https://cpw.cvlcollections.org/files/original/eb2f1461b824623960fd4cf4e114b6a5.pdf 67945763a0c453f2f02906a9530e52f3 PDF Text Text C O L O R A D O P A R K S & W I L D L I F E Invasive Species Fact Sheet: Waterfleas Bythotrephes longimanus (Spiny), Ceropagis pengoi (Fishhook), Daphnia lumholtzi Waterfleas are zooplankton aquatic crustaceans that have a jumpy or jerky mode of swimming. The Daphnia waterflea was introduced from the aquarium trade and fish stocking. They are native to Africa, Asia and Australia. Like invasive mussels, the Bythotrephes and Ceropagis were introduced into the Great Lakes from ships' ballast water coming from Eurasia. Unlike the fleas dogs are known to carry, waterfleas are very different. They do not live outside the water, and do not bite or harm people or pets. Locations in Colorado: • Bythotrephes longimanus (spiny): no known • Ceropagis pengoi (fishhook): no known • Daphnia lumholtzi: Chatfield State Park, Douglas Reservoir, John Martin State Park, Navajo State Park, Pueblo Lake State Park and Pueblo State Hatchery Identification: • Unique body shape: distinguished from other zooplankton by its long tail (70% of body is tail) • Depending on age – the spine may contain 1-4 barbs (the older the water flea the more barbs) • Head is mostly a single large black eye • Swimming antennae propels flea through the water, allowing travel between shallow and deeper waters. • Range in length from 0.4 to 1.6 mm, depending on sex (females are larger) and age Biology: • Found mostly in temperate freshwater lakes, can tolerate brackish water • Most abundant in the summer and fall • Can tolerate temps between 4º-30º C (39º-86ºF) and .04 to 8% salinity • Both sexual and asexual life cycles, depending on environmental conditions • Less than two weeks per generation with asexual life cycle • Resting eggs may lie dormant for long periods of time, allowing the spread of these exotics into different bodies of water • Resting eggs may also pass, unharmed, through the digestive tracts of fish Bythotrephes longimanus (Spiny) Pathway of introduction and spread: • Eggs and adults are easily transported in: ballast tanks, bilge water, bait buckets, live wells, and on fishing lines, anchor lines, and nets • It only takes one adult or egg to start an infestation • If female waterfleas die out of water, under certain conditions they produce eggs that resist drying and freezing, which can establish a new infestation later Negative impacts: • Outcompete native juvenile fish for food, causing low survival rates, and because barbs stick in throat, are unpalatable to juvenile fish • Avoid predation by larger fish by retreating to deeper waters during the day (10-20m) where they are less visible and ascending (0-10m) at night where food is abundant and temperatures higher, increasing metabolism and growth rates • Their long spines can cause them to become entangled on fishing lines and can clog eyelets of fishing rods Management: Once waterfleas are established, they are almost impossible to eradicate. Educating the public and following state watercraft inspection and decontamination procedures are the best methods to contain current infestations and prevent further spread to new waters. Prevention: Preventing the spread of invasive waterfleas is the best strategy; here is what you can do: • CLEAN all plants, animals and mud from your fishing gear, boat, trailer, and equipment before leaving the water. Clean your boat, tackle, downriggers, trailer, waders, etc. with hot water (above 120ºF) when you get home • DRAIN live wells, ballast and bilge water before you leave the water body • DRY boats and equipment to dry completely before launching in other waters • DISPOSE of unused bait in the trash, not in the water Ceropagis pengoi (Fishhook) Images courtesy of Michigan Dept. of Environmental Quality Daphnia lumholtzi COLORADO PARKS & WILDLIFE • 6060 Broadway, Denver, CO 80216 • (303) 297-7295 • cpw.state.co.us � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Fact Sheets Type The nature or genre of the resource Fact Sheet Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Description An account of the resource CPW Fact Sheets Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Invasive species fact sheet: waterfleas Description An account of the resource Waterfleas are zooplankton aquatic crustaceans that have a jumpy or jerky mode of swimming. The Daphnia waterflea was introduced from the aquarium trade and fish stocking. They are native to Africa, Asia and Australia. Like invasive mussels, the Bythotrephes and Ceropagis were introduced into the Great Lakes from ships' ballast water coming from Eurasia. Unlike the fleas dogs are known to carry, waterfleas are very different. They do not live outside the water, and do not bite or harm people or pets. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Colorado Parks & Wildlife Subject The topic of the resource Waterfleas <em>Bythotrephes longimanus</em> (Spiny) <em>Ceropagis pengoi</em> (Fishhook) <em>Daphnia lumholtzi</em> Invasive species Extent The size or duration of the resource. 1 page Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-NC/1.0/">No Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Only</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Fact Sheet Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource English Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Colorado Parks and Wildlife