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Article

Vertical Distribution Patterns of Crustaceous Zooplankton Associated with Invasive Bythotrephes longimanus and Cercopagis pengoi in Lake Champlain (U.S.A.)

Lake Champlain Research Institute, SUNY Plattsburgh, Plattsburgh, NY 12901, USA
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Diversity 2025, 17(6), 371; https://doi.org/10.3390/d17060371
Submission received: 9 April 2025 / Revised: 1 May 2025 / Accepted: 20 May 2025 / Published: 22 May 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Change and Invasive Species Impacts on Freshwater Systems)

Abstract

Bythotrephes longimanus (spiny waterflea) and Cercopagis pengoi (fishhook waterflea) are large invasive predatory cladocerans that alter the composition, density, and behavior of native zooplankton communities. Lake Champlain was invaded by Bythotrephes and Cercopagis in 2014 and 2018, respectively. This study was conducted to determine the changes in crustaceous zooplankton diel vertical migration (DVM) associated with the presence of these two invasive species. Daytime and nighttime zooplankton samples were collected from vertical net tows at 5 m intervals using 153 µm and 250 µm closing plankton nets at a 50 m deep site in Lake Champlain during the month of August (2013–2016, 2019, 2023, and 2024). Sampling dates encompassed years before and after each invader entered the lake. The results show increased DVM activity in several native zooplankton taxa associated with invasion years, including Daphnia retrocurva, Bosmina longirostris, and Diacyclops thomasi. Zooplankton in Lake Champlain appear to occupy deeper depths during the daytime after Bythotrephes and Cercopagis invaded than in previous years. Alterations associated with Bythotrephes were more extreme, whereas changes associated with Cercopagis were longer lasting. These shifts in DVM behavior have potential implications for trophic dynamics in Lake Champlain by altering competitive interactions and foraging behavior of zooplankton and their predators.
Keywords: Cercopagis; Bythotrephes; Lake Champlain; diel vertical migration; zooplankton; invasive Cladocera Cercopagis; Bythotrephes; Lake Champlain; diel vertical migration; zooplankton; invasive Cladocera

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Arnwine, M.; Mihuc, T.; Myers, L.; Lamay, M.; Cutter, Z. Vertical Distribution Patterns of Crustaceous Zooplankton Associated with Invasive Bythotrephes longimanus and Cercopagis pengoi in Lake Champlain (U.S.A.). Diversity 2025, 17, 371. https://doi.org/10.3390/d17060371

AMA Style

Arnwine M, Mihuc T, Myers L, Lamay M, Cutter Z. Vertical Distribution Patterns of Crustaceous Zooplankton Associated with Invasive Bythotrephes longimanus and Cercopagis pengoi in Lake Champlain (U.S.A.). Diversity. 2025; 17(6):371. https://doi.org/10.3390/d17060371

Chicago/Turabian Style

Arnwine, Marshall, Timothy Mihuc, Luke Myers, Mark Lamay, and Zachary Cutter. 2025. "Vertical Distribution Patterns of Crustaceous Zooplankton Associated with Invasive Bythotrephes longimanus and Cercopagis pengoi in Lake Champlain (U.S.A.)" Diversity 17, no. 6: 371. https://doi.org/10.3390/d17060371

APA Style

Arnwine, M., Mihuc, T., Myers, L., Lamay, M., & Cutter, Z. (2025). Vertical Distribution Patterns of Crustaceous Zooplankton Associated with Invasive Bythotrephes longimanus and Cercopagis pengoi in Lake Champlain (U.S.A.). Diversity, 17(6), 371. https://doi.org/10.3390/d17060371

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