Exotic crustaceans found in Utah
The small crustacean Daphnia lumholtzi are native to Africa, Australia and Southern Asia, but have been found recently in Utah.
Research by Utah State University’s fishery and wildlife department at the artificially made sport fishing lake Willard Bay near Brigham City found the exotic species in the fall of 1999.
Chris Luecke, fishery and wildlife professor, has been leading the research at Willard Bay and said there are usually eight to 10 species of crustaceans in the fishery and in all his 25 years involved in fisheries he has never seen Daphnia lumholtzi.
Luecke said the exotic crustacean was found in Arkansas in the late 80s and was most-likely spread by a fish shipment from Lake Victoria. The organisms were later found in the Midwest but the findings at Willard Bay were the first reported in the Intermountain West and were most-likely spread by sport fish transplanted in Willard Bay from North Carolina.
Quinn Cannon, a senior majoring in fisheries and wildlife, got involved in the research at Willard Bay when it became important to monitor if birds or boats have transported the organisms or their resting eggs to other bodies of water in Utah or Southern Idaho. The organisms’ shape and structure make it hard for fish under 50 millimeters to eat, Luecke said.
Cannon said in his research that Daphnia lumholtzi has “an enlarged helmet, and elongated head and tail spines that make it difficult for juvenile fish to consume.
“That could affect the food chain and the fish population,” Cannon said.
Cannon has sampled 12 bodies of water in Utah and Southern Idaho taking three samples in each. So far he has found that Daphnia lumholtzi has not dispersed.
However, Cannon, who hopes to go to graduate school and major in fisheries or stream ecology, said there is still a possibility the exotic crustaceans are in other bodies of water or will show up later.
“It may be kind of like finding a needle in a hay stack,” Cannon said.
Cannon said his research has given him experience that would not have been available through university courses. Luecke said despite the positive findings the research has been interesting and provided summer jobs for students interested in fisheries.
“It looks like from our results so far it’s not as big a concern as we thought it would be,” Luecke said.
However, Luecke said the university is working with the state to continue to keep the crustaceans contained and are encouraging fishermen not to move water from lake to lake.
Despite the positive findings so far, Cannon said it is likely a monitory program will be set up for the bodies of water to be checked every three years for the spreading of Daphni lumholtzi.
Cannon is preparing to present his research at the student showcase April 18 in the Taggart Student Center and at the American Society Limnology and Oceanography conference where aquatic scientists from all over the world will gather.