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Prevalance and consequences of the most frequently observed alien molluse in US wadeable stream ecosystems
Citation:
RINGOLD, P. L., A. T. HERLIHY, T. R. WHITTIER, AND J. VAN SICKLE. Prevalance and consequences of the most frequently observed alien molluse in US wadeable stream ecosystems. Presented at 93rd Ecological Society of America annual meeting, Milwaukee, WI, August 03 - 08, 2008.
Impact/Purpose:
Alien molluscs are widely distributed in U.S. streams.
Description:
Alien molluscs are widely distributed in U.S. streams. While some raise economic concerns on the order of billions of dollars, documentation of widespread ecological effects has, in some instances, been more elusive. A probability survey of wadeable streams of the coterminous U.S. was conducted with samples collected from 2000 through 2005 based on a sample of 1,382 probability sites. Macroinvertebrates and a wide range of other data were collected with consistent sampling protocols at all sites. Analysis of the survey data identified one alien mollusc, Corbicula fluminea, Asian clam, as the most prevalent. This species was estimated to be present on 10.5% of the perennial stream length – 109,000 km. It was present in over 15% of the stream length in the coastal plains of the southeast, the southern Appalachians, the southern Plains, the southwestern mountains and in the xeric California ecoregions.