Columbia River

This report describes Action Effectiveness Monitoring program accomplishments during October 1, 2016 to September 30, 2017, or Year 13 of this on-going project. For more information on this project since its inception in 2007, please see previous years' annual reports.

Abstract   Dams, increasingly common in riverine systems worldwide, are particularly prevalent on the Columbia River (CR) in the United States. Hydroelectric projects, including both storage and run‐of‐river (i.e., minimal storage) structures, on the mainstem CR highly manage water flow, often by releasing water over (rather than through) dams as “spill.” To test the effects of run‐of‐river dam spill on microplankton abundance

Abstract   Large river estuaries experience multiple anthropogenic stressors. Understanding plankton community dynamics in these estuaries provides insights into the patterns of natural variability and effects of human activity. We undertook a 2-year study in the Columbia River Estuary to assess the potential impacts of abiotic and biotic factors on planktonic community structure over multiple time scales.

Abstract We present a comprehensive survey of the scientific literature pertaining to non-indigenous and invasive zooplankton published across the first decades of the twenty-first century (i.e., 2000–2018). We provide a concise summary of the manner in which the scientific community has allocated its efforts to this issue in recent decades, and to illuminate trends that emerge from the literature.

Abstract   The Asian clam, Corbicula fluminea, was introduced into North America in the 1920s—first observed in the Columbia River—and has expanded its range across the continent and into South America and Europe, yet little is known about its ecology and potential to impact food webs. To evaluate prey selectivity and feeding rates of C. fluminea, we conducted laboratory feeding experiments using water from two distinct Columbia River environments (unimpounded river and reservoir) during July and October 2016.