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• 1. [Article] Oregon's Fish and Wildlife in a Changing Climate

  Chapter 7 in: The Oregon Climate Change Assessment Report Oregon's fish and wildlife include animals on land, fish and other species in rivers and lakes, and various kinds of sea life in estuaries and ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Oregon's Fish and Wildlife in a Changing Climate Author: Hixon, Mark A., Gregory, Stanley V., Robinson, W. Douglas, Baker, C. Scott, Batchelder, Harold P., Epps, Clinton, Garcia, Tiffany S., Haig, Susan M., Letelier, Ricardo M., Lytle, David A., Menge, Bruce A., Miller, Jeffery C., Noakes, David L.G., Peterson, William T., Rice, James M., Rumrill, Steven S., Schreck, Carl B., Suryan, Robert M., Sytsma, Mark D., White, Angelicque E. Year: 2010 Chapter 7 in: The Oregon Climate Change Assessment Report Oregon's fish and wildlife include animals on land, fish and other species in rivers and lakes, and various kinds of sea life in estuaries and coastal ocean. Oregon is one of the most ecologically diverse states in the country. The state’s robust biodiversity, some of which is already threatened or endangered -- inhabits complex and dynamic ecosystems that we have only begun to understand, let alone examine in terms of climate change.It is clear that the abundance and distribution of species are shifting already and will shift more rapidly as habitats on land, in freshwater, and in the sea are altered due to increasing temperatures and related environmental changes. It remains to be seen if past changes are all tied to global climate change or if they are a result of some other variability, but they represent a proxy for how species may shift in a warmer climate. Among the observed species changes: Insects are moving in from the south of Oregon, frogs are reproducing earlier in the year and land birds are shifting their distributions northward and migrating earlier. Freshwater fish are losing their cool-water habitats. In the marine environment, algal blooms have increased (figure 11) and the highly predatory Humboldt squid have shifted their distribution from subtropical and tropical regions, making an appearance off the coast of Oregon in the last few years. In a warmer climate, plant and animal species may have to shift upward or northward on land or deeper at sea for survival. Rare or endangered species may become less abundant or extinct; insect pests, invasive species and harmful algal blooms may become more abundant. Declines in the abundance of species may be caused directly by physiological stress related to changes in temperature, water availability, and other environmental shifts, and/or indirectly by habitat degradation and negative interactions with species that are benefited by climate change (diseases, parasites, predators, and competitors). Understanding the responses of Oregon’s fish and wildlife to climate change will require a better understanding of smaller organisms and insects and ocean species. Knowledge of ecological interactions will be crucial for understanding the related effects of climate change (increased predation or competition, for example). Management and natural resource polices that protect intact ecosystems are a tool for adaptation; native species can live and migrate to these safe refugia. Title: Oregon's Fish and Wildlife in a Changing Climate Author: Hixon, Mark A., Gregory, Stanley V., Robinson, W. Douglas, Baker, C. Scott, Batchelder, Harold P., Epps, Clinton, Garcia, Tiffany S., Haig, Susan M., Letelier, Ricardo M., Lytle, David A., Menge, Bruce A., Miller, Jeffery C., Noakes, David L.G., Peterson, William T., Rice, James M., Rumrill, Steven S., Schreck, Carl B., Suryan, Robert M., Sytsma, Mark D., White, Angelicque E. Year: 2010 Chapter 7 in: The Oregon Climate Change Assessment Report Oregon's fish and wildlife include animals on land, fish and other species in rivers and lakes, and various kinds of sea life in estuaries and coastal ocean. Oregon is one of the most ecologically diverse states in the country. The state’s robust biodiversity, some of which is already threatened or endangered -- inhabits complex and dynamic ecosystems that we have only begun to understand, let alone examine in terms of climate change.It is clear that the abundance and distribution of species are shifting already and will shift more rapidly as habitats on land, in freshwater, and in the sea are altered due to increasing temperatures and related environmental changes. It remains to be seen if past changes are all tied to global climate change or if they are a result of some other variability, but they represent a proxy for how species may shift in a warmer climate. Among the observed species changes: Insects are moving in from the south of Oregon, frogs are reproducing earlier in the year and land birds are shifting their distributions northward and migrating earlier. Freshwater fish are losing their cool-water habitats. In the marine environment, algal blooms have increased (figure 11) and the highly predatory Humboldt squid have shifted their distribution from subtropical and tropical regions, making an appearance off the coast of Oregon in the last few years. In a warmer climate, plant and animal species may have to shift upward or northward on land or deeper at sea for survival. Rare or endangered species may become less abundant or extinct; insect pests, invasive species and harmful algal blooms may become more abundant. Declines in the abundance of species may be caused directly by physiological stress related to changes in temperature, water availability, and other environmental shifts, and/or indirectly by habitat degradation and negative interactions with species that are benefited by climate change (diseases, parasites, predators, and competitors). Understanding the responses of Oregon’s fish and wildlife to climate change will require a better understanding of smaller organisms and insects and ocean species. Knowledge of ecological interactions will be crucial for understanding the related effects of climate change (increased predation or competition, for example). Management and natural resource polices that protect intact ecosystems are a tool for adaptation; native species can live and migrate to these safe refugia. Close

• 2. [Article] Zebra and Quagga Mussel Early-Detection Monitoring in High Risk Oregon Waters 2014

  Zebra and quagga mussels (Dreissena polymorpha and D. rostriformis bugensis, respectively) were not detected by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) and Portland State University (PSU) during ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Zebra and Quagga Mussel Early-Detection Monitoring in High Risk Oregon Waters 2014 Author: Wells, Steve W., Sytsma, Mark D. Year: 2015 Zebra and quagga mussels (Dreissena polymorpha and D. rostriformis bugensis, respectively) were not detected by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) and Portland State University (PSU) during their early detection sampling in Oregon water bodies during 2014. Six high-risk Oregon water bodies were sampled for planktonic larvae and adult mussels during the August to September period. A total of 37 plankton samples were collected and over 520,000 liters of reservoir/lake water were filtered through 64-μm mesh nets during plankton sample collection. The greatest sampling effort occurred in Emigrant Lake, Lake Billy Chinook, and Prineville Reservoir but sampling also occurred in Howard Prairie Lake, Upper Klamath Lake, and Applegate Reservoir. Non-native invertebrates and macrophytes were opportunistically collected during Dreissena sampling in 2014. Corbicula fluminea (Asian clam) adults were collected in Upper Klamath Lake. Potamopyrgus antipodarum (New Zealand mud snails) were collected in Lake Billy Chinook. Potamogeton crispus (curly leaf pondweed) was collected in Emigrant Lake, Howard Prairie Lake, Lake Billy Chinook, and Upper Klamath Lake. To the authors’ knowledge, the C. fluminea in Upper Klamath Lake represents the first reported detection for these species in this location. Title: Zebra and Quagga Mussel Early-Detection Monitoring in High Risk Oregon Waters 2014 Author: Wells, Steve W., Sytsma, Mark D. Year: 2015 Zebra and quagga mussels (Dreissena polymorpha and D. rostriformis bugensis, respectively) were not detected by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) and Portland State University (PSU) during their early detection sampling in Oregon water bodies during 2014. Six high-risk Oregon water bodies were sampled for planktonic larvae and adult mussels during the August to September period. A total of 37 plankton samples were collected and over 520,000 liters of reservoir/lake water were filtered through 64-μm mesh nets during plankton sample collection. The greatest sampling effort occurred in Emigrant Lake, Lake Billy Chinook, and Prineville Reservoir but sampling also occurred in Howard Prairie Lake, Upper Klamath Lake, and Applegate Reservoir. Non-native invertebrates and macrophytes were opportunistically collected during Dreissena sampling in 2014. Corbicula fluminea (Asian clam) adults were collected in Upper Klamath Lake. Potamopyrgus antipodarum (New Zealand mud snails) were collected in Lake Billy Chinook. Potamogeton crispus (curly leaf pondweed) was collected in Emigrant Lake, Howard Prairie Lake, Lake Billy Chinook, and Upper Klamath Lake. To the authors’ knowledge, the C. fluminea in Upper Klamath Lake represents the first reported detection for these species in this location. Close

• 3. [Article] Aquatic Plant Surveys in the Bureau of Land Management, Medford District, 2010-2011

  The introduction of invasive aquatic plant species (IAPS) can cause significant ecological and economic harm. IAPS can displace native aquatic plant species, impair recreation, and degrade water quality. ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Aquatic Plant Surveys in the Bureau of Land Management, Medford District, 2010-2011 Author: Sytsma, Mark D., Miller, Rich, Morgan, Vanessa Year: 2011 The introduction of invasive aquatic plant species (IAPS) can cause significant ecological and economic harm. IAPS can displace native aquatic plant species, impair recreation, and degrade water quality. Early detection of new invasions can improve chances for successful eradication or containment to reduce the risk of IAPS spread. The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) lists the most egregious offenders as “Noxious Weeds” which are defined as plants classified by the Oregon State Weed Board that are injurious to public health, agriculture, recreation, wildlife, or any public or private property (ODA 2011). Several IAPS classified as noxious have been detected within the Medford District of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Southern Oregon including yellow floating heart (Nymphoides peltata) and yellow flag iris (Iris pseudacorus). During the summers of 2010 and 2011, IAPS surveys were conducted at selected reservoirs, lakes, and river boat launches within the Medford District to determine the extent of IAPS infestations as well as the distributions of native aquatic plant species. This report summarizes results of the surveys and provides recommendations for management of IAPS within the Medford District. Observations of any invasive aquatic animal species such as New Zealand mudsnails (Potamopyrgus antipodarum) are also reported. Title: Aquatic Plant Surveys in the Bureau of Land Management, Medford District, 2010-2011 Author: Sytsma, Mark D., Miller, Rich, Morgan, Vanessa Year: 2011 The introduction of invasive aquatic plant species (IAPS) can cause significant ecological and economic harm. IAPS can displace native aquatic plant species, impair recreation, and degrade water quality. Early detection of new invasions can improve chances for successful eradication or containment to reduce the risk of IAPS spread. The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) lists the most egregious offenders as “Noxious Weeds” which are defined as plants classified by the Oregon State Weed Board that are injurious to public health, agriculture, recreation, wildlife, or any public or private property (ODA 2011). Several IAPS classified as noxious have been detected within the Medford District of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Southern Oregon including yellow floating heart (Nymphoides peltata) and yellow flag iris (Iris pseudacorus). During the summers of 2010 and 2011, IAPS surveys were conducted at selected reservoirs, lakes, and river boat launches within the Medford District to determine the extent of IAPS infestations as well as the distributions of native aquatic plant species. This report summarizes results of the surveys and provides recommendations for management of IAPS within the Medford District. Observations of any invasive aquatic animal species such as New Zealand mudsnails (Potamopyrgus antipodarum) are also reported. Close

• 4. [Article] Inventory and Mapping of Aquatic Plants at Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area

  Lake Roosevelt is a large reservoir in northeast Washington State formed by the Grand Coulee Dam. The reservoir, which inundates portions of the Columbia River, the Spokane River, and other rivers and ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Inventory and Mapping of Aquatic Plants at Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area Author: Sytsma, Mark D., Miller, Rich Year: 2008 Lake Roosevelt is a large reservoir in northeast Washington State formed by the Grand Coulee Dam. The reservoir, which inundates portions of the Columbia River, the Spokane River, and other rivers and streams, is the focus of the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area (LARO) that is managed by the National Park Service. LARO encompasses 100,390 acres (40,625 ha) and includes significant cultural and recreational resources. The surface area, volume, and shoreline length of Lake Roosevelt at full pool is 82,691 acres (33,490 ha), 9.41 × 1010 acre-ft (1.16 × 1010 m3) (Nigro et. al. 1981), and 630 miles (1014 km) (www.lrf.org/AboutLR/ALRFastFacts.html accessed 28 January 2008), respectively; thus, the reservoir provides a significant aquatic resource for fish and wildlife as well as recreation in the region. Invasive plants are a high-priority “vital sign” of LARO ecosystem health (Garret et. al. 2007). In recent years, LARO staff noted an increase in the density of submersed aquatic plants (macrophytes), including Myriophyllum spicatum (Eurasian watermilfoil), in the lake. M. spicatum is a highly invasive weed that forms dense surface mats that interfere with boating and angling and degrade water quality. In an effort to reduce recreational impacts of aquatic plants LARO staff established test plots of nonchemical methods of control during the drawdown period in the spring of 2007. The National Park Service contracted Portland State University Center for Lakes and Reservoirs to accomplish two main objectives: 1) document the effects of nonchemical control measures of submersed aquatic plants in the reservoir, and 2) describe the composition of the aquatic plant community at selected locations in LARO. Title: Inventory and Mapping of Aquatic Plants at Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area Author: Sytsma, Mark D., Miller, Rich Year: 2008 Lake Roosevelt is a large reservoir in northeast Washington State formed by the Grand Coulee Dam. The reservoir, which inundates portions of the Columbia River, the Spokane River, and other rivers and streams, is the focus of the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area (LARO) that is managed by the National Park Service. LARO encompasses 100,390 acres (40,625 ha) and includes significant cultural and recreational resources. The surface area, volume, and shoreline length of Lake Roosevelt at full pool is 82,691 acres (33,490 ha), 9.41 × 1010 acre-ft (1.16 × 1010 m3) (Nigro et. al. 1981), and 630 miles (1014 km) (www.lrf.org/AboutLR/ALRFastFacts.html accessed 28 January 2008), respectively; thus, the reservoir provides a significant aquatic resource for fish and wildlife as well as recreation in the region. Invasive plants are a high-priority “vital sign” of LARO ecosystem health (Garret et. al. 2007). In recent years, LARO staff noted an increase in the density of submersed aquatic plants (macrophytes), including Myriophyllum spicatum (Eurasian watermilfoil), in the lake. M. spicatum is a highly invasive weed that forms dense surface mats that interfere with boating and angling and degrade water quality. In an effort to reduce recreational impacts of aquatic plants LARO staff established test plots of nonchemical methods of control during the drawdown period in the spring of 2007. The National Park Service contracted Portland State University Center for Lakes and Reservoirs to accomplish two main objectives: 1) document the effects of nonchemical control measures of submersed aquatic plants in the reservoir, and 2) describe the composition of the aquatic plant community at selected locations in LARO. Close

• 5. [Article] Efficacy of Plastic Mesh Tubes in Reducing Herbivory Damage by the Invasive Nutria (Myocastor coypus) in an Urban Restoration Site

  The restoration of stream corridors is becoming an increasingly important component of urban landscape planning, and the high cost of these projects necessitates the need to understand and address potential ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Efficacy of Plastic Mesh Tubes in Reducing Herbivory Damage by the Invasive Nutria (Myocastor coypus) in an Urban Restoration Site Author: Sheffels, Trevor R., Sytsma, Mark D., Carter, Jacoby, Taylor, Jimmy D. Year: 2014 The restoration of stream corridors is becoming an increasingly important component of urban landscape planning, and the high cost of these projects necessitates the need to understand and address potential ecological obstacles to project success. The nutria (Myocastor coypus) is an invasive, semi-aquatic rodent native to South America that causes detrimental ecological impacts in riparian and wetland habitats throughout its introduced range, and techniques are needed to reduce nutria herbivory damage to urban stream restoration projects. We assessed the efficacy of standard Vexar® plastic mesh tubes in reducing nutria herbivory damage to newly established woody plants. The study was conducted in winter-spring 2009 at Delta Ponds, a 60-ha urban waterway in Eugene, Oregon. Woody plants protected by Vexar® tubes demonstrated 100% survival over the 3-month initial establishment period, while only 17% of unprotected plantings survived. Nutria demonstrated a preference for black cottonwood(Populus balsamifera ssp trichocarpa) over red osier dogwood (Cornus sericea) and willow (Salix spp). Camera surveillance showed that nutria were more active in unprotected rather than protected treatments. Our results suggest that Vexar® plastic mesh tubing can be an effective short-term herbivory mitigation tool when habitat use by nutria is low. Additionally, planting functionally equivalent woody plant species that are less preferred by nutria, and other herbivores, may be another method for reducing herbivory and improving revegetation success. This study highlights the need to address potential wildlife damage conflicts in the planning process for stream restoration in urban landscapes. Title: Efficacy of Plastic Mesh Tubes in Reducing Herbivory Damage by the Invasive Nutria (Myocastor coypus) in an Urban Restoration Site Author: Sheffels, Trevor R., Sytsma, Mark D., Carter, Jacoby, Taylor, Jimmy D. Year: 2014 The restoration of stream corridors is becoming an increasingly important component of urban landscape planning, and the high cost of these projects necessitates the need to understand and address potential ecological obstacles to project success. The nutria (Myocastor coypus) is an invasive, semi-aquatic rodent native to South America that causes detrimental ecological impacts in riparian and wetland habitats throughout its introduced range, and techniques are needed to reduce nutria herbivory damage to urban stream restoration projects. We assessed the efficacy of standard Vexar® plastic mesh tubes in reducing nutria herbivory damage to newly established woody plants. The study was conducted in winter-spring 2009 at Delta Ponds, a 60-ha urban waterway in Eugene, Oregon. Woody plants protected by Vexar® tubes demonstrated 100% survival over the 3-month initial establishment period, while only 17% of unprotected plantings survived. Nutria demonstrated a preference for black cottonwood(Populus balsamifera ssp trichocarpa) over red osier dogwood (Cornus sericea) and willow (Salix spp). Camera surveillance showed that nutria were more active in unprotected rather than protected treatments. Our results suggest that Vexar® plastic mesh tubing can be an effective short-term herbivory mitigation tool when habitat use by nutria is low. Additionally, planting functionally equivalent woody plant species that are less preferred by nutria, and other herbivores, may be another method for reducing herbivory and improving revegetation success. This study highlights the need to address potential wildlife damage conflicts in the planning process for stream restoration in urban landscapes. Close

• 6. [Article] 2005 Diamond Lake Submersed Aquatic Vegetation Survey

  Diamond Lake is a large natural lake having a surface area of some 3214 acres (1300.7 hectares) and a maximum depth of 52 feet (15.8 meters). It is located within the Umpqua National Forest in the Southern ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: 2005 Diamond Lake Submersed Aquatic Vegetation Survey Author: Sytsma, Mark D., Pfauth, Mary Year: 2006 Diamond Lake is a large natural lake having a surface area of some 3214 acres (1300.7 hectares) and a maximum depth of 52 feet (15.8 meters). It is located within the Umpqua National Forest in the Southern Cascade Mountains of Oregon, at an elevation of over 5000 feet (>1524 meters). Diamond Lake is a high-use waterbody that supports angling, public campgrounds, recreational boating, swimming, and water skiing. The human activity associated with the lake has been a significant contributor to the economy of southern Oregon since the early part of the twentieth century. Historically Diamond Lake was fishless but since 1910 the lake has been managed as a popular trophy trout fishery. The unauthorized introduction of the tui chub (Gila bicolor) into the lake in the 1930s caused disruption of the food web and a decline in the fishery. In 1954, the Oregon Game Commission constructed a canal near the Lake Creek outlet, lowered the lake level, and treated Diamond Lake with rotenone, to eradicate tui chub. The lake was restocked with trout following the successful rotenone treatment and a fishery was maintained for several decades. In 1992, tui chub were reintroduced, through accidental introduction or intentional illegal stocking, and again caused a decline in the trout fishery. Originally mesotrophic, Diamond Lake Diamond Lake productivity increased over the last century to a eutrophic state, and is currently included on the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) 303(d) list of water quality limited water bodies for pH and algae. The lake had severe blooms of the cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) Anabaena flos-aquae, which produce neurotoxins, in the summers of 2001, 2002, and 2003. Microcystis aeruginosa, another toxin producing cyanobacterium species, was also present in the 2003 bloom. Diamond Lake was closed to some public uses (wading, swimming, water skiing, and boating) during portions of all three summers due to public health and safety concerns. Algae blooms and declining trout fishery have been attributed to alteration of the food web by the tui chubs. The chubs spawn early and consume the zooplankton in the lake, which reduces grazing pressure on phytoplankton. Since the lake is nitrogen limited, nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria dominate the phytoplankton community. Therefore, the chubs reduce the quality of the trout fishery by reducing food available for trout and impact water quality by facilitating cyanobacteria blooms, which can be toxic. In response to the impact of the tui chub on Diamond Lake the US Forest Service and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife are collaborating in a tui chub eradication effort. The eradication plan includes a 2.4-m (8 ft) drawdown of the lake in the winter and spring of 2006 and a rotenone treatment of remaining lake volume in 2006 to kill any remaining fish. The US Forest Service prepared an EIS for the drawdown and rotenone treatment. Potential impacts of the drawdown on littoral aquatic plant communities were identified in the EIS. The US Forest Service conducted a qualitative survey to develop a species list for the lake. The survey described here provides a quantitative, pretreatment measure of cover and biomass of aquatic plants in Diamond Lake. Follow-up sampling, using similar methods, will permit assessment of changes in the plant community following drawdown and refilling of the lake. Title: 2005 Diamond Lake Submersed Aquatic Vegetation Survey Author: Sytsma, Mark D., Pfauth, Mary Year: 2006 Diamond Lake is a large natural lake having a surface area of some 3214 acres (1300.7 hectares) and a maximum depth of 52 feet (15.8 meters). It is located within the Umpqua National Forest in the Southern Cascade Mountains of Oregon, at an elevation of over 5000 feet (>1524 meters). Diamond Lake is a high-use waterbody that supports angling, public campgrounds, recreational boating, swimming, and water skiing. The human activity associated with the lake has been a significant contributor to the economy of southern Oregon since the early part of the twentieth century. Historically Diamond Lake was fishless but since 1910 the lake has been managed as a popular trophy trout fishery. The unauthorized introduction of the tui chub (Gila bicolor) into the lake in the 1930s caused disruption of the food web and a decline in the fishery. In 1954, the Oregon Game Commission constructed a canal near the Lake Creek outlet, lowered the lake level, and treated Diamond Lake with rotenone, to eradicate tui chub. The lake was restocked with trout following the successful rotenone treatment and a fishery was maintained for several decades. In 1992, tui chub were reintroduced, through accidental introduction or intentional illegal stocking, and again caused a decline in the trout fishery. Originally mesotrophic, Diamond Lake Diamond Lake productivity increased over the last century to a eutrophic state, and is currently included on the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) 303(d) list of water quality limited water bodies for pH and algae. The lake had severe blooms of the cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) Anabaena flos-aquae, which produce neurotoxins, in the summers of 2001, 2002, and 2003. Microcystis aeruginosa, another toxin producing cyanobacterium species, was also present in the 2003 bloom. Diamond Lake was closed to some public uses (wading, swimming, water skiing, and boating) during portions of all three summers due to public health and safety concerns. Algae blooms and declining trout fishery have been attributed to alteration of the food web by the tui chubs. The chubs spawn early and consume the zooplankton in the lake, which reduces grazing pressure on phytoplankton. Since the lake is nitrogen limited, nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria dominate the phytoplankton community. Therefore, the chubs reduce the quality of the trout fishery by reducing food available for trout and impact water quality by facilitating cyanobacteria blooms, which can be toxic. In response to the impact of the tui chub on Diamond Lake the US Forest Service and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife are collaborating in a tui chub eradication effort. The eradication plan includes a 2.4-m (8 ft) drawdown of the lake in the winter and spring of 2006 and a rotenone treatment of remaining lake volume in 2006 to kill any remaining fish. The US Forest Service prepared an EIS for the drawdown and rotenone treatment. Potential impacts of the drawdown on littoral aquatic plant communities were identified in the EIS. The US Forest Service conducted a qualitative survey to develop a species list for the lake. The survey described here provides a quantitative, pretreatment measure of cover and biomass of aquatic plants in Diamond Lake. Follow-up sampling, using similar methods, will permit assessment of changes in the plant community following drawdown and refilling of the lake. Close