Testing of Trophic Cascade within a Headwater Spring Community: Implications for Water Quantity Management

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dc.contributor.advisorBonner, Timothy H.
dc.contributor.authorClark, Myranda K.
dc.contributor.committeeMemberOstrand, Kenneth G.
dc.contributor.committeeMemberVeech, Joseph A.
dc.date.accessioned2015-12-04T21:39:27Z
dc.date.available2015-12-04T21:39:27Z
dc.date.issued2015-12
dc.description.abstractA management strategy for protecting the federally-listed Fountain Darter Etheostoma fonticola during unnatural low flow conditions is the removal of piscine carnivore Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides. However, headwater spring communities include Red Swamp Crayfish Procambarus clarkii, which is prey for Largemouth Bass and a potential predator of the Fountain Darter. Removal of Largemouth Bass could produce an unintentional cascading effect by increasing crayfish consumption of the Fountain Darter. The purpose of this study was to test for cascading effects of benthic fish predation by quantifying the number of Fountain Darters consumed by crayfish only, bass only, and crayfish and bass combined within vegetated and non-vegetated experimental units. Three water temperature trials were conducted to mimic low-flow winter temperatures (18°C), average spring-flow temperatures (22°C) and low-flow summer temperatures (27°C). Among temperature trials, bass only and crayfish and bass combined consumed about equal numbers (P > 0.05) of Fountain Darters, whereas crayfish only consumed the fewest number (P < 0.05) of Fountain Darters, except at 22°C. Largemouth Bass did not consume more crayfish than darters; therefore, removing Largemouth Bass appears to be a viable option in reducing Fountain Darter predation. However, removal efforts should be monitored to further assess efficacy of the management strategy.
dc.description.departmentBiology
dc.formatText
dc.format.extent27 pages
dc.format.medium1 file (.pdf)
dc.identifier.citationClark, M. K. (2015). <i>Testing of trophic cascade within a headwater spring community: Implications for water quantity management</i> (Unpublished thesis). Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas.
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10877/5872
dc.language.isoen
dc.subjectPredation
dc.subjectBass
dc.subjectCrayfish
dc.subjectEndangered species
dc.subject.lcshFood chains (Ecology)en_US
dc.subject.lcshEtheostomaen_US
dc.subject.lcshLargemouth bassen_US
dc.subject.lcshProcambarus clarkiien_US
dc.subject.lcshEndangered species--Texas--Hays Countyen_US
dc.subject.lcshEndangered species--Texas--Comal Countyen_US
dc.subject.lcshSprings--Texas--Hays Countyen_US
dc.subject.lcshSprings--Texas--Comal Countyen_US
dc.titleTesting of Trophic Cascade within a Headwater Spring Community: Implications for Water Quantity Management
dc.typeThesis
thesis.degree.departmentBiology
thesis.degree.disciplineAquatic Resources
thesis.degree.grantorTexas State University
thesis.degree.levelMasters
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science

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