Lakemount benthic invertebrate biodiversity
Conference Year
2024
Abstract
Nutrient upwellings along seamounts increase biodiversity in the open ocean, but the role of this phenomenon in steep offshore reefs in lakes (lakemounts) is unknown. To evaluate biodiversity in lakemounts, we compared benthic invertebrate communities at 5, 20, and 40-meter depths on a lakemount and a shoreline site. Overall, biodiversity is comparable between the two sites (species richness: lakemount = 20, nearshore = 29). The dominant group among all sites and depths was Bivalvia, due to invasive Dreissena polymorpha, followed by Annelida and Gastropoda. We can conclude that lakemounts facilitate benthic invertebrate biodiversity in offshore areas comparably to nearshore habitats.
Primary Faculty Mentor Name
Bianca Possamai
Status
Undergraduate
Student College
Rubenstein School of Environmental and Natural Resources
Program/Major
Wildlife and Fisheries Biology
Primary Research Category
Life Sciences
Lakemount benthic invertebrate biodiversity
Nutrient upwellings along seamounts increase biodiversity in the open ocean, but the role of this phenomenon in steep offshore reefs in lakes (lakemounts) is unknown. To evaluate biodiversity in lakemounts, we compared benthic invertebrate communities at 5, 20, and 40-meter depths on a lakemount and a shoreline site. Overall, biodiversity is comparable between the two sites (species richness: lakemount = 20, nearshore = 29). The dominant group among all sites and depths was Bivalvia, due to invasive Dreissena polymorpha, followed by Annelida and Gastropoda. We can conclude that lakemounts facilitate benthic invertebrate biodiversity in offshore areas comparably to nearshore habitats.