To study horseshoe crab Limulus polyphemus spawning behavior and migration over a large-spatial extent （〉100 km）, we arrayed fixed station radio receivers throughout Delaware Bay and deployed radio transmitters and...To study horseshoe crab Limulus polyphemus spawning behavior and migration over a large-spatial extent （〉100 km）, we arrayed fixed station radio receivers throughout Delaware Bay and deployed radio transmitters and archival tags on adult horseshoe crabs prior to their spawning season. We tagged and released 160 females and 60 males in 2004 and 217 females in 2005. The array covered approximately 140 km of shoreline. Recapture rates were 〉70% with multi-year recaptures. We categorized adult age by carapace wear. Older females tended to spawn earlier in the season and more frequently than young females, but those tendencies were more apparent in 2004 when spawning overall occurred earlier than in 2005 when spawning was delayed possibly due to decreased water temperatures. Timing of initial spawning within a year was correlated with water temperature. After adjusting for day of first spring tide, the day of In＇st spawning was 4 days earlier for every 1 degree （℃） rise in mean daily water temperature in May. Seventy nine % of spawning occurred during nighttime high tides. Fifty five % of spawning occurred within 3 d of a spring tide, which was slightly higher than the 47% expected if spawning was uniformly distributed regardless of tidal cycle. Within the same spawning season, males and females were observed spawning or intertidally resting at more than one beach separated by 〉5 kin. Between years, most （77%） did not return to spawn at the same beach. Probability of stranding was strongly age dependent for males and females with older adults experiencing higher stranding rates. Horseshoe crabs staging in the shallow waters east of the channel spawned exclusively along the eastern （N J） shoreline, but those staging west of the channel spawned throughout the bay. Overall, several insights emerged from the use of radio telemetry, which advances our understanding of horseshoe crab ecology and will be useful in conserving the Delaware Bay horseshoe crab population and habitats展开更多
The establishment of a highly efficient planktivore, Silver carp(Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), in the Mississippi River Basin has been documented as having negative impacts on native planktivore populations. Silver ca...The establishment of a highly efficient planktivore, Silver carp(Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), in the Mississippi River Basin has been documented as having negative impacts on native planktivore populations. Silver carp have the potential, to alter the trophic food web through negative interactions with native planktivores in large river systems. Due to increasing Silver carp ranges, interactions between Silver carp and other native planktivores is likely to increase. One abundant native planktivore that is often found in similar habitats as Silver carp is Gizzard shad(Dorosoma cepedianum). Potential competition for resources exists because of overlapping habitat use and forage. Given the similarities between these two planktivores, we sought to evaluate daily growth rates and determine hatch dates of age-0 Silver carp and Gizzard shad in the Middle Mississippi River. Silver carp and Gizzard shad were collected from the Middle Mississippi River using an electrified surface trawl from June through September with sizes ranging from 21—65 mm total length for Gizzard shad and 24—85 mm total length for Silver carp. A sample of age-0 fish(n=697) was collected at the end of the growing season including 292 Gizzard shad and 405 Silver carp. Size structure(total length in mm) of Silver carp(49.05±0.41; ± SE) was significantly greater(T= –16.43, df=695, P<0.001) than Gizzard shad(38.95 ± 0.45). Hatch dates were similar between Silver carp(July 26 th to August 18 th) and Gizzard shad(July 28 th to August 19 th). Growth of Silver carp(2.24 mm per day) was significantly greater(P<0.001,T= –11.1, df=82) than Gizzard shad(1.72 mm per day). Mortality was similar between Silver carp(28.1%)and Gizzard shad(25.1%) at this early life stage. The faster growth rates in Silver carp result in Silver carp entering the winter season larger in size with likely an increased capacity to consume plankton and decreased predation ultimately leading to higher recruitment. Knowing that there exists an overlap between Silver carp and Gizzard shad diets and habitat could alone call cause for concern. Adding that spawning occurs at a similar time and Silver carp have the ability to outgrow Gizzard shad early in life leads to major concerns about food web balance. Knowing that invasive planktivores have already shown to alter food webs in aquatic systems in North America, extra caution should be taken.展开更多
Background:While nest attentiveness plays a critical role in the reproductive success of avian species,nest attentiveness data with high temporal resolution is not available for many species.However,improvements in bo...Background:While nest attentiveness plays a critical role in the reproductive success of avian species,nest attentiveness data with high temporal resolution is not available for many species.However,improvements in both video monitoring and temperature logging devices present an opportunity to increase our understanding of this aspect of avian behavior.Methods:To investigate nest attentiveness behaviors and evaluate these technologies,we monitored 13 nests across two Common Tern(Sterna hirundo)breeding colonies with a paired video camera-temperature logger approach,while monitoring 63 additional nests with temperature loggers alone.Observations occurred from May to August of 2017 on Poplar(Chesapeake Bay,Maryland,USA)and Skimmer Islands(Isle of Wight Bay,Maryland,USA).We examined data respective to four times of day:Morning(civil dawn‒11:59),Peak(12:00‒16:00),Cooling(16:01‒civil dusk),and Night(civil dusk‒civil dawn).Results:While successful nests had mostly short duration off-bouts and maintained consistent nest attentiveness throughout the day,failed nests had dramatic reductions in nest attentiveness during the Cooling and Night periods(p<0.05)with one colony experiencing repeated nocturnal abandonment due to predation pressure from a Great Horned Owl(Bubo virginianus).Incubation appeared to ameliorate ambient temperatures during Night,as nests were significantly warmer during Night when birds were on versus off the nest(p<0.05).Meanwhile,off-bouts during the Peak period occurred during higher ambient temperatures,perhaps due to adults leaving the nest during the hottest periods to perform belly soaking.Unfortunately,temperature logger data alone had limited ability to predict nest attentiveness status during shorter bouts,with results highly dependent on time of day and bout duration.While our methods did not affect hatching success(p>0.05),video-monitored nests did have significantly lower clutch sizes(p<0.05).Conclusions:The paired use of iButtons and video cameras enabled a detailed description of the incubation behavior of COTE.However,while promising for future research,the logistical and potential biological complications involved in the use of these methods suggest that careful planning is needed before these devices are utilized to ensure data is collected in a safe and successful manner.展开更多
Distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) in combination with soy protein concentrate (SPC) with and without an essential amino acid (EAA) complex were assessed as protein alternatives in juvenile Yellow Perch Perc...Distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) in combination with soy protein concentrate (SPC) with and without an essential amino acid (EAA) complex were assessed as protein alternatives in juvenile Yellow Perch Perca flavescens diets. Diets contained 5% FM, 40% SPC, and 20% or 40% DDGS each with or without EAA. No mortalities or health assessment differences were observed during the trial and all fish readily accepted the experimental diets. Diets supplemented with EAA produced greater weight gain, improved feed conversion, and apparent protein digestibility. Performance was consistently improved for fish fed diets containing amino acid supplements. Based on these results, Yellow Perch are able to utilize high levels of the plant proteins, accompanied with EAAs, as a FM replacer.展开更多
The California least tern （Sternula antillarum browni） is an endangered species. The two largest colonies of this bird species in the San Francisco Bay, California, USA, are located 23 km apart at Alameda Point and ...The California least tern （Sternula antillarum browni） is an endangered species. The two largest colonies of this bird species in the San Francisco Bay, California, USA, are located 23 km apart at Alameda Point and Hayward Regional Shoreline. The Alameda Point colony, on the former Naval Air Station, Alameda, has grown at an average rate of 9.2% per year since its discovery in 1976 and has a nesting density ranging from 1-153 nests per ha. Long-term breeding success at Alameda has averaged 0.86 fledglings per breeding pair. Least tems began appearing in 2003, at an island in Hayward enhanced with substrate mediums and social attraction devices. Successful breeding attempts have been observed at the Hayward colony since 2006. The Hayward colony has grown at an average rate of 51.5% per year, has a nesting density ranging from 33-333 nests per ha and long-term breeding success average of 0.87 fledglings per breeding pair. Dropped fish have been collected from both colonies, and silversides （family Atherinopsidae） are the dominant prey. Alameda terns forage on a greater variety of species than the Hayward terns. The regression results indicate the importance of Northern anchovy （Engraulis mordax） to the breeding success of the Alameda colony.展开更多
Understanding nutrient flux between the benthos and the overlying water (benthic flux) is critical to restoration of water quality and biological resources because it can represent a major source of nutrients to the w...Understanding nutrient flux between the benthos and the overlying water (benthic flux) is critical to restoration of water quality and biological resources because it can represent a major source of nutrients to the water column. Extensive water management commenced in the San Francisco Bay, Beginning around 1850, San Francisco Bay wetlands were converted to salt ponds and mined extensively for more than a century. Long-term (decadal) salt pond restoration efforts began in 2003. A patented device for sampling porewater at varying depths, to calculate the gradient, was employed between 2010 and 2012. Within the former ponds, the benthic flux of soluble reactive phosphorus and that of dissolved ammonia were consistently positive (i.e., moving out of the sediment into the water column). The lack of measurable nitrate or nitrite concentration gradients across the sediment-water interface suggested negligible fluxes for dissolved nitrate and nitrite. The dominance of ammonia in the porewater indicated anoxic sediment conditions, even at only 1 cm depth, which is consistent with the observed, elevated sediment oxygen demand. Nearby open-estuary sediments showed much lower benthic flux values for nutrients than the salt ponds under resortation. Allochthonous solute transport provides a nutrient advective flux for comparison to benthic flux. For ammonia, averaged for all sites and dates, benthic flux was about 80,000 kg/year, well above the advective flux range of -50 to 1500 kg/year, with much of the variability depending on the tidal cycle. By contrast, the average benthic flux of soluble reactive phosphorus was about 12,000 kg/year, of significant magnitude, but less than the advective flux range of 21,500 to 30,000 kg/year. These benthic flux estimates, based on solute diffusion across the sediment-water interface, reveal a significant nutrient source to the water column of the pond which stimulates algal blooms (often autotrophic). This benthic source may be augmented further by bioturbation, bioirrigation and episodic sediment resuspension events.展开更多
Abundances of important and imperiled fishes of the Snake River Basin continue to decline.We assessed the rationale for breaching the four lower Snake River Basin dams to prevent complete loss of these fishes,and to m...Abundances of important and imperiled fishes of the Snake River Basin continue to decline.We assessed the rationale for breaching the four lower Snake River Basin dams to prevent complete loss of these fishes,and to maximize their likelihood of recovery.We summarize the science surrounding Sockeye Salmon(Oncorhynchus nerka),Chinook Salmon(O.tshawytscha),steelhead(O.mykiss),Bull Trout(Salvelinus confluentus),White Sturgeon(Acipenser transmontanus),and Pacific Lamprey(Entosphenus tridentatus).From this,we drew ten conclusions:(1)development of the Columbia River System(including the Snake River Basin)has converted mainstem rivers into reservoirs,altering fish behavior and survival;(2)most populations currently record their lowest abundance;(3)the Columbia River System dams reduce productivity of diadromous fishes in the highest-quality spawning grounds that could buffer against future climate dynamics;(4)past actions have done little to reduce impacts or precipitate recovery;(5)the Columbia River System constrains survival and productivity of salmon,steelhead and Bull Trout;(6)Snake River Basin salmon and steelhead remain at high extinction risk;(7)eliminating migration impediments and improving mainstem habitats are essential for maintaining genetic diversity and improving Bull Trout persistence;(8)the lower Snake River Basin dams preclude passage of adult White Sturgeon,constraining gene flow and recruitment;(9)the lower Snake River Basin dams impede dramatically passage of adult and juvenile Pacific Lamprey,and(10)Snake River Basin Pacific Lamprey is at high risk of extirpation.Breaching the four lower Snake River Basin dams is an action likely to prevent extirpation and extinction of these fishes.Lessons from the Columbia River System can inform conservation in other impounded rivers.展开更多
Background Large-river decision-makers are charged with maintaining diverse ecosystem services through unprec-edented social-ecological transformations as climate change and other global stressors intensify.The interc...Background Large-river decision-makers are charged with maintaining diverse ecosystem services through unprec-edented social-ecological transformations as climate change and other global stressors intensify.The interconnected,dendritic habitats of rivers,which often demarcate jurisdictional boundaries,generate complex management chal-lenges.Here,we explore how the Resist–Accept–Direct(RAD)framework may enhance large-river management by promoting coordinated and deliberate responses to social-ecological trajectories of change.The RAD frame-work identifies the full decision space of potential management approaches,wherein managers may resist change to maintain historical conditions,accept change toward different conditions,or direct change to a specified future with novel conditions.In the Upper Mississippi River System,managers are facing social-ecological transformations from more frequent and extreme high-water events.We illustrate how RAD-informed basin-,reach-,and site-scale decisions could:(1)provide cross-spatial scale framing;(2)open the entire decision space of potential management approaches;and(3)enhance coordinated inter-jurisdictional management in response to the trajectory of the Upper Mississippi River hydrograph.Results The RAD framework helps identify plausible long-term trajectories in different reaches(or subbasins)of the river and how the associated social-ecological transformations could be managed by altering site-scale conditions.Strategic reach-scale objectives may reprioritize how,where,and when site conditions could be altered to contribute to the basin goal,given the basin’s plausible trajectories of change(e.g.,by coordinating action across sites to alter habitat connectivity,diversity,and redundancy in the river mosaic).Conclusions When faced with long-term systemic transformations(e.g.,>50 years),the RAD framework helps explicitly consider whether or when the basin vision or goals may no longer be achievable,and direct options may open yet unconsidered potential for the basin.Embedding the RAD framework in hierarchical decision-making clarifies that the selection of actions in space and time should be derived from basin-wide goals and reach-scale objectives to ensure that site-scale actions contribute effectively to the larger river habitat mosaic.Embedding the RAD framework in large-river decisions can provide the necessary conduit to link flexibility and innovation at the site scale with stability at larger scales for adaptive governance of changing social-ecological systems.展开更多
Management and conservation efforts that support the recovery and protection of large rivers are daunting,reflecting the complexity of the challenge and extent of effort(in terms of policy,economic investment,and spat...Management and conservation efforts that support the recovery and protection of large rivers are daunting,reflecting the complexity of the challenge and extent of effort(in terms of policy,economic investment,and spatial extent)needed to afford measurable change.These large systems have generally experienced intensive development and regulation,compromising their capacity to respond to disturbances such as climate change orwildfire.Functionally,large river and basin management require insights gained from social,ecological,geophysical,and hydrological sciences.This multidisciplinary perspective can unveil the integrated relationship between a river network's biotic community and seasonally variableenvironmental conditions that are ofteninfluencedbyhumanactivities.Large rivers andtheir basins are constantly changing due to anthropogenic influences and as climate modifies patterns of temperature and precipitation.Because of these factors,the state of knowledge must advance to address changing conditions.The Willamette River,in western Oregon,USA,is a prime example of a basin that has experienced significant degradation and investment in rehabilitation in recent decades.Innovative science has facilitated development of fine-scale,spatially extensive datasets and models that can generate targeted conservation and rehabilitation actions that are prioritized across the entire river network.This prioritization allows investment decisions to be driven by site-specific conditions while simultaneously considering potentials for ecological improvement.Here,we review hydrologic,geomorphic,ecologic,and social conditions in the Willamette River basin through time—including pre-settlement,river development,andcontemporary periods—andoffer a futurevisionfor consideration.Currently,detailed informationaboutfish populations and habitat,hydrologic conditions,geomorphology,water quality,and land use can be leveraged to make informed decisions about protection,rehabilitation,and development.The time is ripe for strategic management and goal development for the entireWillamette River,and these efforts can be informed by comprehensive science realized through established institutions(e.g.,public agencies,non-profitwatershed groups,Tribes,and universities)focusedon conservation and management.The approaches to science and social-network creation that were pioneered in the Willamette River basin offer insights into thedevelopment of comprehensive conservation-based planning that could be implemented in other large river systems globally.展开更多
The process of dispersal is determined by the interaction of individual （intrinsic） traits and environmental （extrinsic） factors. Although many studies address and quantify dispersal, few evaluate both intrinsic a...The process of dispersal is determined by the interaction of individual （intrinsic） traits and environmental （extrinsic） factors. Although many studies address and quantify dispersal, few evaluate both intrinsic and extrinsic factors jointly. We test the relative importance of intrinsic traits （exploration tendency and size） and extrinsic factors （population density and habitat quality） on dispersal of a medium-sized western United States minnow, southern leatherside chub Lepidomeda aliciae. A generalized linear model with a binomial response was used to determine the probability of individuals dispersing one year after tagging. Medium-sized individuals that were more prone to explore novel environments were 10.7 times more likely to be recaptured outside of their original capture area after a year （dispersal） compared to non-explorer individuals of the same size class. Differences be- tween explorer classifications within the small and large size classes were negligible. Open habitat within 50 m upstream also in- creased the probability of dispersal relative to controls. Relative location within the study reach, and population density were not significantly related to dispersal probabilities of individuals. Our results indicate that understanding of personality may illuminate patterns of dispersal within and among populations展开更多
基金Support Program, New Jersey Fish Game & Wildlife, and Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
文摘To study horseshoe crab Limulus polyphemus spawning behavior and migration over a large-spatial extent （〉100 km）, we arrayed fixed station radio receivers throughout Delaware Bay and deployed radio transmitters and archival tags on adult horseshoe crabs prior to their spawning season. We tagged and released 160 females and 60 males in 2004 and 217 females in 2005. The array covered approximately 140 km of shoreline. Recapture rates were 〉70% with multi-year recaptures. We categorized adult age by carapace wear. Older females tended to spawn earlier in the season and more frequently than young females, but those tendencies were more apparent in 2004 when spawning overall occurred earlier than in 2005 when spawning was delayed possibly due to decreased water temperatures. Timing of initial spawning within a year was correlated with water temperature. After adjusting for day of first spring tide, the day of In＇st spawning was 4 days earlier for every 1 degree （℃） rise in mean daily water temperature in May. Seventy nine % of spawning occurred during nighttime high tides. Fifty five % of spawning occurred within 3 d of a spring tide, which was slightly higher than the 47% expected if spawning was uniformly distributed regardless of tidal cycle. Within the same spawning season, males and females were observed spawning or intertidally resting at more than one beach separated by 〉5 kin. Between years, most （77%） did not return to spawn at the same beach. Probability of stranding was strongly age dependent for males and females with older adults experiencing higher stranding rates. Horseshoe crabs staging in the shallow waters east of the channel spawned exclusively along the eastern （N J） shoreline, but those staging west of the channel spawned throughout the bay. Overall, several insights emerged from the use of radio telemetry, which advances our understanding of horseshoe crab ecology and will be useful in conserving the Delaware Bay horseshoe crab population and habitats
文摘The establishment of a highly efficient planktivore, Silver carp(Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), in the Mississippi River Basin has been documented as having negative impacts on native planktivore populations. Silver carp have the potential, to alter the trophic food web through negative interactions with native planktivores in large river systems. Due to increasing Silver carp ranges, interactions between Silver carp and other native planktivores is likely to increase. One abundant native planktivore that is often found in similar habitats as Silver carp is Gizzard shad(Dorosoma cepedianum). Potential competition for resources exists because of overlapping habitat use and forage. Given the similarities between these two planktivores, we sought to evaluate daily growth rates and determine hatch dates of age-0 Silver carp and Gizzard shad in the Middle Mississippi River. Silver carp and Gizzard shad were collected from the Middle Mississippi River using an electrified surface trawl from June through September with sizes ranging from 21—65 mm total length for Gizzard shad and 24—85 mm total length for Silver carp. A sample of age-0 fish(n=697) was collected at the end of the growing season including 292 Gizzard shad and 405 Silver carp. Size structure(total length in mm) of Silver carp(49.05±0.41; ± SE) was significantly greater(T= –16.43, df=695, P<0.001) than Gizzard shad(38.95 ± 0.45). Hatch dates were similar between Silver carp(July 26 th to August 18 th) and Gizzard shad(July 28 th to August 19 th). Growth of Silver carp(2.24 mm per day) was significantly greater(P<0.001,T= –11.1, df=82) than Gizzard shad(1.72 mm per day). Mortality was similar between Silver carp(28.1%)and Gizzard shad(25.1%) at this early life stage. The faster growth rates in Silver carp result in Silver carp entering the winter season larger in size with likely an increased capacity to consume plankton and decreased predation ultimately leading to higher recruitment. Knowing that there exists an overlap between Silver carp and Gizzard shad diets and habitat could alone call cause for concern. Adding that spawning occurs at a similar time and Silver carp have the ability to outgrow Gizzard shad early in life leads to major concerns about food web balance. Knowing that invasive planktivores have already shown to alter food webs in aquatic systems in North America, extra caution should be taken.
基金This work was supported by the U.S.Army Corps of Engineers(Baltimore District),U.S.Geological Survey(Patuxent Wildlife Research Center)the University of Maryland,the Maryland Department of Natural Resources(Wildlife and Heritage Program)the Maryland Environmental Service,and the Maryland Coastal Bays Program.
文摘Background:While nest attentiveness plays a critical role in the reproductive success of avian species,nest attentiveness data with high temporal resolution is not available for many species.However,improvements in both video monitoring and temperature logging devices present an opportunity to increase our understanding of this aspect of avian behavior.Methods:To investigate nest attentiveness behaviors and evaluate these technologies,we monitored 13 nests across two Common Tern(Sterna hirundo)breeding colonies with a paired video camera-temperature logger approach,while monitoring 63 additional nests with temperature loggers alone.Observations occurred from May to August of 2017 on Poplar(Chesapeake Bay,Maryland,USA)and Skimmer Islands(Isle of Wight Bay,Maryland,USA).We examined data respective to four times of day:Morning(civil dawn‒11:59),Peak(12:00‒16:00),Cooling(16:01‒civil dusk),and Night(civil dusk‒civil dawn).Results:While successful nests had mostly short duration off-bouts and maintained consistent nest attentiveness throughout the day,failed nests had dramatic reductions in nest attentiveness during the Cooling and Night periods(p<0.05)with one colony experiencing repeated nocturnal abandonment due to predation pressure from a Great Horned Owl(Bubo virginianus).Incubation appeared to ameliorate ambient temperatures during Night,as nests were significantly warmer during Night when birds were on versus off the nest(p<0.05).Meanwhile,off-bouts during the Peak period occurred during higher ambient temperatures,perhaps due to adults leaving the nest during the hottest periods to perform belly soaking.Unfortunately,temperature logger data alone had limited ability to predict nest attentiveness status during shorter bouts,with results highly dependent on time of day and bout duration.While our methods did not affect hatching success(p>0.05),video-monitored nests did have significantly lower clutch sizes(p<0.05).Conclusions:The paired use of iButtons and video cameras enabled a detailed description of the incubation behavior of COTE.However,while promising for future research,the logistical and potential biological complications involved in the use of these methods suggest that careful planning is needed before these devices are utilized to ensure data is collected in a safe and successful manner.
文摘Distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) in combination with soy protein concentrate (SPC) with and without an essential amino acid (EAA) complex were assessed as protein alternatives in juvenile Yellow Perch Perca flavescens diets. Diets contained 5% FM, 40% SPC, and 20% or 40% DDGS each with or without EAA. No mortalities or health assessment differences were observed during the trial and all fish readily accepted the experimental diets. Diets supplemented with EAA produced greater weight gain, improved feed conversion, and apparent protein digestibility. Performance was consistently improved for fish fed diets containing amino acid supplements. Based on these results, Yellow Perch are able to utilize high levels of the plant proteins, accompanied with EAAs, as a FM replacer.
文摘The California least tern （Sternula antillarum browni） is an endangered species. The two largest colonies of this bird species in the San Francisco Bay, California, USA, are located 23 km apart at Alameda Point and Hayward Regional Shoreline. The Alameda Point colony, on the former Naval Air Station, Alameda, has grown at an average rate of 9.2% per year since its discovery in 1976 and has a nesting density ranging from 1-153 nests per ha. Long-term breeding success at Alameda has averaged 0.86 fledglings per breeding pair. Least tems began appearing in 2003, at an island in Hayward enhanced with substrate mediums and social attraction devices. Successful breeding attempts have been observed at the Hayward colony since 2006. The Hayward colony has grown at an average rate of 51.5% per year, has a nesting density ranging from 33-333 nests per ha and long-term breeding success average of 0.87 fledglings per breeding pair. Dropped fish have been collected from both colonies, and silversides （family Atherinopsidae） are the dominant prey. Alameda terns forage on a greater variety of species than the Hayward terns. The regression results indicate the importance of Northern anchovy （Engraulis mordax） to the breeding success of the Alameda colony.
文摘Understanding nutrient flux between the benthos and the overlying water (benthic flux) is critical to restoration of water quality and biological resources because it can represent a major source of nutrients to the water column. Extensive water management commenced in the San Francisco Bay, Beginning around 1850, San Francisco Bay wetlands were converted to salt ponds and mined extensively for more than a century. Long-term (decadal) salt pond restoration efforts began in 2003. A patented device for sampling porewater at varying depths, to calculate the gradient, was employed between 2010 and 2012. Within the former ponds, the benthic flux of soluble reactive phosphorus and that of dissolved ammonia were consistently positive (i.e., moving out of the sediment into the water column). The lack of measurable nitrate or nitrite concentration gradients across the sediment-water interface suggested negligible fluxes for dissolved nitrate and nitrite. The dominance of ammonia in the porewater indicated anoxic sediment conditions, even at only 1 cm depth, which is consistent with the observed, elevated sediment oxygen demand. Nearby open-estuary sediments showed much lower benthic flux values for nutrients than the salt ponds under resortation. Allochthonous solute transport provides a nutrient advective flux for comparison to benthic flux. For ammonia, averaged for all sites and dates, benthic flux was about 80,000 kg/year, well above the advective flux range of -50 to 1500 kg/year, with much of the variability depending on the tidal cycle. By contrast, the average benthic flux of soluble reactive phosphorus was about 12,000 kg/year, of significant magnitude, but less than the advective flux range of 21,500 to 30,000 kg/year. These benthic flux estimates, based on solute diffusion across the sediment-water interface, reveal a significant nutrient source to the water column of the pond which stimulates algal blooms (often autotrophic). This benthic source may be augmented further by bioturbation, bioirrigation and episodic sediment resuspension events.
文摘Abundances of important and imperiled fishes of the Snake River Basin continue to decline.We assessed the rationale for breaching the four lower Snake River Basin dams to prevent complete loss of these fishes,and to maximize their likelihood of recovery.We summarize the science surrounding Sockeye Salmon(Oncorhynchus nerka),Chinook Salmon(O.tshawytscha),steelhead(O.mykiss),Bull Trout(Salvelinus confluentus),White Sturgeon(Acipenser transmontanus),and Pacific Lamprey(Entosphenus tridentatus).From this,we drew ten conclusions:(1)development of the Columbia River System(including the Snake River Basin)has converted mainstem rivers into reservoirs,altering fish behavior and survival;(2)most populations currently record their lowest abundance;(3)the Columbia River System dams reduce productivity of diadromous fishes in the highest-quality spawning grounds that could buffer against future climate dynamics;(4)past actions have done little to reduce impacts or precipitate recovery;(5)the Columbia River System constrains survival and productivity of salmon,steelhead and Bull Trout;(6)Snake River Basin salmon and steelhead remain at high extinction risk;(7)eliminating migration impediments and improving mainstem habitats are essential for maintaining genetic diversity and improving Bull Trout persistence;(8)the lower Snake River Basin dams preclude passage of adult White Sturgeon,constraining gene flow and recruitment;(9)the lower Snake River Basin dams impede dramatically passage of adult and juvenile Pacific Lamprey,and(10)Snake River Basin Pacific Lamprey is at high risk of extirpation.Breaching the four lower Snake River Basin dams is an action likely to prevent extirpation and extinction of these fishes.Lessons from the Columbia River System can inform conservation in other impounded rivers.
基金NKW and KLB were funded as part of the U.S.Army Corps of Engineers’Upper Mississippi River Restoration Program,Long Term Resource Monitoring(LTRM)elementLTRM is a cooperative effort between the U.S.Army Corps of Engineers,U.S.Geological Survey,U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service,and the states of Illinois,Iowa,Minnesota,Missouri,and Wisconsin+6 种基金GGS was funded by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service Federal Aid in Sportfish Restoration program and the Wisconsin Department of Natural ResourcesBMM was funded under Assistance Agreement No 839401101 awarded by the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency(EPA)to the University of Wisconsin Aquatic Sciences CenterThis document has not been formally reviewed by EPAThe views expressed in this document are those of the listed authors and do not necessarily reflect those of EPAEPA does not endorse any products or commercial services mentioned in this publicationAny use of trade,firm,or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S.GovernmentThe findings and conclusions in this article are those of the author(s)and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service.
文摘Background Large-river decision-makers are charged with maintaining diverse ecosystem services through unprec-edented social-ecological transformations as climate change and other global stressors intensify.The interconnected,dendritic habitats of rivers,which often demarcate jurisdictional boundaries,generate complex management chal-lenges.Here,we explore how the Resist–Accept–Direct(RAD)framework may enhance large-river management by promoting coordinated and deliberate responses to social-ecological trajectories of change.The RAD frame-work identifies the full decision space of potential management approaches,wherein managers may resist change to maintain historical conditions,accept change toward different conditions,or direct change to a specified future with novel conditions.In the Upper Mississippi River System,managers are facing social-ecological transformations from more frequent and extreme high-water events.We illustrate how RAD-informed basin-,reach-,and site-scale decisions could:(1)provide cross-spatial scale framing;(2)open the entire decision space of potential management approaches;and(3)enhance coordinated inter-jurisdictional management in response to the trajectory of the Upper Mississippi River hydrograph.Results The RAD framework helps identify plausible long-term trajectories in different reaches(or subbasins)of the river and how the associated social-ecological transformations could be managed by altering site-scale conditions.Strategic reach-scale objectives may reprioritize how,where,and when site conditions could be altered to contribute to the basin goal,given the basin’s plausible trajectories of change(e.g.,by coordinating action across sites to alter habitat connectivity,diversity,and redundancy in the river mosaic).Conclusions When faced with long-term systemic transformations(e.g.,>50 years),the RAD framework helps explicitly consider whether or when the basin vision or goals may no longer be achievable,and direct options may open yet unconsidered potential for the basin.Embedding the RAD framework in hierarchical decision-making clarifies that the selection of actions in space and time should be derived from basin-wide goals and reach-scale objectives to ensure that site-scale actions contribute effectively to the larger river habitat mosaic.Embedding the RAD framework in large-river decisions can provide the necessary conduit to link flexibility and innovation at the site scale with stability at larger scales for adaptive governance of changing social-ecological systems.
文摘Management and conservation efforts that support the recovery and protection of large rivers are daunting,reflecting the complexity of the challenge and extent of effort(in terms of policy,economic investment,and spatial extent)needed to afford measurable change.These large systems have generally experienced intensive development and regulation,compromising their capacity to respond to disturbances such as climate change orwildfire.Functionally,large river and basin management require insights gained from social,ecological,geophysical,and hydrological sciences.This multidisciplinary perspective can unveil the integrated relationship between a river network's biotic community and seasonally variableenvironmental conditions that are ofteninfluencedbyhumanactivities.Large rivers andtheir basins are constantly changing due to anthropogenic influences and as climate modifies patterns of temperature and precipitation.Because of these factors,the state of knowledge must advance to address changing conditions.The Willamette River,in western Oregon,USA,is a prime example of a basin that has experienced significant degradation and investment in rehabilitation in recent decades.Innovative science has facilitated development of fine-scale,spatially extensive datasets and models that can generate targeted conservation and rehabilitation actions that are prioritized across the entire river network.This prioritization allows investment decisions to be driven by site-specific conditions while simultaneously considering potentials for ecological improvement.Here,we review hydrologic,geomorphic,ecologic,and social conditions in the Willamette River basin through time—including pre-settlement,river development,andcontemporary periods—andoffer a futurevisionfor consideration.Currently,detailed informationaboutfish populations and habitat,hydrologic conditions,geomorphology,water quality,and land use can be leveraged to make informed decisions about protection,rehabilitation,and development.The time is ripe for strategic management and goal development for the entireWillamette River,and these efforts can be informed by comprehensive science realized through established institutions(e.g.,public agencies,non-profitwatershed groups,Tribes,and universities)focusedon conservation and management.The approaches to science and social-network creation that were pioneered in the Willamette River basin offer insights into thedevelopment of comprehensive conservation-based planning that could be implemented in other large river systems globally.
文摘The process of dispersal is determined by the interaction of individual （intrinsic） traits and environmental （extrinsic） factors. Although many studies address and quantify dispersal, few evaluate both intrinsic and extrinsic factors jointly. We test the relative importance of intrinsic traits （exploration tendency and size） and extrinsic factors （population density and habitat quality） on dispersal of a medium-sized western United States minnow, southern leatherside chub Lepidomeda aliciae. A generalized linear model with a binomial response was used to determine the probability of individuals dispersing one year after tagging. Medium-sized individuals that were more prone to explore novel environments were 10.7 times more likely to be recaptured outside of their original capture area after a year （dispersal） compared to non-explorer individuals of the same size class. Differences be- tween explorer classifications within the small and large size classes were negligible. Open habitat within 50 m upstream also in- creased the probability of dispersal relative to controls. Relative location within the study reach, and population density were not significantly related to dispersal probabilities of individuals. Our results indicate that understanding of personality may illuminate patterns of dispersal within and among populations
