REPRODUCTION AND POPULATION STRUCTURE OF CORBICULA FLUMINEA IN AN OLIGOTROPHIC SUBALPINE LAKE

摘要

Reproductive effort and population structure of the nonnative clam Corbicula fluminea were studied in an oligotrophic subalpine lake. Three shallow sites (5 m) and one deeper site (20 m) were studied between May 11, 2010, and November 5, 2010, to determine spatial variation and the influence of environmental conditions (e.g., temperature and food availability as determined by total organic carbon (TOC) and sediment particulate organic matter (SPOM) on reproductive effort. The clam C.fluminea exhibited a univoltine spawn cued by increases in temperature. Reproductive effort calculated for adult clams (13.67 +/- 0.03 mm (SE), n = 1,875) across sites was not influenced by TOC and SPOM concentrations, and overall reproductive effort was less than more productive ecosystems, which may be a result of Lake Tahoe's ultraoligotrophy. All 3 shallow sites;lad similar levels of reproductive effort. Once veligers were observed, of the 603 clams then dissected, there were 10 2 veligers per clam ( SE), 25 clams had >= 100 veligers per clam (286 +/- 28 veligers per clam), 78 clams contained less than 100 veligers (20 +/- 2 veligers per clam), and 498 clams had no veligers present, indicating the population exhibits a highly variable reproductive effort. There was, at a minimum, a 4-wk delay from the point that temperatures reached a threshold for fertilization and veliger release until they were observed in dissected clams. At 20 m, C. fluminea were high in abundance compared with shallow sites, but contained few fully developed juveniles, indicating a potential population sink. Overall population structure was dominated by adult clams (?:13 mm), with a minimal presence of juveniles (<= 4 mm).