Evaluation of a method for ballast water risk–release assessment using a protist surrogate

Meagan N. Aliff, Euan D. Reavie, Matthew C. TenEyck, Donn K. Branstrator, Tyler Schwerdt, Allegra A. Cangelosi, Meijun Cai

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Understanding the risk–release relationship (the relationship between density of organisms released and associated risk of establishment of a population) of aquatic invasive species is important for setting policy standards to protect natural water bodies from species spread through human-mediated vectors, in particular ballast discharge. To test the viability of an experimental and analytical approach to investigate this relationship, we conducted a mesocosm-based experiment using a test organism, Melosira varians (a freshwater phytoplanktonic diatom native to the Great Lakes). Varying densities of the test organism were added to 19-l mesocosms of water from the Duluth-Superior Harbor at Superior, Wisconsin, in three consecutive trials over 4 months. Each mesocosm was sampled weekly for 4 weeks, and the size of the M. varians population and phytoplankton community was measured via assessments of cell densities. Population responses varied by initial M. varians density. Based on a logistic model, the inoculation density necessary for establishment of M. varians was approximately 12 cells/ml. These findings suggest mesocosm experiments coupled with logistic modeling have the potential to characterize risk–release relationships. Additional investigations using similar methods should be undertaken with a variety of test organisms and environmental conditions to further vet this method and extend understanding of risk–release relationships.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)11-22
Number of pages12
JournalHydrobiologia
Volume817
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 1 2018

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Aquatic Science

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