Thesis
Feeding of the invasive copepod Pseudodiaptomus forbesi on natural microplankton assemblages in three contrasting environments within the lower Columbia River
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
2014
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/101100
Abstract
The copepod Pseudodiaptomus forbesi was recently introduced into the Columbia River estuary and now dominates the zooplankton assemblage during the autumn throughout the lower Columbia River (LCR). In order to understand the feeding behavior of this invasive copepod and its potential for competition with native copepods, we conducted laboratory experiments in autumn 2010 and 2012 with P. forbesi grazing upon natural assemblages of microplankton collected at three sites in the LCR: the estuary at Astoria, OR; a stretch of free-flowing river at Vancouver, WA; and the reservoir above Bonneville Dam in Stevenson, WA. P. forbesi across the LCR primarily consumed diatoms, ciliates, and flagellates, and to a lesser degree dinoflagellates and other small flagellates. Clearance and ingestion rates of P. forbesi on microplankton were significantly higher in the reservoir compared to the estuary; P. forbesi in the estuary showed a preference for cyanobacteria and flagellates, while these prey categories were v avoided by copepods from the river site. Ciliates are an important prey item for the native copepod Diacyclops thomasi, suggesting P. forbesi may compete directly with this copepod for these prey. However, the non-selective omnivory and higher ingestion rates of another abundant native estuarine copepod Eurytemora affinis may allow this species to be an effective competitor with P. forbesi in the Columbia River estuary.
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Details
- Title
- Feeding of the invasive copepod Pseudodiaptomus forbesi on natural microplankton assemblages in three contrasting environments within the lower Columbia River
- Creators
- Alyssa Bowen
- Contributors
- Stephen M. Bollens (Degree Supervisor)Gretchen Rollwagen-Bollens (Degree Supervisor)
- 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] :
- Identifiers
- 99900525081101842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis