Date of Award
2024
Document Type
Open Access Master's Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Biological Sciences (MS)
Administrative Home Department
Department of Biological Sciences
Advisor 1
Gordon Paterson
Committee Member 1
Jill A. Olin
Committee Member 2
Trista J. Vick-Majors
Abstract
The introduction and establishment of dreissenid species including zebra (Dreissena polymorpha) and quagga (D. bugensis) mussels into the Laurentian Great Lakes has resulted in significant biological and ecological change over the past 30 years. Much of the current research completed to date on understanding dreissenid mussel impacts in the Great Lakes has primarily focused on the adult life stages with less known about the larval veliger form. The goals of this thesis were to; i) investigate veliger energy densities and fatty acid profiles to compare and contrast these nutritional metrics against pelagic zooplankton and; ii) determine the fate of veliger carbon within zooplankton and bacterioplankton communities of Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron. Energy densities of veligers collected from Lake Huron’s Saginaw Bay region averaged 1.49 ± 0.2 kJ/g and were approximately 21% lower relative to values determined for 64 – 154, 154 – 250, and > 250 µm zooplankton size fractions. Fatty acid profiles demonstrated veligers to have lower concentrations of α-linolenic and eicosapentaenoic essential fatty acids and lower unsaturation indices and n-3:n-6 quality indicators relative to zooplankton size fractions. Results of 14C labeling experiments demonstrated uptake of veliger derived organic carbon by zooplankton and bacterioplankton but suggest that much of veliger carbon is recycled into dissolved organic carbon. These results provide baseline information regarding the nutritional quality of veligers and help describe the fate of veliger production within the lower trophic levels of Lake Huron’s Saginaw Bay.
Recommended Citation
Kehne, Mitch R., "ASSESSING THE NUTRITIONAL QUALITY AND FATE OF SAGINAW BAY DREISSENID MUSSEL VELIGERS", Open Access Master's Thesis, Michigan Technological University, 2024.