Post-settlement processes and early life history dynamics of zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) in the Hudson River estuary

My dissertation research focuses on the early post settlement period of which little is known in zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) populations, and indeed, in most other benthic invertebrate populations. I investigated early post settlement mortality and estimated the proportion of settling larvae that survived the early benthic phase (two weeks after settlement). Estimates of mortality for the first few days varied between 83 - 92% and 38 - 88% depending on location and model used (day or age). However, by the sixth day of the study, survivorship was high (~ 1) at both sites. Consequently, although total mortality over the 14 day period was ~ 55% and 40% (depending on site), virtually all mortality occurred over the first few days only; mortality after the first few days post settlement was absent or very low. Thus the first few days after settlement are a distinct and critical phase for zebra mussels. One caveat to note, however, is that the spacing of the settlement plates could have impeded large predators and afforded larvae that settled onto experimental plates some protection from crushing.;I conducted several experiments to investigate density dependence, a process crucial to population regulation. In one experiment, I investigated whether recruitment was dependent on the density of just settled larvae and whether the settler -- recruit relationship changed over time. The effect of differential settlement on recruitment differed depending on cohort age. In the early benthic phase zebra mussel settlement determined recruitment, with increases in settler density leading to increases in recruit density (density independent response). I found no evidence of density dependence until about a year after zebra mussels had first settled when recruit densities at all four settler treatment densities started to converge. Interestingly there was a 10 fold increase in filtration rates in the later period (zebra mussels almost doubled in length during a three month period from May to July). It seems likely that intraspecific competition for limited food resources is the mechanism generating density dependence later in the benthic phase in zebra mussel populations in the Hudson River.;In a second experiment, I investigated whether recruitment was affected by the density of adult conspecifics. I manipulated the density of adults on artificial substrate plates, generating four different adult treatment densities (75 - 90% coverage, 45 - 60% coverage, 15 - 30% coverage and 0% coverage) and allowed natural settlement onto the plates. After five months, I removed all plates from the water and estimated recruit density at each adult density. A GLM (negative binomial distribution and log link function) indicated significantly higher recruitment on plates with 0% adult coverage (p < 0.05). Adult conspecifics had a negative effect on recruitment with significantly higher recruitment when adults were absent compared to when adults were present (at any density). The main driver for lower recruitment in the presence of adults is likely crushing by large predators. In addition I investigated broad patterns of early life history dynamics at the site and river scale in order to provide further insight into processes affecting population dynamics. I estimated larval supply and settlement over the reproductive season (May to October) for five years (2002 to 2006) in order to uncover any temporal changes in important events (for example spawning / settlement peaks). In addition I estimated recruitment and survival of post recruits and combined data on early life history dynamics with adult dynamics. I found distinct differences between early life stage dynamics during the first three years of the study (2002 to 2004) and those occurring during the final two years of the study (2005 & 2006). In later years, larval densities were significantly lower (p < 0.05) and spawning events were reduced to one per year compared with two to four in earlier years. Settlement was significantly higher (p < 0.05) and peaked later in the season in later years. Recruits were significantly smaller in later years (p < 0.05) and size frequency distributions highly skewed to small sizes compared to normal distributions in earlier years. Such differences in early life stage dynamics correspond with a steep decline in annual survivorship rates of zebra mussels in the Hudson River (annual survivorship was zero in later years). The phenomenon of heavy adult mortality in late summer seems to be the main driver for changes in early life history dynamics seen in this study. In addition, I found inverse linear relationships between larval density and settler density and between settler density and aggregate adult filtration rate. Such phenomena may be important regulation mechanisms for zebra mussels and are likely due to intercohort cannibalism. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).