Impact of zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) on phosphorus cycling and chlorophyll in lakes

We determined the effects of zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) on water column phosphorus (P) and chlorophyll a levels and algal community size structure as well as rates of P excretion in laboratory experiments. Zebra mussel at a threshold density of 0.25/L were able to decouple the nutrient-chlorophyll relationship, to induce erratic patterns in P and chlorophyll a trends, and to decrease mean algal cell sizes. Using shell length we explained 75 and 71% of the variability in P excretion rates in trials held at 17 and 22 degrees C. Using mass balance modeling, we examined the effects of zebra mussel growth and mortality on mean annual steady-state P levels as functions of hydraulic flushing and P loadings for the western basin of Lake Erie, for Lake St. Clair, and for Oneida Lake. Zebra mussel affected water column P levels only when the annual P accumulated into mussel biomass represented >20% of the lake's annual P loading. The mussel populations in all three lakes did not substantially affect water column P levels but decoupling of the nutrient-chlorophyll relationship was observed in lakes Erie and St. Clair. No evidence was found for increased decoupling of this relationship with increasing zebra mussel density in European lakes.