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Publication Date
8-2023
Date of Final Oral Examination (Defense)
6-14-2023
Type of Culminating Activity
Thesis - Boise State University Access Only
Degree Title
Master of Science in Biological Science
Department
Biology
Major Advisor
Peter Koetsier, Ph.D.
Advisor
Amy Ulappa, Ph.D.
Advisor
Chris Walser, Ph.D.
Abstract
Success of invasive species depend on how well the species acclimates and adapts to new local conditions. Tolerance to extreme environmental conditions such as temperature and drought are major factors in determining invasion risk, establishment, and spread of a non-native species. As predicted by numerous climate models, southwestern Idaho is to become hotter, with temperatures reaching 40 °C for several days during the summer and will have less snowpack with more winter rain causing an increase in stream temperatures and intermittency. In this study, I tested survivability of Misgurnus anguillicaudatus (oriental weatherfish) using predicted (based upon climate models) temperatures and substrate moisture dryness in a laboratory setting. I used a two-by-two factorial experiment using two temperatures (30 and 40 °C) and two soil moisture levels (≤ 20% and ≥50% volumetric moisture content (VMC)) to test survivability under these conditions. At a high substrate moisture level (≥ 50% VMC) and moderately high temperature (30 °C), oriental weatherfish survived up to 184 days, long enough to make it to the next rain event, in November. In both high substrate moisture (≥50% VMC) and low substrate moisture (≤20% VMC), at 40 °C, the fish did not survive for more than a few days. At 30 °C and dry substrate (≤ 20% VMC), oriental weatherfish survived up to 25 days. Tolerance of a moderate air temperature of 30 °C and soil moisture of ≥50% VMC, is a strong indicator of range expansion ability and invasive risk by the burrowing, air-breathing fish, M. anguillicaudatus. This knowledge can be used by managers to better predict range expansions under a changing climate.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.18122/td.2093.boisestate
Recommended Citation
Benedict, Randall L., "Interaction Between Temperature and Substrate Moisture on Survivability of a Substrate Burrowing, Air-Breathing, Non-Native Fish, Oriental Weatherfish, (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus), in Idaho, USA" (2023). Boise State University Theses and Dissertations. 2093.
https://doi.org/10.18122/td.2093.boisestate