Invasive Species Research to Meet the Needs of Resource Management and Planning

As zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) continue to spread among inland lakes of the United States and Canada, there is growing interest from professionals, citizens, and other stakeholders to know which lakes are likely to be colonized by zebra mussels. Thus, we developed a classification of lake suitability for zebra mussels on the basis of measured or estimated concentrations of dissolved calcium in lake water and applied the classification to > 11,500 lakes in Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The majority of lakes (58%) were classified as unsuitable (< 10 mg/L Ca) for survival and reproduction of zebra mussels, 27% were identified as suitable (≥21 mg/L Ca), and 15% were classified as borderline suitable (≥ 10 and < 21 mg/L Ca). Of the 77 inland lakes with confirmed zebra mussel records for which data on dissolved calcium were available, our method classified 74 as suitable and 3 as borderline suitable. To communicate this lake-specific suitability information and to help prioritize regional efforts to monitor and prevent the expansion of zebra mussels and other invasive species, we developed a web-based interface (available from http://www. aissmartprevention. wisc. edu/). Although we are still uncertain of how access to suitability information ultimately affects decision making, we believe this is a useful case study of building communication channels among researchers, practitioners, and the public. A menudo que continua la expansión de almejas (Dreissena polymorpha) hacia los lagos interiores de Estado Unidos y Canadá, hay un creciente interés entre profesionales, ciudadanos y otros actores para saber que lagos tienen probabilidad de ser colonizados por las almejas. Por lo tanto, desarrollamos una clasificación de la idoneidad de lagos para almejas con base en las concentraciónes, medidas estimadas, de calcio disuelto en el agua aplicamos la clasificacion a > 11,500 lagos de Wisconsin la Península Superior de Michigan. La mayoría de los lagos (58%) fueron clasificados como no idóneos (< 10mg/L Ca) para la supervivenciay reproduccion de almejas, 27% fueron identificados como idoneos (≥ 21 mg/L Ca) y 15% fueron clasificados como idóneos marginales (≥ 10y ≥ 21 mg/L Ca). De los 77 lagos inferiores con registros confirmados de almejas y con datos disponibles de calcio disuelto, nuestro método clasificó 74 como idoneos y 3 como idóneos marginales. Para comunicar esta información sobre idoneidad de lagos específicos y para ayudar a priorizar