Strategic Approach to Problem Identification and Monitoring of Aquatic Invasive Species Within the Great Lakes Inventory and Monitoring Network Park Units

Quinlan, Henry; Dryer, Mark; Czypinski, Gary; Pyatskowit, Jonathan; Krajniak, Jessica

Great Lakes Inventory and Monitoring Network (hereafter referred to as GLKN) park units are situated in one of the most water-rich locations in the world, and aquatic habitats in the parks are substantial in area and diversity. The GLKN includes portions of three major watersheds (Great Lakes, Mississippi River, Hudson Bay), and comprises nine park units. The geographic scope for this project is shown in Figure 1, hereafter referred to as the project area. Great Lakes Inventory and Monitoring Network park units on Lake Superior are Apostle Islands National Lakeshore (APIS), Grand Portage National Monument (GRPO), Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (PIRO), and Isle Royale National Park (ISRO). On Lake Michigan, park units are Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (INDU) and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (SLBE). In the Mississippi River watershed, park units are Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway (SACN) located along the border of Wisconsin and Minnesota, and the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MISS) located near Minneapolis/St. Paul. Voyageurs National Park (VOYA), located in northern Minnesota adjoining the U.S. border with Canada, is in the Hudson Bay watershed. Description and characteristics of park units are summarized in Appendix 1. Exotic plant and animal species ranked highest of all GLKN vital signs (Route 2004). Of the exotic plant and animal species known to occur within the GLKN project area, aquatic invasive species (AIS) represent perhaps the most significant and imminent biological threat to aquatic resources. Changes or shifts in animal and plant community composition brought about by the introduction of AIS could have significant implications for native species, most notably through competition for food and habitat, or direct predation. It is therefore vital to monitor water bodies for the presence of these species (Lafrancois and Glase 2005). The intent of vital signs monitoring is to obtain scientifically sound trend information that will have multiple applications for management decision-making, research, education, and promoting public understanding of park resources. We have chosen to focus attention on 12 target aquatic invasive animal and plant species (Table 1).