The effects of multiple stressors on the ecophysiology of Lampsilis siliquoidea: Effects and interactions among water temperature, velocity and suspended solid concentration
Year: 2020
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Unionids are considered ecosystem engineers in aquatic ecosystems, but they are endangered because of human-induced changes that have altered their habitat and negatively impacted their ecophysiology. Environmental stressors (conditions that exceed their normal range of variation) do not act alone, rather they interact as multiple stressors. The goal of this study was to examine how changes in temperature, total suspended solids (TSS) and flow affected the clearance rates (CR) and oxygen consumption (OC) of Lampsilis siliquoidea in laboratory experiments. The CR and OC of L. siliquoidea increased with acclimation temperature and water velocity, and decreased with TSS concentration and exposure to acute temperature change. The main stressor effects depended on acclimation temperature; temperature was the primary stressor at 12.5°C, velocity at 20°C, and TSS concentration at 27.5°C. These results provide information on the effects of multiple stressors on mussel ecophysiology which will inform policy decisions regarding their conservation.
Author: Kirsten Luck
Language: English
Subfield: Ecology
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W3125201362