Examining the Spread of Aquatic Invasive Species, Bythothephes longimanus, in Inland Lakes Across Ontario

The purpose of this study is to is to examine the secondary spread of Bythothephes longimanus, commonly known as spiny water flea, across inland lakes in Ontario, and potentially determine predictors for the its invasion. Data for 190 inland lakes across 84 quaternary watersheds in Ontario were included in the database. Global Moran's I was used to analyze the spatial autocorrelation of the variables, and McFadden's Rho-Squared was used to determine if a variable was a predictor of invasion. Three independent variables, out of 28, were found to be good predictors of invasion: (1) mean temperature of watersheds during summer (MNTMPWSSU), (2) mean precipitation for watersheds during spring (MNPCPWSSP), and (3) mean precipitation for watersheds during summer (MNPCPWSSU). Of the three, mean precipitation for watersheds during summer was determined to be the best predictor.