Effects of impoundments on stream crayfish assemblages

Barnett, Zanethia C.; Adams, Susan B.; Hoeksema, Jason D.; Easson, Greg; Ochs, Clifford A.

doi:10.1086/719051

Cited by 5 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 72 publications

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“…We sampled lotic sections of three impounded and two unimpounded streams in the southern Appalachian Mountains of Alabama (Figure 1, see Barnett et al (2022) for details). In the BCD (Tennessee River Basin), we sampled two impounded (Little Bear and Cedar creeks) and one unimpounded (Rock Creek) stream.…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As in Barnett et al (2022), we used imagery from Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager to quantify recent (2014 and 2015) land use for each stream's HUC level 11 watershed. Supervised classifications in ERDAS Imagine (v. 16) processing software were used to classify land use as forest, water, agriculture (including grasses), barren, or developed.…”

Section: Land Usementioning

confidence: 99%

“…This is a significant omission in our understanding of the riverine trophic structure, as crayfishes are important not only as prey, but also as predators and processors of organic matter (Dorn & Mittlebach, 1999;Hanson et al, 1990;Statzner et al, 2003). Barnett et al (2022) assessed differences in crayfish assemblages between streams without dams and those with relatively large dams in the Bear Creek (BCD) and Cahaba River (CRD) drainages, Alabama, United States. Assemblages in unimpounded streams were composed of both habitat generalists and habitat specialists, and gradually shifted in composition downstream.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While Barnett et al (2022) determined that crayfish assemblage structures differed between impounded and unimpounded streams, they did not assess how dam-induced changes to stream characteristics were associated with crayfish assemblages.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Here, we clarify the impacts of large impoundments on crayfishes in streams studied by Barnett et al (2022) by examining relationships of crayfish assemblage structures to stream physiochemical characteristics and predator fish abundances in impounded and unimpounded streams. We address two primary questions: (1) Do stream fish communities and abiotic characteristics differ between impounded and unimpounded streams within a drainage, and if so, are differences consistent between drainages?…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Crayfish assemblages correlate with dam‐induced effects on abiotic factors and predatory fish assemblages in Alabama streams

Barnett

Ochs

Easson

et al. 2023

River Research & Apps

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Stream faunal assemblage structure is tied closely to hydrology and associated physiochemical properties. By altering natural flows, dams and their impoundments impact faunal assemblages over long distances. Although numerous studies have assessed the effect of dams on stream fauna, information is lacking for crayfishes. In this study, we characterized the effects of relatively large storage dams on crayfish assemblage structures. Over 2 years, we sampled three impounded and two unimpounded streams across two drainages in Alabama, United States, to identify biotic and abiotic factors correlated with crayfish assemblage metrics. Compared to impounded streams, unimpounded streams had greater habitat complexity (e.g., aquatic vegetation and woody debris), fewer predator fishes, lower minimum temperatures, and more variable discharges. These characteristics correlated with a higher density and diversity of crayfishes and smaller adults in impounded compared to unimpounded streams. Crayfish species assemblages differed between drainages, as did the biotic and abiotic factors affecting crayfish assemblages in each drainage, suggesting that these factors were species‐specific in their effects. Additionally, analysis of land uses suggested that factors other than dams may have also contributed to the observed differences in assemblage structures between impounded and unimpounded streams. For instance, in the more urbanized drainage, crayfish assemblages were more similar between up and downstream sections in all streams, regardless of impoundment. Our results indicate that large dams alter stream crayfish assemblage structure, with potentially cascading effects in trophic and organic matter dynamics both up and downstream.

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Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Land Usementioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Crayfish assemblages correlate with dam‐induced effects on abiotic factors and predatory fish assemblages in Alabama streams

Barnett

Ochs

Easson

et al. 2023

River Research & Apps

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Long-term trends in crayfish invasions across European rivers

Soto

Ahmed

Beidas

et al. 2023

Science of The Total Environment

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Crayfish communities converge over succession in beaver pond metacommunities

Howeth,

Lozier,

Olinger

et al. 2024

Freshwater Biology

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Metacommunity theory predicts that the relative importance of regional and local processes structuring communities will change over ecological succession. Determining effects of these processes on taxonomic and evolutionary diversity in spatially structured freshwater habitats of different successional stages may greatly improve understanding of the maintenance of diversity across temporal and spatial scales. In this study, we evaluated crayfish diversity at local and regional scales in pond metacommunities undergoing secondary succession from beaver (Castor canadensis) disturbance. Following theoretical predictions from metacommunity ecology of the increasing importance of local processes over succession, we hypothesised a decline in crayfish local and β diversity over succession from stronger local structuring as the older ponds may provide less suitable habitat than streams. Crayfish species and phylogenetic diversity were evaluated in beaver pond metacommunities and reference headwater streams located in three catchment regions. DNA sequences from the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene were used to assign crayfish to species for community and phylogenetic diversity tests. Local and β diversity were contrasted across beaver ponds ranging in age from 24 to 70 years and as a function of metacommunity processes. Counter to predictions, local species diversity among streams and the successional stages of ponds categorised by age class (24–39 years; 42–57 years; 60–70 years) did not differ, but community and phylogenetic convergence occurred in the oldest pond ecosystems. Crayfish community composition differed between the youngest and oldest ponds, resulting from higher abundance in the youngest ponds and community convergence in the oldest ponds. The association between community composition and the environment was strongest in streams and decoupled with pond age. In contrast, the correlation between intraspecific haplotype composition and the environment increased over succession. Among the three metacommunities, the regional crayfish species diversity arose from a combination of the temporal and environmental drivers from beaver‐constructed ecosystems and dispersal limitation within catchments. This study represents the first investigation of the taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity response to the successional stages of beaver pond metacommunities. The detection of differential crayfish composition and haplotype sorting to pond age suggests a role for local structuring and further indicates that future studies should acknowledge succession in shaping species diversity at local and regional scales. Dispersal limitation within catchment regions probably contributes to the evolution of crayfish species diversity in metacommunities and the overall maintenance of biodiversity. The results support a transition in community and freshwater ecology from a recent emphasis on spatial processes towards the integration of temporal drivers to better identify regulators of taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity across scales.

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Effects of impoundments on stream crayfish assemblages

Cited by 5 publications

References 72 publications

Crayfish assemblages correlate with dam‐induced effects on abiotic factors and predatory fish assemblages in Alabama streams

Crayfish assemblages correlate with dam‐induced effects on abiotic factors and predatory fish assemblages in Alabama streams

Long-term trends in crayfish invasions across European rivers

Crayfish communities converge over succession in beaver pond metacommunities

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