Thesis
Feeding rates and prey selection by the invasive Asian clam, Corbicula fluminea, on microplankton in the Columbia River, North America
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
2018
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/101579
Abstract
The Asian clam, Corbicula fluminea, was introduced into North America in the 1920s, where it was first observed in the Columbia River, and has expanded its range across the continent and into South America and Europe, yet little is known about its ecology and potential to impact invaded habitats. To evaluate feeding rates and prey selectivity of C. fluminea, we carried out a series of laboratory feeding experiments using water from two distinct Columbia River environments (free-flowing river and reservoir) between July and October 2016. The mean clearance rate on all microplankton was 270 (+ 53.6 SE) mL water clam-1 hr-1 and mean ingestion rate on all microplankton was 2.45 (+ 0.83) µg C clam-1 h-1, but rates were highly variable. In July, clams heavily ingested diatoms - the dominant microplankton taxon present at both sites. In October, clams avoided cyanobacteria but did not show selective preference for any other microplankton taxon. Substantial consumption of microplankton taxa such as diatoms and selective rejection of cyanobacteria by adult C. fluminea may provide competitive advantages to cyanobacteria, leading to microplankton community composition shifts and other possible food web impacts in the Columbia River Basin.
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Details
- Title
- Feeding rates and prey selection by the invasive Asian clam, Corbicula fluminea, on microplankton in the Columbia River, North America
- Creators
- Benjamin A. Bolam
- Contributors
- Stephen M. 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
- 99900525370101842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis