Submission Type
Poster
Abstract
This study examines how invasive mussels influence ecosystem dynamics in Conesus Lake, the westernmost Finger Lake in New York. Conesus Lake has experienced cultural eutrophication, remediation efforts, and ongoing challenges such as hypoxia, harmful algal blooms, and invasive species such as Dreissena polymorpha and Dreissena bugensis. Using lake sediment archives, this study analyzes invasive mussel body size and morphology over time to assess their ecological impacts. Two 150 cm sediment cores from the south basin were analyzed using a Geotek multi-sensor core logger. Sub-fossilized mussel shells were identified to species level, and body size metrics—including length, height, and dorsal curvature—were measured. A total of 138 mussels from 12 stratigraphic horizons, spanning contemporary sediments to the first Dreissena appearance (mid-1990s), were assessed. D. polymorpha had a mean length of 5.2 mm, height of 2.7 mm, and L/H ratio of 1.8, while D. bugensis had a mean length of 1.9 mm, height of 1.2 mm, and L/H ratio of 1.6. Both species showed a strong correlation between valve length and height (r² = 0.998 and r² = 0.9611, respectively). Stratigraphic trends indicate that zebra mussels initially exhibited a broader size range, while quagga mussels remained smaller and stable, possibly due to competition or environmental constraints. These findings improve our understanding of invasive mussel population dynamics and their effects on nutrient cycling, benthic habitats, and food webs. Future research will integrate molecular techniques to refine species identification and invasion timelines.
Recommended Citation
Balcarczyk, Jacey; Cole, Zander; Schirrmacher, Kurt; Szczublewski, Emily; and Wittmer, Jacalyn M., "203 - Investigating the Impact of Invasive Mussels on Ecosystem Dynamics in Conesus Lake" (2025). GREAT Day Posters. 57.
https://knightscholar.geneseo.edu/great-day-symposium/great-day-2025/posters-2025/57
203 - Investigating the Impact of Invasive Mussels on Ecosystem Dynamics in Conesus Lake
This study examines how invasive mussels influence ecosystem dynamics in Conesus Lake, the westernmost Finger Lake in New York. Conesus Lake has experienced cultural eutrophication, remediation efforts, and ongoing challenges such as hypoxia, harmful algal blooms, and invasive species such as Dreissena polymorpha and Dreissena bugensis. Using lake sediment archives, this study analyzes invasive mussel body size and morphology over time to assess their ecological impacts. Two 150 cm sediment cores from the south basin were analyzed using a Geotek multi-sensor core logger. Sub-fossilized mussel shells were identified to species level, and body size metrics—including length, height, and dorsal curvature—were measured. A total of 138 mussels from 12 stratigraphic horizons, spanning contemporary sediments to the first Dreissena appearance (mid-1990s), were assessed. D. polymorpha had a mean length of 5.2 mm, height of 2.7 mm, and L/H ratio of 1.8, while D. bugensis had a mean length of 1.9 mm, height of 1.2 mm, and L/H ratio of 1.6. Both species showed a strong correlation between valve length and height (r² = 0.998 and r² = 0.9611, respectively). Stratigraphic trends indicate that zebra mussels initially exhibited a broader size range, while quagga mussels remained smaller and stable, possibly due to competition or environmental constraints. These findings improve our understanding of invasive mussel population dynamics and their effects on nutrient cycling, benthic habitats, and food webs. Future research will integrate molecular techniques to refine species identification and invasion timelines.
Comments
Sponsored by Jacalyn Wittmer Malinowski