| Comprehensive early detection monitoring programs for aquatic invasive fishes, bivalves & select benthic macroinvertebrates are currently being conducted throughout the Laurentian Great Lakes. To improve the sampling efficiency of survey efforts, we evaluated three amphipod trap types. These included two novel designs and one previously published design set in four treatment configurations; light, bait, light & bait combined, and neither light nor bait. Using two experimental designs, our objectives were to determine which trap and treatment had the greatest capture efficiency. Samples were collected Maumee Bay of western Lake Erie during 2015 in collaboration with biologists of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. A total of 4,237 amphipods were identified among 6 amphipod species; no new species of non-native amphipods were discovered. Using light at 105 lumens in our amphipod traps may significantly increase catch per hour of amphipods. However, we determined that there was no significant differences in amphipod capture efficiencies among our three trap types. Additionally, our study found that the non-native Echinogammarus ischnus may be the dominant amphipod species in Maumee Bay. The traps and potential attractants used in this study were effective for rapid surveys of amphipods. This research may help managers evaluate survey efforts and improve sampling efficacy of amphipod species. |
