Thesis
Broadscale distribution, abundance, and habitat associations of the invasive Asian clam (Corbicula fluminea) in the lower Columbia River, USA
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
01/2022
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000004576
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/125240
Abstract
The Asian clam, Corbicula fluminea, is an invasive freshwater bivalve that has established populations across the globe and is known to have deleterious effects on natural and human systems. Yet, despite being present in the Columbia River (CR) for nearly a century, little is known about this invader’s basic biology and ecology in this large river system. Thus, we undertook a field study to assess its i) broadscale distribution and abundance, ii) associations with habitat characteristics, and iii) weight-at-length relationship in the lower CR. During 2019-21, C. fluminea were collected from 27 shore-based and 15 mid-channel stations spanning 481 river kilometers (RKM) of the lower CR, along with several habitat characteristics (bank slope, temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, salinity, conductivity, depth, Secchi depth, chlorophyll-a concentration, river kilometer, and sediment composition). C. fluminea abundance ranged from 0-430 ind. m-2, with the majority of sites containing abundances >100 ind. m-2, located downstream from Bonneville Dam and the majority of sites containing abundances of 0 ind. m-2 located upstream. Generalized linear models predicting the abundance of C. fluminea indicated significantly positive correlations with water temperature, % sand and river kilometer, and negative correlations with bank slope and sedimentary organic material. Clams occurring upstream of Bonneville Dam exhibited greater weight-at-length than those occurring downstream. Our investigation represents the greatest spatial extent at which C. fluminea has been studied in the CR and our results provide a better understanding of the basic biology and ecology of this global invader, as well as providing natural resource managers with information on habitat conditions favorable for this invasive bivalve within temperate river ecosystems.
Metrics
Details
- Title
- Broadscale distribution, abundance, and habitat associations of the invasive Asian clam (Corbicula fluminea) in the lower Columbia River, USA
- Creators
- Salvador Robb-Chavez
- Contributors
- Stephen M Bollens (Advisor)Gretchen Rollwagen-Bollens (Committee Member)John Harrison (Committee Member)Timothy D Counihan (Committee Member)
- 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
- Number of pages
- 52
- Identifiers
- OCLC#: 1371068733; 99900898739601842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis