Invasive New Zealand mudsnails in mid Puget Sound (Salish Sea) lowland water courses
Presentation Abstract
Recently, healthy populations of the invasive mollusk species commonly called the New Zealand mudsnail (Potamopyrgus antipodarum) have been confirmed in a number of watersheds that feed into Puget Sound, with locations including both streams and lake shores. Three of these infestations are within the greater Lake Washington basin in densely populated areas of King County. In other areas throughout the western United States, mudsnail populations have skyrocketed, out-competing native freshwater species that provide food for salmon, while at the same time decreasing biotic integrity scores. There is some evidence that mudsnails eaten by fish pass through the gut unharmed without providing any nutritional benefit. King County has created an identification field card available on-line at (http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/animalsAndPlants/biodiversity/threats/Invasives/Mudsnails.aspx) for use in determining whether snails in a water body are likely to be a new mudsnail infestation or a native species. The card also contains information on recommended decontamination procedures that should be followed to avoid spreading mudsnails to new areas. King County has also applied the criteria provided by Therriault et al (2010) to determine the suitability of water quality in various county streams to support significant populations of the snails, should they be introduced. To-date, most streams in the region appear to be at least moderately good candidates for successful colonization by mudsnails, based on calcium, conductivity, nutrients, temperature, and other parameters. Therefore, education and rigorous decontamination procedures are top priorities for people (and their gear) who enter Puget Sound lakes and streams for recreation, fishing, habitat improvement and restoration, flood protection, and road maintenance and construction.
Session Title
Session S-09E: Marine, Freshwater and Terrestrial Species: Threats and Conservation
Conference Track
Species and Food Webs
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2014 : Seattle, Wash.)
Document Type
Event
Start Date
1-5-2014 5:00 PM
End Date
1-5-2014 6:30 PM
Location
Room 6C
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
New Zealand mudsnail--Habitat--Washington (State)--Puget Sound Region; New Zealand mudsnail--Control--Washington (State)--Puget Sound Region
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Puget Sound Region (Wash.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Invasive New Zealand mudsnails in mid Puget Sound (Salish Sea) lowland water courses
Room 6C
Recently, healthy populations of the invasive mollusk species commonly called the New Zealand mudsnail (Potamopyrgus antipodarum) have been confirmed in a number of watersheds that feed into Puget Sound, with locations including both streams and lake shores. Three of these infestations are within the greater Lake Washington basin in densely populated areas of King County. In other areas throughout the western United States, mudsnail populations have skyrocketed, out-competing native freshwater species that provide food for salmon, while at the same time decreasing biotic integrity scores. There is some evidence that mudsnails eaten by fish pass through the gut unharmed without providing any nutritional benefit. King County has created an identification field card available on-line at (http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/animalsAndPlants/biodiversity/threats/Invasives/Mudsnails.aspx) for use in determining whether snails in a water body are likely to be a new mudsnail infestation or a native species. The card also contains information on recommended decontamination procedures that should be followed to avoid spreading mudsnails to new areas. King County has also applied the criteria provided by Therriault et al (2010) to determine the suitability of water quality in various county streams to support significant populations of the snails, should they be introduced. To-date, most streams in the region appear to be at least moderately good candidates for successful colonization by mudsnails, based on calcium, conductivity, nutrients, temperature, and other parameters. Therefore, education and rigorous decontamination procedures are top priorities for people (and their gear) who enter Puget Sound lakes and streams for recreation, fishing, habitat improvement and restoration, flood protection, and road maintenance and construction.
