Time Scales of Ecosystem Impacts and Recovery Under Individual and Serial Invasions

• DOI: 10.1007/s10021-023-00828-2
• Publication Date: 2023-03-22T17:03:24Z
• Authors: Vadim A. Karatayev; Lars G. Rudstam; Alexander Y. Kara...; Lyubov E. Burlakova; Boris V. Adamovich; Hanna A. Zhukava; Kristen T. Holeck; Amy L. Hetherington; James R. Jackson; Csilla Balogh; Zoltán Serfőző; Christopher W. Ho...; Tatyana V. Zhukova; Tamara M. Mikheyeva; Raisa Z. Kovalevs...; Oleg A. Makarevich; Darya V. Kruk
• Keywords: Zebra mussel; Freshwater ecosystem; Ecosystem engineer

Abstract The impacts of species invasions can subside over time as ecosystems ‘adapt’ and invaders decline or increase additional invade. character timescales invasion provide important insights into ecosystem dynamics management. Yet long-term studies remain rare often confound invasive with coincident environmental change. One way to address this challenge is ask: what ecological changes since are recapitulated in that span a range conditions, located different regions, were invaded decades? We synthesize many-decade series across seven resolve shared key features following by zebra mussels subsequent quagga mussels. These two congeners among the most widespread re-engineer increasingly co-invade freshwater ecosystems. Seven polymictic shallow lakes data sets reveal remarkably similar trends, strongest occurring within 5–10 years mussel invasion. Surprisingly, plankton communities then exhibited partial, significant recovery. This recovery was absent, initial amplified, four where outcompeted more completely depleted phytoplankton. Thus, we show but amplify serial introductions competing, even closely similar, taxa.