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The Bloody Red Shrimp in Cayuga Lake
Poster Created by W. Cady, B. Taylor, K. Wozer, R. DeGennaro
Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Geneva, NY 14456
Abstract
Hemimysis anomala is a non-native Ponto-Caspian species found in the
Great Lakes and Seneca Lake. By sampling multiple sites along the east and west
sides of Cayuga Lake we hoped to determine whether Hemimysis had
established in the lake. Samples were collected after dark by net tows and
preserved in ethanol for study in the lab. Any Hemimysis found in the samples
were checked for age and gender. Four sites had both adult and juvenile
Hemimysis present indicating established populations were present in Cayuga
Lake.
Method
1) Sampling sites chosen using ArcGIS mapping using the following criteria:
• shallow water/nearshore/low light
• rocky shoreline with structure (i.e., docks, piers, breakwaters)
• Accessibility (public access points)
• Spanning eastern and western shorelines of Cayuga Lake, NY
3) Samples collected after sunset (H. anomala are noctoural)
4) Site observations recorded into ArcGIS map:
• amount of ambient light
• sediment type
• general landscape
• landmarks
5) 3 horizontal net tows (80µm, 0.5m diameter) with a collection canister and
preserved in 70% Ethanol
7) In lab examined using a dissection microscope for
• the presence of H. anomala
• classified by juveniles/adults
Results
• H. anomala present at multiple locations in Cayuga lake
• Total of 24 BRS on West side and 17 on East side (Fig. 2)
• Two sites with visual swarms to the naked eye: Taughannock Park and Dean’s
Cove Maria
• All location with positive ID had a public boat launches (Fig. 2)
• Presence of juveniles at Dean’s Cove Marina and Site 3 (East), and one pregnant
female at Allen Freeman Marina indicates H. anomala is established
Figure 2. Map of Cayuga Lake with 6 west-side and 5 east-side sampling
sites labeled, noting which sites demonstrated H. anomala and which did
not.
Figure 1: Hemimysis anomala specimen
Conclusions
Introduction
Hemimysis anomala (Bloody Red Shrimp) is a nocturnal, omnivorous, nearshore dwelling shrimp, with a distinctive red coloration along their backs (Fig. 1).
They are native to the Ponto-Caspian region. This species has spread to the Great
Lakes via mass dispersal. It is currently an established non-native species in the
Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence River, and Seneca Lake. It is hypothesized to have
been introduced into Seneca Lake via jump dispersal. In these non-native regions it
has the potential to establish as an invasive species. An invasive species can be
classified as a species, non-native or native, whose presence results in ecological or
economic impacts.
A characteristic that may make H. anomala a successful invasive species is
their reproductive cycle. They reproduce sexually and have multiple large broods per
year. Due to their offspring maturing quickly, it takes very few individuals to establish
a new population. Once established, H. anomala could potentially impact the current
food web of the ecosystem by preying on native zooplankton or becoming a new food
source for native fish. Although there is no current consensus on whether the impacts
of H. anomala would be predominantly negative or positive, it is important to monitor
their spread for ecologic and economic impacts.
While H. anomala had previously been found in Seneca Lake (starting in 2010),
it had not been found in the other Finger Lakes. We hypothesized that through jump
dispersal, H. anomala would be present in Cayuga Lake. Both sides of the lake were
sampled in late September 2014, during autumn when abundance is typically higher.
Figure 1: Two classmates check the collection
canister for any visual BRS ID’s. Photo by K. Wozer.
References
Boscarino, Brent T., Kathleen E. Halpin, Lars G. Rudstam, Maureen G. Walsh, and Brian F. Lantry. "Age-specific Light Preferences and Vertical
Migration Patterns of a Great Lakes Invasive Invertebrate, Hemimysis Anomala." Journal of Great Lakes Research 38 (2012): 37-44. Web.
H. anomala were found at sites where boat launches were present which leads
us to believe they spread to Cayuga Lake through jump dispersal. The presences of
both juvenile and pregnant female shrimp suggest that the populations in the lake are
established. The spread of H. anomala was most likely perpetuated by human activity
since their populations were found in areas where human boats are concentrated. It is
not yet known whether H. anomala is aninvasive species or merely a non-native
species because very little is known about what impacts their establishment might
have.
Future studies include comparing the genetics of the Cayuga H. anomala with
other bodies of water to search for markers that indicate relatedness and as a result,
to test a mode of transportation for the spread of the species. It would also be good to
sample for H. anomala in the Ithaca Canal and other waterways surrounding Cayuga
Lake. If H. anomala is present in surrounding waterways, then corridor dispersal
could be a possible way they were introduced.
Brooking, T., Rudstam, L., Krueger, S., Jackson, J., Welsh, A., Fetzer, W. (2010) First occurrence of the mysid Hemimysis anomala in an inland lake
in North America, Oneida Lake, NY. Journal of Great Lakes Research. 36, 577-581.
Brown, Meghan E., Richard Morse, and Kerry O'neill. "Spatial, Seasonal, and Diel Distribution Patterns of Hemimysis Anomala in New York State's
Finger Lakes." Journal of Great Lakes Research 38 (2012): 19-24. Web.
Claramunt, Randall M., Nathan T. Barton, John D. Fitzsimons, and Tracy L. Galarowicz. "Microhabitat Association of Hemimysis Anomala on Fish
Spawning Reefs in Grand Traverse Bay, Lake Michigan." Journal of Great Lakes Research 38 (2012): 32-36. Web.
May 2, 2005 from http://www.apa.org.ed/pcue/taskforcereport2.pdf.
Walsh, M., Lantry, B., Boscarino, B., Bowen, K., Gerlofsma, J., Schaner, T., Back, R., Questel, J., Smythe, A., Cap, R., Goehle, M., Young, B.,
Chalupnicki, M., Johnson, J., and McKenna, J. (2009) Early observations on an emerging Great Lakes invader Hemimysis anomala in Lake
Ontario. Journal of Great Lakes Research. 36, 499-504.
Authors and Contributors
This poster was prepared by four members of our class, and the data is authored by W. Cady, B.
Taylor, K. Wozer, R. DeGennaro, S. Khan, K. Moore, M. Musa, N. Steijn, O. Todd, E. Witcher, A.
Wynkoop, K. Mendez, and M. Brown.
A special thank you to Robert Beutner, Dr. Meghan Brown, and Hobart and William Smith Colleges
Biology Department for their guidance and assistance throughout our research.