2023 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference

March 5-7, 2023 • Cincinnati, OH

5/21/2019 | 2:30 PM - 2:45 PM | HYDROPOWER AND AQUATIC-TERRESTRIAL LINKAGES IN THE COLORADO RIVER | 151 ABC

HYDROPOWER AND AQUATIC-TERRESTRIAL LINKAGES IN THE COLORADO RIVER

Like many of the world’s large rivers, the Colorado River is interrupted by several dams over its course. The operation of one of these dams, Glen Canyon Dam, to generate hydroelectricity has created an artificial tide in its downstream stretch of the Colorado River, which has produced a pattern of variable aquatic insect emergence. Emergent insects, however, are not isolated to the aquatic ecosystem. Studies in other riparian systems show these insects are an integral part of terrestrial riparian food webs. Therefore, we sought to determine if hydropeaking, through its effects on emergence, also affects riparian consumer diets. To do this, tissue samples were collected from riparian consumers, specifically lizards and rodents, downstream of Glen Canyon Dam across a gradient of insect emergence. Carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and hydrogen isotopes measured in each sample showed variation in the source (aquatic vs. terrestrial) of riparian consumer diets, potentially indicating a response to emergent insect abundance. These results are relevant to the management of dams, both within this system and globally, as their operations can affect not just the aquatic food web, but also surrounding, linked food webs.

Dams
Subsidy
Isotope

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Presenters/Authors

Christina Lupoli (), Arizona State University, caclupoli@gmail.com;