2006
Howard, J. K.; Cuffey, K. M.
The functional role of native freshwater mussels in the fluvial benthic environment Journal Article
In: Freshwater Biology, vol. 51, no. 3, pp. 460-474, 2006.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: benthic, biodeposit, California, fluvial, food web, freshwater mussels, functional role, trophic
@article{Howard2006,
title = {The functional role of native freshwater mussels in the fluvial benthic environment},
author = {J. K. Howard and K. M. Cuffey},
url = {https://angelo.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/59/Howard_2006_FreshBio.pdf},
doi = {10.1111/j.1365-2427.2005.01507.x},
year = {2006},
date = {2006-02-10},
journal = {Freshwater Biology},
volume = {51},
number = {3},
pages = {460-474},
abstract = {1. Freshwater mussels are the dominant consumer biomass in many fluvial systems. As filter feeding grazers, mussels can remove large amounts of particulate matter from the water column and transfer these resources to the substrate as biodeposits (agglutinated mussel faeces and pseudofaeces). Mussel biodeposits are a nutrient rich and easily assimilated food source and therefore may have significant relevance to benthic community structure. This study examines the functional role of Margaritifera falcata in the South Fork Eel River, California.
2. We addressed two main questions: (i) Do mussels increase benthic resources in this system? (ii) If so, does this alter macroinvertebrate community structure?
3. Measurements and enclosure experiments in the South Fork Eel River show that mussels can play a significant role in local food webs by increasing available fine particulate matter (both organic and inorganic) on the substrate. We document increased benthic macroinvertebrate biomass for predators and collectors (Leptophlebidae) in the presence of mussels, but only in late summer.},
keywords = {benthic, biodeposit, California, fluvial, food web, freshwater mussels, functional role, trophic},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
1. Freshwater mussels are the dominant consumer biomass in many fluvial systems. As filter feeding grazers, mussels can remove large amounts of particulate matter from the water column and transfer these resources to the substrate as biodeposits (agglutinated mussel faeces and pseudofaeces). Mussel biodeposits are a nutrient rich and easily assimilated food source and therefore may have significant relevance to benthic community structure. This study examines the functional role of Margaritifera falcata in the South Fork Eel River, California.
2. We addressed two main questions: (i) Do mussels increase benthic resources in this system? (ii) If so, does this alter macroinvertebrate community structure?
3. Measurements and enclosure experiments in the South Fork Eel River show that mussels can play a significant role in local food webs by increasing available fine particulate matter (both organic and inorganic) on the substrate. We document increased benthic macroinvertebrate biomass for predators and collectors (Leptophlebidae) in the presence of mussels, but only in late summer.
2. We addressed two main questions: (i) Do mussels increase benthic resources in this system? (ii) If so, does this alter macroinvertebrate community structure?
3. Measurements and enclosure experiments in the South Fork Eel River show that mussels can play a significant role in local food webs by increasing available fine particulate matter (both organic and inorganic) on the substrate. We document increased benthic macroinvertebrate biomass for predators and collectors (Leptophlebidae) in the presence of mussels, but only in late summer.
2005
Howard, J. K.; Cuffey, K. M.; Solomon, M.
In: Hydrobiologia, vol. 541, no. 1, pp. 229-236, 2005.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: baseline conditions, California, freshwater mussels, stable isotope, trophic
@article{Howard2005,
title = {Toward using Margariitifera falcate as an indicator of base level nitrogen and carbon isotope ratios: insights from two California Coast Range rivers},
author = {J. K. Howard and K. M. Cuffey and M. Solomon},
url = {https://angelo.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/59/Howard_2005_Hydrobio.pdf},
doi = {10.1007/s10750-004-5711-4},
year = {2005},
date = {2005-06-01},
journal = {Hydrobiologia},
volume = {541},
number = {1},
pages = {229-236},
abstract = {Measurements of freshwater mussel tissue are potentially very useful for determining base-level isotopic values for food web studies in aquatic environments. As long-lived, filter-feeding organisms, mussels have the potential to spatially and temporally average the isotopic baseline signal. Following from earlier studies that focused on lake environments, this study investigates the stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios in tissue of the river dwelling freshwater mussel, Margaritifera falcata, in two extensively studied northern California coast range rivers, the South Fork Eel and Navarro. We highlight advantages and challenges for using riverine mussel isotopes as indicators of baselines. δ13C of primary producers is known to vary with habitat along the South Fork Eel channel, but our measurements show no such variations, demonstrating that riverine mussels do preserve a spatially averaged measure of instream derived food sources. Mean δ13C and δ15N are shown to be markedly different in the two rivers, reflecting differences in food sources and possibly watershed land use. We also found that δ15N of mussel tissue increased by approximately 2‰ with mussel age in both rivers. This suggests it is important to consider age and size effects when estimating baseline values from mussel tissues.},
keywords = {baseline conditions, California, freshwater mussels, stable isotope, trophic},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Measurements of freshwater mussel tissue are potentially very useful for determining base-level isotopic values for food web studies in aquatic environments. As long-lived, filter-feeding organisms, mussels have the potential to spatially and temporally average the isotopic baseline signal. Following from earlier studies that focused on lake environments, this study investigates the stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios in tissue of the river dwelling freshwater mussel, Margaritifera falcata, in two extensively studied northern California coast range rivers, the South Fork Eel and Navarro. We highlight advantages and challenges for using riverine mussel isotopes as indicators of baselines. δ13C of primary producers is known to vary with habitat along the South Fork Eel channel, but our measurements show no such variations, demonstrating that riverine mussels do preserve a spatially averaged measure of instream derived food sources. Mean δ13C and δ15N are shown to be markedly different in the two rivers, reflecting differences in food sources and possibly watershed land use. We also found that δ15N of mussel tissue increased by approximately 2‰ with mussel age in both rivers. This suggests it is important to consider age and size effects when estimating baseline values from mussel tissues.