Local dispersion of nonmotile invasive bivalve species by wind-driven lake currents

Abstract

Asian clam (Corbicula fluminea) is among the most aggressive freshwater invaders worldwide causing major ecological and economic damage. However, the mechanisms leading to the water-borne dispersion of the species within aquatic ecosystems, particularly lakes, is an area where research is at a relatively early stage. A numerical model has been developed to analyze and describe the dispersion that is produced by the actions of waves and currents. The model represents the basic particle processes of release (R), water-borne transport (T), and survival (S). The model has been applied to a large, deep lake-Lake Tahoe. The dispersion model results reveal that (1) under episodic, extreme wind forcing, larvae are carried away from the original areas, along a discrete number of preferred pathways, (2) bays can act as retention zones, with low current velocities and recirculating eddies, and (3) the majority of the larvae released in the infested areas stay within these areas or disperse on a small spatial scale.

Internal waves pump waters in and out of a deep coastal embayment of a large lake

“…This could in turn influence the feeding and foraging patterns of larger planktivorous and piscivorous species (de Kerckhove et al ). The observed circulation patterns in Kempenfelt Bay could likewise influence the spread of current and future aquatic invasive species in Lake Simcoe as occurred with Asian clams in the deep, stratified Lake Tahoe (Hoyer et al ).…”

Invasive Asian clam distribution pattern reveals minimal constraints to downstream dispersal and imperceptible ecological impacts

“…Since dispersal into new habitats is a determinant stage in the invasion process (Davis, ), understanding the mechanisms of colonization and the ecological preferences of clams is a key asset for their adequate management (Belz, Darrigran, Netto, Boeger, & Ribeiro, ; Hoyer, Schladow, & Rueda, ; Kappes & Haase, ; Leung et al, ). The rapid spread of C. fluminea includes human vectors (Brancotte & Vincent, ; Britton, ; Karatayev, Padilla, Minchin, Boltovskoy, & Burlakova, ; Minchin, ) and passive transport by waterfowl (Britton, ) and fish (Cantanhêde, Hahn, Gubiani, & Fugi, ; Gatlin, Shoup, & Long, ).…”

“…The rapid spread of C. fluminea includes human vectors (Brancotte & Vincent, ; Britton, ; Karatayev, Padilla, Minchin, Boltovskoy, & Burlakova, ; Minchin, ) and passive transport by waterfowl (Britton, ) and fish (Cantanhêde, Hahn, Gubiani, & Fugi, ; Gatlin, Shoup, & Long, ). However, at the local scale natural dispersal is predominantly achieved by downstream drift of juveniles (Hoyer et al, ; Mouthon, ) but it has also been claimed to occur upstream (Voelz, McArthur, & Rader, ).…”

A hydrodynamics-based approach to evaluating the risk of waterborne pathogens entering drinking water intakes in a large, stratified lake

“…In the following, the term 'particles' refers to all individual particles simulated by the model, while 'pathogens' are those particles that were predicted to origin from recreational beaches. The validation of the hydrodynamic model has been previously described (Hoyer et al, 2015). The simulation results permitted the establishment of risk patterns, their temporal variations and the link existing between risk and local lake circulation and stratification dynamics.…”

“…2). These pathogens were transported by the currents in the coastal boundary layer that is part of a large scale cyclonic (counter-clockwise) gyre at the southern end of the lake (Hoyer et al, 2015).…”