Article
Ecology
Doreen Cabrera, Blaine D. Griffen
Summary: Complex life histories often involve trade-offs between different traits. This study examines the growth patterns of invasive male northern crayfish and finds evidence of a trade-off between body and chelae size growth. The crayfish undergo cyclic dimorphism, with different growth increments observed during different morphological transitions. The results support the idea that cyclic dimorphism is an adaptive strategy for optimizing energy allocation during reproduction in crayfish with complex life histories.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Joanna James, John R. Thomas, Alberto Maceda-Veiga, Robbie Mitchell, Ian P. Vaughan, Jo Cable
Summary: Invasive species' interactions can be affected by environmental factors such as nitrate levels, which may influence their foraging efficiency and competitive behaviors. In this study, elevated nitrate levels had varying impacts on two invasive crayfish species, suggesting potential changes in interactions and dynamics in sympatric regions.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hisham Eldardiry, Tian Zhou, Maoyi Huang, Oriana S. Chegwidden
Summary: This study investigates the impacts of groundwater pumping on the regulated streamflow in the Columbia River Basin (CRB). The results show that considering additional groundwater withdrawals can alleviate irrigation water deficit and increase streamflow during dry periods in certain locations. However, the implementation of groundwater withdrawal does not improve the overall model performance in long-term averaged streamflow and storage predictions.
WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ayaz Ul Haq, Said Muhammad
Summary: This study aimed to examine the water quality of the Ghizer River Basin (GRB) in northern Pakistan for drinking and irrigation. The results showed that the water quality was good and suitable for both purposes.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Shelby Burgess, Christopher Clark, Kai Ross, Michelle Krall, Phil Roni
Summary: Riparian enhancement is commonly used in the Columbia River Basin and the Pacific Northwest for restoration. However, few studies have evaluated its success, especially with long-term monitoring. This study evaluated 41 riparian planting projects in the CRB and found that woody plant abundance, richness, and bud browse or deceased rates were higher in treatment reaches compared to control reaches. However, no significant improvements were observed in other riparian variables. Implementation techniques and restoration project types were also found to have significant impacts on restoration response.
ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Kellie J. Carim, Lisa A. Eby, Loren M. Miller, Holly McLellan, Virgil Dupuis, Michael K. Schwartz
Summary: The spread of aquatic invasive species is typically a result of both natural and human mediated dispersal. This study used genetic information to understand the invasion history and dynamics of northern pike in the Columbia River basin. The results showed that the initial introduction of northern pike was due to human transport, and subsequent reproduction and natural dispersal led to the downstream expansion of the species. These findings emphasize the importance of a holistic approach to invasive species suppression.
MANAGEMENT OF BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Laura E. Queen, Philip W. Mote, David E. Rupp, Oriana Chegwidden, Bart Nijssen
Summary: The USA and Canada are negotiating to modernize the Columbia River Treaty, with a focus on balancing flood risk, hydropower production, and improving aquatic ecosystem function in the face of climate change. A study using a large dataset of past and future daily streamflows found that most locations in the Columbia River basin are projected to experience increased streamflow magnitudes in the future.
HYDROLOGY AND EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kyongho Son, Yilin Fang, Jesus D. Gomez-Velez, Kyuhyun Byun, Xingyuan Chen
Summary: A basin-scale river corridor model was developed to identify the dominant factors associated with the spatial variation of denitrification in the hyporheic zone (HZ) of river corridors. The modeling results suggest that hydrologic variability, substrate availability influenced by land use, and hyporheic exchange flux are the main factors influencing HZ denitrification at the basin scale.
WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Becky L. Brice, Bethany L. Coulthard, Inga K. Homfeld, Laura A. Dye, Kevin J. Anchukaitis
Summary: Recent intensification of floods and droughts in the Fraser River Basin of British Columbia has had significant impacts that are expected to worsen due to human-induced climate change. The study used tree-ring proxy records to develop subbasin-scale flood and drought season reconstructions, revealing that past high flood-season flows were more severe than recorded, and early 20th-century low flows during the drought season were especially severe. These reconstructions provide long-term benchmarks for natural flood and drought variability prior to human influence, suggesting that current management based on instrumental records may underestimate the full natural magnitude and frequency of extreme seasonal flows in the FRB.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alex C. King, Raphael Krieg, Anna Weston, Armin K. Zenker
Summary: The study successfully identified important populations of native and invasive crayfish species in various cantons of Switzerland using a combination of traditional surveillance methods and eDNA technology. This approach can be applied to future nationwide projects to improve freshwater crayfish conservation management.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Donovan A. Bell, Ryan P. Kovach, Clint C. Muhlfeld, Robert Al-Chokhachy, Timothy J. Cline, Diane C. Whited, David A. Schmetterling, Paul M. Lukacs, Andrew R. Whiteley
Summary: This study found that climate change has negative impacts on the distributions of native and invasive trout species in the northern Rocky Mountains of the USA. The occupancy rates of bull trout and cutthroat trout decreased over time, with different reasons behind these declines, requiring species-specific management actions.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kyongho Son, Yilin Fang, Jesus D. D. Gomez-Velez, Xingyuan Chen
Summary: This study uses a river corridor model to quantify aerobic and anaerobic respiration in the hyporheic zone and determine the key factors controlling their spatial variability in the Columbia River Basin. The results show high spatial variability, with the Lower Columbia and Willamette sub-basins having higher respiration due to higher precipitation. Aerobic respiration dominates at the basin scale, while agricultural land areas exhibit relatively higher anaerobic respiration ratios.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-BIOGEOSCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sabri Oz, Adnan Veysel Ertemel, Pinar Basar, Cemil Can Coktug
Summary: This study investigates the feasibility of measuring the touristic ecosystem in European countries with a Mediterranean coast based on various parameters. The findings suggest an overall improvement in the distribution of tourists, except for a decline in 2016 and 2020.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jane Harrell, Bart Nijssen, Chris Frans
Summary: This study investigates the influence of water management on projected changes in streamflow in the Columbia River basin. The results indicate that regulation reduces shifts in winter and summer flows, but amplifies shifts in warm-season and annual high flows. Additionally, regulation reduces changes in dry-season low flows in headwater tributaries.
WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kristen Homel, Julie D. Alexander
Summary: Anthropogenic activities in the Columbia River Basin have negatively affected the habitat and population of salmon species, with the presence of the parasite C. shasta potentially limiting the recovery of chum salmon.
Article
Fisheries
Jordan H. Hartman, Eric R. Larson
Summary: This study characterizes the state of knowledge on the impacts of non-game native transplant (NGNT) fishes as potentially overlooked invasive species in the United States. The study finds that the impacts of many widespread NGNT species have not been studied extensively, especially in terms of genetic and ecosystem impacts. The researchers recommend focusing on studying the impacts of the most widespread NGNT species in understudied U.S. river basins to identify which fishes require prevention and management as invasive species.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Romy Sabathier, Michael Bliss Singer, John C. Stella, Dar A. Roberts, Kelly K. Caylor, Kristin L. Jaeger, Julian D. Olden
Summary: Intermittent and ephemeral streams in dryland environments are important habitats for diverse aquatic and terrestrial life. Understanding the availability of water and its response to external factors is crucial for predicting the impacts of climate change and human activities. This paper analyzes conductivity data from sensors distributed along streams in Arizona, providing insights into flow permanence and its response to seasonal rainfall.
RIVER RESEARCH AND APPLICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Rachelle C. Johnson, David A. Beauchamp, Julian D. Olden
Summary: A bioenergetic model for Redside Shiner was developed, providing a tool to assess its trophic role in invaded ecosystems and evaluate potential impacts on native species. Results showed that increased water temperature may favor growth and expansion of Redside Shiner populations while negatively affecting some salmonids.
TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Dol Raj Chalise, A. Sankarasubramanian, Julian D. D. Olden, Albert Ruhi
Summary: River scientists conducted a study to understand the effects of dam regulation on river flow regimes. By analyzing data from 175 pairs of regulated and unregulated USGS gages, they found that dams not only affect the magnitude and variability of flow, but also the dominant periodicities of a river's flow regime. The analysis also revealed that the alteration of flow periodicity varies over time, with dam operations, changes in dam capacity, and environmental policies shifting the relative importance of periodicities.
Article
Biology
Rachel M. Fricke, Julian D. Olden
Summary: This article provides a synthetic perspective on innovative technologies for invasive species management, including pathway intervention, spread prevention, impact mitigation, and public engagement. It also introduces tools that facilitate big data processing, such as automated image and text recognition based on machine learning. Finally, it explores the challenges and opportunities for integrating emerging technologies into invasive species management.
Article
Ecology
Daniel K. K. Szydlowski, Ashley K. K. Elgin, David M. M. Lodge, Jeremy S. S. Tiemann, Eric R. R. Larson
Summary: A central focus of invasive species research has been on human efforts to eradicate invaders or reduce their abundance to mitigate the worst of their impacts. However, in some cases, populations of invasive species decline without human intervention, which may inform management responses to these invaders.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Keith B. B. Gido, Megan J. J. Osborne, David L. L. Propst, Thomas F. F. Turner, Julian D. D. Olden
Summary: Climate change and other human stressors in the American Southwest are threatening the conservation of native fish diversity. The severe megadrought has exacerbated the impacts of altered hydrology, poor water quality, invasive species, and habitat fragmentation. Existing conservation actions may not be sufficient and more resources, as well as novel approaches, are needed to prevent extinctions and prioritize environmental flows and connectivity of populations.
Article
Ecology
Thiago B. A. Couto, Renan S. Rezende, Pedro P. U. de Aquino, Raul Costa-Pereira, Gelso L. de Campos, Thiago V. T. Occhi, Jean R. S. Vitule, Helder M. V. Espirito-Santo, Yan F. F. Soares, Julian D. Olden
Summary: Hydropower dams have significant and heterogeneous effects on freshwater biodiversity. The effects of Small Hydropower Plants (SHPs) on aquatic assemblages vary among dams, with taxonomic composition shifting towards species associated with standing waters. The attributes of SHPs, such as dam height and reservoir area, influence these changes.
FRESHWATER BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiao Qu, Julian D. Olden, Wentong Xia, Han Liu, Zhicai Xie, Robert M. Hughes, Yushun Chen
Summary: Understanding biotic assemblage variations resulting from water diversions and other pressures is critical for aquatic ecosystem conservation. This study assessed macroinvertebrate patterns in relation to water quality, climate, spatial, and hydrologic factors along China's South-to-North Water Diversion Project. Results showed that macroinvertebrate density, biomass, and species richness increased downstream and during the water transfer period. Non-native species were distributed throughout the study system, with some dominant in upstream lakes. Hydrology and water quality were key factors in shaping these patterns, with water transfer boosting macroinvertebrate abundance and facilitating non-native species dispersals.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Meryl C. C. Mims, Joseph C. C. Drake, Joshua J. J. Lawler, Julian D. D. Olden
Summary: Climate change may exacerbate habitat loss for amphibians, and reducing breeding habitat alone can lead to population declines. This study used a simulation-based approach to model the response of the Arizona treefrog to reductions in breeding habitat availability. The results showed that reductions in breeding habitat alone resulted in a significant decline in population, and scenarios with both breeding habitat loss and recruitment failure had even greater declines.
Article
Biology
Mathis L. Messager, Julian D. Olden, Jonathan D. Tonkin, Rachel Stubbington, Jane S. Rogosch, Michelle H. Busch, Chelsea J. Little, Annika W. Walters, Carla L. Atkinson, Margaret Shanafield, Songyan Yu, Kate S. Boersma, David A. Lytle, Richard H. Walker, Ryan M. Burrows, Thibault Datry
Summary: Accelerating the design and implementation of environmental flows (e-flows) is crucial for preserving freshwater biodiversity and its benefits. However, the current focus on ensuring adequate flow conditions at local sites overlooks the role of other ecological processes, hindering the effectiveness of e-flow programs. In this study, a step-by-step operational framework is proposed to address this gap and improve e-flow outcomes by considering metasystem dynamics.
Article
Ecology
Kai Chen, Stephen R. Midway, Brandon K. Peoples, Beixin Wang, Julian D. Olden
Summary: Land use intensification has caused noticeable changes in plant and animal communities worldwide. By studying riverine fish and insect communities across different land use gradients in the United States, this study found that both taxonomic and functional community composition exhibit abrupt threshold changes due to land use conversion. The study also revealed that functional composition shows greater geographic consistency compared to taxonomic composition in response to urban and agricultural land use change. Additionally, the traits contributing the most to functional composition change vary along urban and agricultural land gradients. This study highlights the importance of considering trait-based indicators of community change in informing land use management strategies and policies.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Angela H. Arthington, David Tickner, Michael E. McClain, Mike C. Acreman, Elizabeth P. Anderson, Suresh Babu, Chris W. S. Dickens, Avril C. Horne, Nitin Kaushal, Wendy A. Monk, Gordon C. O'Brien, Julian D. Olden, Jeffrey J. Opperman, Afua G. Owusu, N. LeRoy Poff, Brian D. Richter, Sergio A. Salinas-Rodriguez, Beauty Shamboko, Rebecca E. Tharme, Sarah M. Yarnell
Summary: This article provides an overview of key factors for successful implementation of e-flows and biodiversity outcomes, as well as recommendations to overcome constraints. It emphasizes the importance of legislation and governance, resource investment, stakeholder engagement, and consider trade-offs, water infrastructure retrofitting, and climate change adaptation in e-flow implementation for river conservation.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS
(2023)
Review
Limnology
Erin C. Seybold, Anna Bergstrom, C. Nathan Jones, Amy J. Burgin, Sam Zipper, Sarah E. Godsey, Walter K. Dodds, Margaret A. Zimmer, Margaret Shanafield, Thibault Datry, Raphael D. Mazor, Mathis L. Messager, Julian D. Olden, Adam Ward, Songyan Yu, Kendra E. Kaiser, Arial Shogren, Richard H. Walker
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Biology
Flavien Garcia, Ivan Paz-Vinas, Arnaud Gaujard, Julian D. Olden, Julien Cucherousset
Summary: Understanding how obligate freshwater organisms colonize seemingly isolated ecosystems has long fascinated ecologists. Recent investigations reveal that fish eggs can survive the digestive tract of birds and hatch successfully once deposited. This study provides multiple lines of evidence supporting the avian zoochory as a probable pathway for fish colonization of remote or newly-formed freshwater ecosystems, using European perch as a case study.
