erie Coastal Wetlands. 2018. Bowling Green State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1535382268156399.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Johnson, Jaimie. "The Aquatic Community Associated with Native and Invasive Macrophytes in Lake Erie Coastal Wetlands." Master's thesis, Bowling Green State University, 2018. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1535382268156399

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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This open access ETD is published by Bowling Green State University and OhioLINK.