Abstract
The 100 th Meridian Initiative was developed to help prevent the spread of aquatic nuisance species (ANS) through boater education and research on boater movement patterns and behaviors. Surveys employing these elements were conducted at Lake Mead National Recreation Area (LMNRA) in 2002-2003 before the discovery of the quagga mussel (Dreissena rostiformis bugensis Andrusov 1897) and in 2007-2008 after an established population of quagga mussels was found in the Lake. Boaters were asked questions in a personal interview or a mail-in survey regarding what body of water they had previously launched their watercraft in, where they were planning to launch next, if they cleaned their watercraft between each launch, and if they were aware of quagga mussels or other ANS. Results from the personal interviews and mail-in surveys indicated a significant increase in mussel awareness between the pre- and post- mussel invasion groups. Cleaning habits between the study periods for both interviews and mail-in surveys did not differ significantly. Boat trailer states of registration were also documented in both study periods in the parking lots of LMNRA. In 2002-2003, 0.6% of the trailers documented were from states with known zebra or quagga mussel populations, whereas in 2007-2008, 98.2% of states documented had known zebra or quagga mussel populations. Increased boater awareness will help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species and the 100 th Meridian Initiative is a helpful way to educate boaters and collect relevant data on future mussel invasions. The preservation of natural waters is vital for the conservation of native species and the prevention of zebra and quagga mussel invasions will assist in this preservation. Further efforts should be directed toward educating boaters on effective cleaning methods.
Highlights
Aquatic nuisance species (ANS), such as zebra and quagga mussels (Dreissena polymorpha Pallas, 1771 and D. rostriformis bugensis Andrusov, 1897, respectively) can attach to trailered boats and be introduced into new environments making boater education an imperative part of preventing the spread of aquatic nuisance species (ANS)
Most boaters interviewed in 2002-2003 owned pleasure boats (83%), whereas others had angling boats (12%), or personal water craft (PWCs) (6%; Table 1)
Eighty-two percent of boaters cleaned their boats between launchings, and only 35% of boaters were aware of zebra mussels (Table 1) (Gerstenberger et al 2003)
Summary
Aquatic nuisance species (ANS), such as zebra and quagga mussels (Dreissena polymorpha Pallas, 1771 and D. rostriformis bugensis Andrusov, 1897, respectively) can attach to trailered boats and be introduced into new environments making boater education an imperative part of preventing the spread of ANS. The United States Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force began an initiative in 1997 to prevent the spread of zebra mussels and other ANS to waters west of the 100th meridian (100o west longitude) (Britton and McMahon 2005). The 100th meridian runs through Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, and North Dakota This project, referred to in this paper as "the 100th Meridian Initiative," was in support of the United States National Invasive Species Act of 1996 (Public Law 101-636). The Western Regional Panel took the lead on the 100th Meridian Initiative and began conducting three types of surveys (contact, mail-in, and trailer counts) in twelve states in 1998. Surveys after the invasions were conducted to determine the following: if boater awareness to ANS in Lake Mead changed since the first survey project, what states boaters were coming from, and which bodies of water Lake Mead boaters would be traveling to after launching in Lake Mead
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