Thesis
Broadscale distribution, abundance, and ecological associations of veligers of the invasive Asian clam corbicula fluminea in the Columbia River Basin
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
05/2016
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/101927
Abstract
1. The invasive Asian clam Corbicula fluminea was introduced to North America in the 1930's and now inhabits most regions of the contiguous United States. However, the ecology of C. fluminea in the Columbia River Basin is poorly understood. We conducted a two-year field study to characterize the distribution and abundance of veligers of C. fluminea and associated biotic and abiotic environmental variables in the Columbia River Basin. 2. During 2013 and 2014, five Columbia-Snake River reservoirs were sampled monthly from May through September, along with 23 additional lakes and reservoirs once each summer. A particle imaging system, the FlowCam, was used to characterize plankton communities (60-300 µm size range). Associations between C. fluminea veligers, other components of the plankton, and environmental variables were analyzed using non-metric multidimensional scaling and canonical correspondence analysis. 3. C. fluminea veligers were found in high abundances in all five mainstem Columbia-Snake River reservoirs, with an annual mean abundance of 71.2 individuals m-3. Only three of 23 lakes and (non-mainstem) reservoirs contained C. fluminea, with abundances considerably lower (peak = 21.2 individuals m-3) than in the mainstem reservoirs. 4. A diatom-associated community preceded the spawning of C. fluminea in early summer in all sites. C. fluminea veligers characterized the plankton community in late-summer, and were associated with cyanobacteria and high water temperatures. A third community, characterized by cyanobacteria, was apparent in non-mainstem sites in July and August. 5. Our analyses that describe the relationship of C. fluminea with the plankton community and the environment contributes to our understanding of the effects of C. fluminea infestations and what waterbodies in the Pacific Northwest Region are at risk for infestation. Understanding the effects and environmental determinants of invasive molluscs will be increasingly important in the future with the arrival of other aquatic invasive species to the region.
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Details
- Title
- Broadscale distribution, abundance, and ecological associations of veligers of the invasive Asian clam corbicula fluminea in the Columbia River Basin
- Creators
- Whitney Paige Hassett
- Contributors
- Stephen M. Bollens (Chair)Gretchen Rollwagen-Bollens (Committee Member) - Washington State University, Environment, School of the (CAS)Timothy D Counihan (Committee Member) - United States Geological SurveyStephen L Katz (Committee Member) - Washington State University, Environment, School of the (CAS)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Environment, School of the (CAHNRS)
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; [Pullman, Washington] :
- Number of pages
- 47
- Identifiers
- 99900525189401842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis