Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 
 

Files

File List


miami1304020369.pdf (2.23 MB)

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

The role of ultraviolet radiation in mediating warmwater fish invasion in transparent lakes

Tucker, Andrew J.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1304020369

Abstract Details

2011, Doctor of Philosophy, Miami University, Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology.
Considerable uncertainty remains regarding what the impacts of sustained or changing ultraviolet radiation (UV) stress may be for aquatic ecosystems. This dissertation represents the first attempt to explore the role of UV in a biological invasion context. Chapter 1 serves as a broad introduction to the role of UV in lakes. It emphasizes the complex interactive and indirect effects of UV on aquatic ecosystems and in particular the implications of UV for disease dynamics, contaminant toxicity, carbon cycling, and biodiversity in lakes. The remaining chapters elaborate on the topic of UV and biodiversity by developing the idea that UV can regulate warmwater fish invasion in transparent lakes. Chapter 2 provides the foundation for this idea. The results from an in situ incubation experiment that manipulated incident UVR exposure of larval bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus), and an assessment of UVR exposure levels in nearshore habitats using DNA dosimeters are reported. The results demonstrate that UVR mediates habitat invasibility in a large sub-alpine lake (Lake Tahoe CA/NV USA). In chapter 3 an invasion-window model is developed which predicts that largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) establishment in Lake Tahoe is controlled by the ability of these non-native fish to cope with UV and temperature stress along a UV-temperature stress gradient. In situ incubation experiments in contrasting high and low-UV nearshore habitat corroborated model predictions. In situ incubation experiments with native Lahtonan redside minnows (Richardsonius egregius)showed that the native species overlaps broadly with the range of ambient environmental conditions in the Tahoe littoral zone. The final chapter suggests a novel approach for managing warmwater fish invasion in lakes. A UV Attainment Threshold, which is a target value for water transparency based on 1) incident solar UV exposure levels during peak spawning season, and 2)experimentally derived UV exposure levels lethal to larval warmwater fish, was developed. Taken together these chapters provide novel insights that could improve our ability to predict and manage aquatic species invasion, especially in transparent lakes.
Craig Williamson, PhD (Advisor)
John Bailer, PhD (Committee Member)
Thomas Crist, PhD (Committee Member)
Mark Olson, PhD (Committee Member)
James Oris, PhD (Committee Member)
138 p.
Aquatic Sciences; Ecology; Freshwater Ecology; Radiation; Wildlife Conservation; Wildlife Management
ultraviolet radiation; biological invasion; largemouth bass; Micropterus salmoides; bluegill; Lepomis macrochirus

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Tucker, A. J. (2011). The role of ultraviolet radiation in mediating warmwater fish invasion in transparent lakes [Doctoral dissertation, Miami University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1304020369

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Tucker, Andrew. The role of ultraviolet radiation in mediating warmwater fish invasion in transparent lakes. 2011. Miami University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1304020369.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Tucker, Andrew. "The role of ultraviolet radiation in mediating warmwater fish invasion in transparent lakes." Doctoral dissertation, Miami University, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1304020369

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

miami1304020369
554
© 2011, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Miami University and OhioLINK.