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Effect of the nuisance diatom Didymosphenia geminata on invertebrates in the East River. Clancy Brown William Smith College Rocky Mountain Biological Lab Mentor: Brad W. Taylor. What is Didymo?. Other diatom species; growing attached to stalk. Didymo cells. Didymo stalk.
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Effect of the nuisance diatom Didymosphenia geminataon invertebrates in the East River Clancy Brown William Smith College Rocky Mountain Biological Lab Mentor: Brad W. Taylor
What is Didymo? Other diatom species; growing attached to stalk Didymo cells Didymo stalk Image: Sarah Kiemle, Michigan Tech University
Blooms of Rock Snot? Map: Sarah Spaulding, USGS
Questions • Does D. geminata alter the composition and abundance of stream invertebrates? (2) Does D. geminata affect the growth rate of stream invertebrates?
Upstream D 8 7 D Removal Plots 6 D 5 D 4 D 3 D 2 D 1 D Downstream
Three invertebrate species showed habitat selection Chironomidae E. longimanus Hesperoperlapacifica
Baetis spp N = 6 chambers/treatment Epeorus longimanus N = 9 chambers/treatment Two Experiments in the East River: Growth Chambers
Epeorus longimanus shows a trend towards slower growth rate in Didymo
Summary: Effect of D. geminata on stream invertebrates • Composition and abundance - MoreChironomidae and stoneflies (Hesperoperla), but fewer E. longimanus in D. geminata treatment • No difference in species richness • Growth rate • A trend for slower growth in E. longimanus • No significant effect on Baetis spp
Acknowledgements Brad W. Taylor The “Benthettes” The National Science Foundation Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory