Category Archives: Animal Spotlight

Animal Spotlight – Northwestern Pond Turtle

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The northwestern pond turtle (Actinemys marmorata) has lived in the waters of the Trinity River for thousands of years. This species has undergone several taxonomic revisions since first being first described in 1841 (1, 2, 3).  It was originally considered a single species with the southwestern pond turtle (Actinemys pallida) and called ‘Emys marmorata’. Then both species were renamed ‘Clemmys marmorata’. The northwestern and southwestern groups were more recently split into two species based on genetic and physical differences between them. So, you may read our local turtles described with different common and scientific names depending on when the document was published (3). But no matter when it was published, there is only one native freshwater turtle known to the Klamath Mountains and the current name is “northwestern pond turtle” (Actinemys marmorata).  

Photo: A female northwestern pond turtle. [Don Ashton] 

Actinemys marmorata 

actin = ray or beam // emys = turtle // marmorata = marbled

As its common name suggests, the northwestern pond turtle is known to inhabit ponds and lakes, but within the Klamath Mountain ecosystem they are commonly associated with riverine habitats. Northwestern pond turtles are poikilothermic, meaning that they regulate their temperature by basking in the sun when they are cold, and seek cool water or shade when they are too warm. They distribute in sunny, slow water reaches with boulder lined pools that, importantly, have connectivity to broad floodplain habitat (5, p. 353).

A male Northwestern Pond Turtle in underwater refugia on the Southfork Trinity River. [Don Ashton]

The northwestern pond turtle has an acute sense of sight and low-frequency hearing, and while they are often seen basking in the sun above water, they will quickly retreat when they feel threatened (5). Reader, a river enthusiast we surmise, we are sure you’ve witnessed the sound of a plopping western pond turtle off a river log – but did you see them? 

Male turtles are known to migrate from river to upland areas to overwinter in riparian shrubs or leaf litter. This trait is not ubiquitous among all turtles as some choose to stay close to their summer habitat by overwintering in banks near the river or pond. Local herpetologist Don Ashton of McBain Associates/Riverbend Sciences has spent decades studying turtles in the Trinity River and said, “Turtles are very smart animals, they tend to migrate close to the high water line (think 100 year floodplain) but over time we have found that in comparison with North Fork Trinity River populations, turtles on the mainstem are found more frequently hibernating and nesting in lower elevation areas, likely due to adaptation of minimized flooding by Trinity and Lewiston Dams.”

In addition to migration for hibernation and summering, female turtles migrate twice for nesting. When they are ready to lay their eggs, they fill their bladders and set off on a slow but steady journey to upland areas to dig their nests. Once in a satisfactory location, the female turtle wets the ground with her urine to help soften it for digging. Once her eggs are laid, she will journey back to her summer habitat.

A Northwestern pond turtle nest, predated. Egg fragments and plug are identified. [Don Ashton]

Migration to upland areas for nesting or hibernation can often lead to chance encounters with humans or their vehicles. If you happen to cross paths with a turtle, Ashton advises to leave them to their journey, “they are not lost” Ashton declares. However, if their location poses a risk of vehicular homicide, and you feel compelled to move them, point them in the direction of their path. That is unless the turtle happens to urinate while being handled, then, Ashton suggests, they should be pointed back toward a water source.

These ancient creatures are small to medium in size, growing up to 8 inches long. Interestingly, Trinity River turtles have been documented as even smaller than their regional counterparts. Some herpetologists surmise this could be due to temperature suppression caused by elevated dam releases causing cold water releases in the latter spring and summer months (6). Watch Don Ashton’s 2024 Trinity River Restoration Program Science Symposium presentation on the subject below.

Don Ashton, Senior Aquatic Herpetologist/Ecologist for McBain Associates/Applied River Sciences presents, “Frogs and Turtles informing flow management and river restoration.” at the 2024 Trinity River Restoration Program Science Symposium.

Their dark brown or olive-colored shells often feature fine, lighter markings that give them a marbled look as reflected in their species name, marmorata.  Their low profile and coloring help them blend in with riverbanks, keeping them safe from predators like raccoons, skunks, and birds of prey. The male northwestern pond turtle can be identified with a pointier snout and lighter pale cream coloring under its neck. If you encounter a turtle with hints of red near the ear it is likely a non-invasive red-eared slider, make note of where you are and if possible, provide photo documentation to the Trinity River Restoration Program or the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Documentation of these instances can help in protecting our native turtle populations.

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A female northwestern pond turtle on the Southfork Trinity River. [Garth Hodgson, Don Ashton]
Adult male northwestern pond turtle. [Don Ashton]
A red-eared slider. [wikimedia commons]

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Unlike many reptiles, northwestern pond turtles grow slowly. They start out about the size of a quarter. Females don’t start laying eggs until they’re between 8-10 years old (3, 7, 8). They lay between 3 and 13 eggs, which incubate through the summer. In some parts of Northern California, hatchlings stay in the nest through winter, emerging the following spring. In the photo you can see a comparison of a female turtle at 55 years old with a newly hatched turtle. Ashton, in the background mentioned that the elder at age 55 was carrying 9 eggs at the time of that photo (2018) which suggests their lifespan may be quite long. Ashton mentioned, “it is certainly possible that there are turtles living in the mainstem that have lived there since before the dam was placed.”

Photo: A female, marked and recaptured and aged at 55 years old in comparison with a hatchling. Held by Bruce Bury and Don Ashton smiles from the back in 2018. [Jamie Bettaso]

The northwestern pond turtle has been studied locally for over 50 years due to the diligence of herpetologist Bruce Bury, now retired from USGS, who monitored northwestern pond turtles starting in 1968 while earning his Ph.D. at UC Berkeley. He marked turtles with an identifying notch in a tributary of the South Fork Trinity River, allowing for scientists to track longevity on the only native species known in the Klamath Range (5, p. 354). Although Bury has documented turtles over 50 years old, northwestern pond turtle longevity is still being studied today.

The northwestern pond turtle is commonly seen in the Trinity River, but its population has been declining throughout its west coast range. This decline is so severe that in 2023 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed to list the northwestern pond turtle as a “Threatened” species (8, 11). Habitat loss, hydrologic alterations and invasive species are a few human caused threats to northwestern pond turtles. The state of California also recognizes the northwestern pond turtle as a species of “special concern”. As such, handling these turtles requires permitting and are considered illegal to keep as pets.

The Trinity River Restoration Program has been involved in research to identify and address some of these threats. A graduate student from Cal Poly Humboldt, Leah Sloan, determined that non-native bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus) eat young northwestern pond turtle hatchlings to the detriment of their populations along the Trinity River (10). Bullfrogs prefer off-channel ponds, which are perfect areas for northwestern pond turtles to grow. Bullfrogs require perennial ponds to reproduce because their tadpoles take longer than one year to grow (and the mainstem Trinity River is too cold and swift to support bullfrogs year-round), so ponds that normally dry out won’t support bullfrogs permanently. Seasonal drying isn’t much of a concern to turtles because they can simply walk to the river when their home dries up. This is one recommendation for the Program to consider when rehabilitating a site.

A trail camera captures a female northwestern pond turtle basking on a log. [Don Ashton]

Today, turtle researchers and wildlife managers are still learning more about turtle behaviors and how to change management to better serve the northwestern pond turtle in the Trinity River region. From size and aging to nesting sites and travel patterns, each discovery helps build a clearer picture of what these turtles need to thrive.

References

  1. Scientific and Common Names of the Reptiles and Amphibians of North America – Explained © Ellin Beltz
  2. Holland DC. 1994. The Western Pond Turtle: Habitat and History.
  3. Bury, R.B., Welsh, H.H., Germano, D.J., and Ashton, D.T. (eds). 2012. Western Pond Turtle: Biology, Sampling Techniques, Inventory and Monitoring, Conservation, and Management. Society for Northwestern Vertebrate Biology, Northwest Fauna, Number 7. 128 pp. 
  4. Shaffer H.B., Scott, P.A., 2019. Assessment for the Western Pond Turtle. Prepared for the US Fish and Wildlife Service by University of California, Los Angeles.
  5. Kauffmann, M. Garwood, J. The Klamath Mountains: a Natural History. 2022. p. 353-354.
  6. Ashton, Don & Bettaso, Jamie & Welsh, Hartwell. (2015). Changes across a Decade in Size, Growth, and Body Condition of Western Pond Turtle (Actinemys marmorata) Populations on Free-flowing and Regulated Forks of the Trinity River in Northwest California. Copeia. volume 103. 621-633. 10.1643/CP-15-253.
  7. California Herps – Northwestern Pond Turtle – Actinemys marmorata
  8. Wikipedia – Western Pond Turtle
  9. https://www.fws.gov/press-release/2023-09/us-fish-and-wildlife-service-proposes-federal-protections-both-species
  10. Sloan L, Marks S. 2012. Summary of Management Implications for the Project on Western Pond Turtles (Actinemys marmorata) in Lentic Habitats Along the Trinity River, California. Report to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Trinity River Restoration Program, from Humboldt State University, Department of Biological Sciences, Arcata, CA. Available: https://www.trrp.net/library/document?id=1819.
  11. Endangered and Threatened Species: Status with Section 4(d) Rule for the Northwestern Pond Turtle and Southwestern Pond Turtle. Posted by the Fish and Wildlife Service. Apr 4, 2024.
Return to the May Newsletter

Bug of the Month: March Mayfly

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The ‘bug of the month’ for March is the…March Brown. March Browns are mayflies that get their namesake for being, well, brown and for hatching in March. As with most common names for aquatic insects, the name March Brown can apply to several different species of mayfly. On the West Coast, the name March Brown applies to Rhithrogena morrisoni; while on the East Coast, it applies to Stenonema vicarium. This common name confusion is why insect taxonomists use the scientific names (even though those change often too!) to describe insects.

March Browns, like other members of the family Heptageniidae, are known as clinger mayflies in the nymph life stage. Their body shape is extremely flat and their gills often form a suction cup like structure on their underside. They are adept at living in the fastest riffles and can persist high flows without being dislodged like other species. Their persistence to stay where they are means they are not as available to salmonids as other species. Even though they are less available, they are often seen in the drift as they are extremely abundant. We do occasionally find the nymphs in the stomachs of juvenile salmonids; but it is much more common to see the adult life stage being eaten.

Adult March Browns are one of the most prolific hatches of insects in the winter months. Although they cannot meet the numbers of midges or Baetid mayflies, their larger size is a good source of calories for hungry salmonids. They typically hatch February through April although they are most abundant in, you guessed it, March. You will often see a hatch of March Browns bringing juvenile salmonids as well as larger trout to the surface. A March Brown imitation fished as a dry fly is a good way to catch an adult Steelhead in the spring.

Check out this March Brown fly tying tutorial from the Oregon Fly Fishing Shop:

Photo Captions

  1. A March Brown nymph. [Courtesy Rick Hafale]
  2. Here is a mature March Brown nymph showing it’s developed carapace/wing pad. [Adapted from Oregon Fly Fishing Blog Fly tying tutorial]
  3. A March Brown adult courtesy The Missoulian Angler Fly Shop. [Les Korcala]

Chris Laskodi, M.S., Fish Ecologist – Yurok Tribal Fisheries Department

Chris serves as the fish biologist/ecologist for the TRRP in the program’s Science branch. Chris has worked on the Trinity River since 2015, previously serving as a fish biologist for the Yurok Tribe and a fisheries technician for the US Fish & Wildlife Service. Chris holds a B.S. in Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology from the University of California, Davis and a M.S. in Aquaculture/Fisheries from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. In his free time, Chris enjoys taking friends and family fishing on one of the many watercraft available to him.

Return to the March Newsletter

Bug of the Month: Chironomids

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You may notice a distinct absence of bugs flying above the river during these winter months. However, if you look closely you’ll find an active colony of tiny midges buzzing on the surface. These midges, despite their small size, are extremely important to the ecology of the Trinity River. Midges belong to the ‘true flies’ (order Diptera) and are related to other flies such as houseflies, craneflies, and mosquitoes.

Midges are often referred, especially by Trinity River Restoration Program scientists, as chironomids. This is because they belong to the family Chironomidae within the order Diptera. Chironomids are extremely diverse and are found worldwide in all types of different aquatic environments. Some are extremely tolerant of low oxygen and pollution; some even have a hemoglobin analog to survive in low oxygen environments. Others are extremely sensitive to poor water quality. Chironomids are often used to determine the health of streams because of the diversity of different water qualities they can tolerate.

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Chironomids are especially important to the ecology of the Trinity River because they are a major food source for juvenile salmonids and other native species. Chironomids are known as a pioneer species which means they are the first to colonize new habitats. During the winter, when seasonal floods are wetting new landscapes, Chironomids take advantage. Their short life cycle (usually between 6 and 12 weeks) enables them to exploit habitat extremely quickly. This often results in a Chironomid ‘bloom’ (see picture). These seasonal ‘blooms’ often coincide with the emergence of salmonids from the gravel.

The chironomids small size and high abundance make it an easy first meal for tiny salmonid mouths. Chironomids along with Baetid mayflies profiled last month, are some of the most important food sources for juvenile salmonids during their outmigration to the ocean.

Figure Captions

  1. A larval Chironomid [photo courtesy of Bugguide.net]
  2. Newly inundated floodplain habitat with a Chironomid ‘bloom’. Each one of the tube-like structures are cases that Chironomids construct out of fine sediments. [Chris Laskodi, Yurok Tribe]
  3. Chironomidae Larvae [Wikimedia Commons]

Chris Laskodi, M.S., Fish Ecologist – Yurok Tribal Fisheries Department

Chris serves as the fish biologist/ecologist for the TRRP in the program’s Science branch. Chris has worked on the Trinity River since 2015, previously serving as a fish biologist for the Yurok Tribe and a fisheries technician for the US Fish & Wildlife Service. Chris holds a B.S. in Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology from the University of California, Davis and a M.S. in Aquaculture/Fisheries from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. In his free time, Chris enjoys taking friends and family fishing on one of the many watercraft available to him.

Return to the February Newsletter

Bug of the Month: Baetid mayflies

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Photo Credit; TroutNut.com

Bug of the month: Baetid mayflies

genus Baetidae

Mayflies from the family Baetidae are this month’s ‘bug of the month’. Commonly known as blue winged olives by fly fishermen, Baetid mayflies are small (<10mm) and can be extremely prolific. In addition, they grow rapidly and can have multiple generations within a year (known as multivoltine). This means that you can see adult Baetid mayflies during most of the year although they are especially apparent during the winter in early spring when few other bugs are hatching.  

Photo Credit: TroutNut.com

Baetid mayflies are exceptionally adept at colonizing new habitat. They are extremely good swimmers (for a bug) and are known for undertaking what is known as behavioral drift. Behavioral drift is a strategy where macroinvertebrates enter the flow of the river voluntarily to seek out new habitat. Short life cycles, excellent swimming ability, and the propensity to undertake behavioral drift allow them to settle new habitat like when high flows inundate floodplains.

They are often the first to colonize a new area due to their swimming skills and their preference for shallow, slow water. These newly formed areas grow algae very well which is the primary food source for Baetid mayflies. They can often exploit newly formed habitat within a few weeks and live their entire life cycle within 12 weeks before other bugs get a chance to settle in an area. Seasonal inundation of floodplains are extremely important to Baetid mayflies success. Juvenile salmon have evolved to depend on the seasonal inundation of floodplains because of the presence of Baetid mayflies, which they eat for food.

Chris Laskodi, M.S., Fish Ecologist – Yurok Tribal Fisheries Department

Chris serves as the fish biologist/ecologist for the Trinity River Restoration Program in the program’s Science branch. Chris has worked on the Trinity River since 2015, previously serving as a fish biologist for the Yurok Tribe and a fisheries technician for the US Fish & Wildlife Service. Chris holds a B.S. in Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology from the University of California, Davis and a M.S. in Aquaculture/Fisheries from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. In his free time, Chris enjoys taking friends and family fishing on one of the many watercraft available to him.

Return to the January Newsletter

Bug of the Month: October Caddisflies 

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October Caddisflies genus Dicosmoecus

Dicosmoecus (dee-co-smee-cus) caddisflies are better known by the common name ‘October caddisflies’. These caddisflies are notable for there extremely large size (1-2 inches), their concentrated emergence window (October), and their abundance especially in streams containing anadromous fish. These characteristics make it one of the most important hatches to not only fly-fishermen, but to wildlife such as birds as well. 

Dicosmoecus like other caddisflies have three life stages: larvae, pupae, and adult. Larvae build cases out of small rocks which serves as protection and their housing. They drag these cases around while foraging for food, mostly algae and detritus. Dicosmoecus are especially notable by the large distances they can cover (up to 25 meters per day) to forage (Resh et al. 2011).

They continually grow and have to build new cases as the old ones become too small. After molting five times (called instars), they attach their cases to the underside of rocks and began to pupate. After about a month of pupating, they cut a hole in their case and swim to the surface before shedding their exoskeleton one more time and becoming adults.

Caddisflies, unlike mayflies, will live for several weeks while they seek out a mate. You will often see them active at dusk and just after sunset. Keep a look out for the large moth-like bugs during sunset for the next few weeks.

References

Resh, V.H., M. Hannaford, J. Jackson, G.A. Lamberti, and P.K. Mendez. 2011. The biology of the limnephilid caddisfly Dicosmoecus gilvipes (Hagen) in Northern California and Oregon (USA) streams. Zoosymposia 5:413-419.

Images courtesy of Red’s Fly Shop and Troutnut.com

Chris Laskodi, M.S., Fish Ecologist – Yurok Tribal Fisheries Department

Chris serves as the fish biologist/ecologist for the TRRP in the program’s Science branch. Chris has worked on the Trinity River since 2015, previously serving as a fish biologist for the Yurok Tribe and a fisheries technician for the US Fish & Wildlife Service. Chris holds a B.S. in Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology from the University of California, Davis and a M.S. in Aquaculture/Fisheries from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. In his free time, Chris enjoys taking friends and family fishing on one of the many watercraft available to him.

Bug of the Month: Isonychia mayflies

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Isonychia mayflies

You may have noticed a rather large insect fluttering down the river during the months of September and October. These insects are mayflies from the family Isonychiidae (eye-son-nic-ee-uh-day) (known in the fly-fishing community as Mahogany Duns or Slate Drakes). Mayflies are unique in that they have two adult stages in their lifecycle while all other insects have one. 

Isonychiidae mayflies usually live an entire year in the river as nymphs before swimming to the edges of the river, crawling out of the river on a rock, and emerging into their sub-adult stage.  As adults, they typically only live for a day or two as their only job is to mate, lay eggs, and then die. Isonychiidae mayflies are noted for their large size compared to other mayflies and for their unique swimming ability. They are very adept swimmers and use their swimming prowess to capture their prey. They also have fine hairs on their forelegs which trap algae and other detritus which they then consume. The nymphs are a very strange looking (compared to other mayflies) and are readily identifiable by their elongated shape and ‘racing-stripe’ down their backs. Looking closely, the hairs on their forelegs become readily apparent and they are very easy to identify for any aquatic entomologist. 

Isonychiidae mayflies are unique to the Trinity River with other populations scattered across northern California. The nearest population is found in the Pit River, but are rare there. The population in the Trinity River seems to be thriving and right now is the best time to see both the nymphs and adults. Look for the nymphs along the streambanks where they will look like small fish darting between the rocks. You will notice their shed exuviae (exoskeletons) attached to rocks. Adults can be found in the early afternoon fluttering in the air above the river. They seem to be more common in the area between Junction City and Cedar Flat.

Chris Laskodi, M.S., Fish Ecologist – Yurok Tribal Fisheries Department

Chris serves as the fish biologist/ecologist for the TRRP in the program’s Science branch. Chris has worked on the Trinity River since 2015, previously serving as a fish biologist for the Yurok Tribe and a fisheries technician for the US Fish & Wildlife Service. Chris holds a B.S. in Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology from the University of California, Davis and a M.S. in Aquaculture/Fisheries from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. In his free time, Chris enjoys taking friends and family fishing on one of the many watercraft available to him.

Bug of the Month: Common Green Darner

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Common Green Darner

Anax junius

If you’ve been lucky enough to spend time on the Trinity River lately, you will notice a plethora of brassy-green colored dragon flies hovering above the river fervently darting to and fro. The species you are most likely viewing is the common green darner Anax junius. Common is in its name, and that is certainly the case, for this species of dragonfly is the most common and abundant throughout North America. The remainder of its common name, Darner, is given due to its resemblance to a darning needle a blunt-tipped larger needle used for repairing holes or tears in coarse knitted cloth.

Photo of a common green darner originally posted on iNaturalist, by chdphoto.

Dragonflies need water to reproduce. In the summer or early fall, common green darners seek riparian areas with slow water so they can mate and lay eggs in water-bound plant material. The female and male mate in an expertly posed “mating wheel” position – where the two are connected at their reproductive centers, the head of the female with the base of the male’s abdomen. The female’s abdomen is wrapped under the male so they can fly through the air, sometimes for several minutes. The female then unwraps her abdomen and lays eggs into the water while still attached to the male.

Photo: Female and male common green darners in the “mating wheel” position. David A. Hofmann, Source: NPS.org

A female common green darner (left) in tandem position with male (right) deposits eggs. Ken Slade, Source: nps.org

Eggs hatch into macroinvertebrates (tiny aquatic larvae) after about a week incubation period and then go through upwards of a dozen nymphic molts eating aquatic insects, small fish and even tadpoles as they grow. At the end of the transformational nymph stage, Anax junius, emerges from the water to undergo metamorphosis into a dragonfly from a crack in the exoskeleton.

Common green darner aquatic nymph. Douglas Mills. Originally posted by the National Park Service.

Once the wings are developed enough to fly the darner becomes a ravenous forager eating mosquitos, midges, flies, wasps, moths and other flying insects. This dragonfly species has two different population types, resident and migratory. Residents remain in the general area from which they emerge. For residents in the north, the adults mate and lay eggs in late July to August. The resulting offspring hatch and develop to immature dragonflies and then overwinter when temperatures drop.

Photo: Common green darnier catches a western swallowtail midflight. Bob Burns. Source: iNaturalist

Adults that migrate tend to arrive in the northern regions in the spring before any of the residents emerge. Migratory adults mate and lay eggs in June. The migratory dragonfly’s development stage is less than that of the resident variety (3-5 months versus the 11 months of the resident) and they do not overwinter as residents do.

Common green darner’s in September on the Trinity River. James Lee, Trinity River Restoration Program

Sources and Further Reading

Return to the September Newsletter

Animal Spotlight: Benthic Macroinvertebrates

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Benthic Macroinvertebrates

What are they and why are they important to river ecology?

Benthic: bottom-dwelling

Macro: see with the naked eye

Invertebrates: animals without backbones

Most of the life in rivers on any given day of the year are the small creatures that live out of the direct force of the river’s current, either attached to the rocks or wood, in spaces underneath or between pieces of gravel, or burrowed into silt. These animals include mussels, snails, worms, crayfish, and aquatic mites. But among all types of aquatic invertebrates, one class of animals stands out as the most diverse and complex – the insects.

An important term in river ecology is “benthic macroinvertebrate”, which refers to bottom-dwelling (benthic) animals without backbones (invertebrates), that you can see with the naked eye (macro). Ask a fly fisherman what trout and steelhead eat, and they’ll probably tell you salmon eggs if they’re available, sometimes other fish, occasionally snails, worms, grasshoppers or ants that fall into the stream, and with most frequency aquatic insects. Aquatic plants and algae photosynthesize energy from the sun. These plants then feed aquatic insect which in turn become an important energy for fish. Many insects have specialized mouthparts and behaviors to scrape algae and diatoms from rocks. Others feed themselves by shredding detritus (organic material that collects in rivers), or by straining food particles from the river’s flow, or by attacking and consuming other invertebrates.

Salmonid lifecycle and feeding

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The mouths of small salmon fry are very small, and when their nutrient sac is no longer providing food prime food sources are plankton such as Daphnia (which could be considered “micro” invertebrates), small insect larvae such as chironomids (better known by their common names as midges or gnats) and young mayfly larvae such as baetids (known by fly fishermen as “blue-winged olives”).

Above, a chironomid larvae. Small and soft bodied, with generations as short as three weeks, this family of invertebrates rapidly colonizes seasonally flooded areas and provides excellent food for salmon and steelhead fry, as well as larger fish.

macroinvertebrates.org
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A larval giant salmonfly
These insects live for three years in the river before metamorphosing into adults. While growing, they mainly eat detritus (organic material that collects on the bottom of the river). Image credit: troutnut.com
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An adult giant salmonfly (Pteronarcys californica)
A large stonefly that inhabits the Trinity River. On the Trinity River, these insects ‘hatch’, or metamorphize into adults in the spring. Image credit: Google.com

Older fish, the size of trout or steelhead, readily eat the larvae of larger insects such as caddisflies and salmonflies. Most aquatic insects are very small when they hatch from their eggs, and grow into progressively larger individuals after shedding their exoskeletons – a process called ‘molting’. Each growth stage is called an ‘instar’, and as they grow, each instar provides different sizes of food for different sizes of fish. After a range from a few weeks (for chironomids) to a few years (for some stoneflies and caddisflies) the insect pupates (similar to a caterpillar in a cocoon) and metamorphoses into a winged adult. Most of these adults are short-lived. Mayflies and stoneflies, for example, don’t even have functional digestive systems. They only live long enough to mate and deposit eggs in suitable locations along a stream.

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A larval October caddis with a case made of stones glued together. While larger fish may eat these insects case and all, the high proportion of inedible material deters predators from eating them. October caddis generally spend two years in the river before they metamorphose into adults. They graze on algae and diatoms that cover rocks, but may also be observed feeding on dead salmon. Photo Credit: inaturalist.com
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An adult October caddis (Dicosmoecus spp), a large caddisfly that lives in the Trinity River. As their name suggests, these caddisflies metamorphose into adults in the fall, when they lay the eggs for the next generation. Photo credit: troutnut.com
A larval baetid (blue-winged olive) mayfly. Although this photo was taken in Montana, similar species inhabit the Trinity River. Baetids are generally multi-voltine (have multiple life cycles per year), and this, coupled with their small size, makes them ideal food for salmon and steelhead fry. There are over 1,000 species of Baetids worldwide, and they have a variety of feeding habits, but are generally good swimmers and move around the river bottom feeding on that algae and diatoms that grow on rocks. Photo Credit: Encyclopedia of Life
A male Baetis (blue-winged olive) mayfly. Baetid mayflies are common in dam-regulated river reaches. These mayflies can hatch spring through fall, and even sometimes in the winter.
Photo credit: troutnut.com

Macroinvertebrates and stream health

Many aquatic insects have very specific requirements for water parameters such as maximum temperatures, minimum dissolved oxygen, turbidity, pH, and salinity. These requirements make benthic macroinvertebrates very good bioindicators of stream conditions. The orders Ephemeroptera (mayflies), Plecoptera (stoneflies), and Trichoptera (caddisflies) are famous for requiring cold and clean water to thrive. In contrast, Chironomids, which belong to the order Diptera along with common houseflies, vary in their requirements depending on the species.

Stream ecologists can collect a sample of benthic macroinvertebrates and identify the species in the sample. In turn, the insects captured can then tell them about the condition of the stream. For example, if the sample contains a high proportion of individuals in the orders Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera, this indicates that the water quality is high. If the sample contains mostly species that live out their life cycle in just a few months, such as many species of Baetis and Chironomidae, this indicates that the water quality may change significantly between seasons. If the sample contains many species that have multi-year life cycles, such as salmonflies and October caddis, this indicates that water quality remains high throughout the year on a consistent basis.

The next time you visit the Trinity River, look around for aquatic macroinvertebrates. You might see cased caddisflies clinging to small cobbles. Turn one over, and you are likely to see mayfly larvae clinging to the bottoms. Look for the shed exoskeletons of stonefly pupa on branches and stems near the water’s edge. Look further to see if you can observe a trout or steelhead sipping adult insects off the surface as they lay eggs and complete their cycle of life.

James Lee, MS – Implementation Branch Chief

James Lee grew up near Redding, Ca, but his heart has always been in The Trinitys, where he chased tadpoles, salmon, deer, and gold nuggets for much of his youth. This love of the outdoors turned into an interest in managing fish, wildlife, water, timber, and other natural resources. 

Return to the March Newsletter

Trinity River Animal Spotlight: Freshwater Mussels

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Freshwater Mussels in the Trinity River

Freshwater mussels are considered to be one of the most sensitive and threatened aquatic species within Northwestern watersheds. In North America, there are 297 known freshwater mussel species. Nearly three-quarters of these are considered imperiled, and more than 35 species have gone extinct in the last century. Eight species are known to exist west of the Continental Divide. Mussels have a fascinating life history strategy, which involves parasitizing on fish during their larval stage, and can live to be over 100 years old. They are considered an indicator species, like the good ole canary in a coal mine, as they require pristine water quality to thrive.

Photo Credit: Western pearlshell Mussel photo by Roger Tabor USFWS

Life History, Strategy and Anatomy

To the unknowing eye, freshwater mussels look very similar to saltwater mussels as they are both bivalves, meaning they have 2 shells connected with a hinge. They are also both filter feeders and both belong to the class Bivalvia in the phylum Mollusca. Despite being named and shaped similarly, saltwater mussels, are however more closely related to oysters and scallops than they are to freshwater mussels, and thus have developed different evolutionary strategies. Saltwater mussels use a byssus thread to attach themselves to underwater structures, while freshwater mussels use a foot to move short distances and bury themselves. There are also differences in their sexual reproduction strategies. Saltwater mussels reproduce by ejecting the sperm and the eggs into the water column, where they fertilize and develop. With freshwater mussels, on the other hand, the sperm is ejected into the water column and inhaled by a female mussel downstream. The egg is then fertilized within a special part of the female mussel’s gills, and she exhales the baby mussels (called glochidia) after they are developed.

All freshwater mussels have:

  • a hinge, which connects the two shells
  • a raised, rounded area along the dorsal edge called, a beak
  • a foot used for motion and feeding
  • a thin sheet of tissue that envelopes the body within the shell, called a mantle
  • and inhalant/exhalant features along said mantle

Some mussels have pseudocardinal teeth, which are short, stout structures below the beak. There are many more features with very technical names, but these are the most useful anatomical structures for identification in our region.

Western pearlshell mussel (Margaritifera falcata)

In the Trinity River, there is one confirmed species of freshwater mussel – the Western pearlshell mussel (Margaritifera falcata), which have very prominent pseudocardinal teeth. The Klamath River has also documented populations of the Western ridged mussel (Gonidia angulata), which have an obvious ridge on the outside of the shell, and floaters (Anodonta spp.) which are small and have neither teeth nor ridges.

Check out this article from the Mid-Klamath Watershed Council to learn more about Klamath’s freshwater mussels.

Click to read the article

Photo Credit: Klamath River mussel bed above Rock Creek on 7-5-18. Mid-Klamath Watershed Council.

Western pearlshell mussels are known as being the longest-lived and slowest-growing mussel species in North America. In fact, they are the oldest freshwater invertebrates in the world. Their age can be estimated by counting the growth rings on their shells, similar to the growth rings on trees. The black, concentric rings are thought to represent winter rest periods. Some Western pearlshells have been documented to live over 100 years, meaning that some of these mollusks may have been in our river since it was buzzing with dredgers and mining activity in the early 1900s.

Western pearlshell mussels. Akimi King/USFWS

The foot on freshwater mussels aids in movement, but mussels are still very limited in their ability to transport throughout a stream. In order to colonize different parts of a river system, particularly upstream, after being released by the female as described below, the larvae (called glochidia) attach to fish passing by becoming parasitic. In the case of the Western pearlshell, the glochidia are released into the water where they clamp onto the gills of salmonids (particularly chinook salmon and steelhead) to hitch a ride upstream. After a short period (typically between a week and a month), the glochidia drop off into existing mussel beds (see the diagram borrowed from the Mid-Klamath Watershed Council).

Similar to salmonid migration, in which the salmon return to their natal stream, mussels can identify ideal locations to drop from their host and landing in existing beds of freshwater mussels. This life stage is one of the most fascinating aspects of this species. Originally the larval stage mussels were thought to be an entirely different parasitic invertebrate species yet scientists recently realized they are actually freshwater mussels in an immature life phase. Other species of mussels may parasitize different parts of their host fish, with some sending worm-like tendrils into the fish’s gills to sap vital resources. However, it is not thought that the mussels have a significant impact on the health of their host fish.

Pearlshell species can release their glochidia in aggregates, called conglutinates, which are bound by mucus. They seem to reproduce in spring and summer, though few studies have been conducted on the life cycle of our Western pearlshells. Though there is no scientifically defined relationship between water temperature and spawning (due to a lack of study), it has been observed in a study conducted in the state of Washington that mussels in warmer waters spawn earlier than those in cooler waters.

An example of conglutinates containing mussel larvae being released out of mussel gill. Credit: Rachel Mair U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Region

Ecological Benefits

Freshwater mussels have many benefits to stream ecology and have a major influence on the aquatic food web. They are filter feeders and they have separate orifices for inhaling and exhaling, which is how they derive nutrients. They filter tiny, suspended particles, including sediment, algae, bacteria and zooplankton out of the water column. Some of these particles are bound to larger particles within the mussels and expelled, where they sink to the bottom and feed benthic macroinvertebrates. Individuals in some species of freshwater mussels can filter up to 15 gallons of water per day, reducing turbidity and improving water quality. This cycling of nutrients also supports the growth of emergent plants, fostering a riparian habitat that benefits salmonids, which mussels are dependent upon. To be cliché, it’s all connected.

An example of a high-density freshwater mussel bed in the Trinity River near Junction City.

Freshwater mussels also help increase the exchange of nutrients, including oxygen, between sediments and the water column, in a similar mechanism to earthworms in the soil. They increase sediment porosity and allow the sediment to retain more organic matter. This ultimately improves the quality of aquatic habitat, allowing for a higher diversity of benthic macroinvertebrates.

Though not known for being a delicious treat to humans, mussels are an important food source for otters, raccoons and skunks. Healthy mussel populations are unaffected by natural predation, but low populations may be at risk of extirpation, and overly high populations may encourage excessive predator populations.

Trinity River Mussel Surveys and Conservation

In 2020, the Bureau of Land Management conducted a qualitative study of freshwater mussels on the Trinity River. A crew surveyed the upper 40 miles below Lewiston Dam and identified mussel beds as high, medium, and low density, and marked their locations on a map. This effort helps inform necessary conservation actions on project sites. If a mussel bed is known to be directly or indirectly affected from restoration activities, the Best Management Practice is to relocate a percentage of the population to an existing mussel bed upstream of their current location.

Mussels were relocated from a TRRP project in 2017 to an existing mussel bed. The green tags are for monitoring relocation success.

Relocation of freshwater mussels can be a tricky business. The species are incredibly sensitive to temperature and water quality conditions, so efforts must be conducted with efficiency and special care. It’s important to avoid moving mussels during certain times of the year when they are the most sensitive, which is when they are in their reproductive stages between December and July.

Mussels being tagged as part of a relocation effort on a TRRP construction site in 2017

The long lived and sensitive nature of freshwater mussels is one reason it’s important to manage the Trinity River for long term impacts. Since mussels cannot move quickly to escape suboptimal conditions, their population fluctuations can reflect cumulative effects of environmental conditions, so studying and understanding freshwater mussels can be indicative of some aspects of riverine health. Despite being rather uncharismatic and tremendously understudied, the role that freshwater mussels play within aquatic ecosystems is invaluable.

Photo

Veronica Yates, Riparian Ecologist

Hoopa Valley Tribal Fisheries Department, Weaverville

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Animal Spotlight: North American Beaver

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The North American Beaver (Castor canadensis) is a true riparian specialist that is fairly common in the mainstem Trinity River below Lewiston Dam. Beavers attracted some of the first European explorers to the Trinity watershed, notably Jedediah Smith, who along with other mountain men traded with local tribes for beaver pelts in the early 1800s.

North American Beaver (Castor canadensis)

The fur trade led to the demise of beavers throughout North America, but they are making a strong comeback following the decline in demand for them. Beavers are still rare in Trinity River tributaries, especially streams draining the high meadows of the Trinity Alps. One of TRRP’s partners, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, is making a concerted effort to restore beavers because their dam building and other behaviors benefit so many other species (https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Mammals/Beaver). Perhaps because Lewiston Dam releases are so consistent, beavers do not build dams on the mainstem Trinity River, and in the Klamath Basin they rarely build lodges. Instead, they dig burrows in steep banks along the river.

Photo Credit: US Fish and Wildlife Service National Digital Library

In the wild, beavers can live for 10-12 years and reach weights of over 40 pounds. They like to live in colonies consisting of an adult pair and their offspring from previous years. These colonies tend to be distributed every mile or so along rivers and streams where the habitat quality and connectivity is good.

If you live near the river and are concerned about beavers falling your riverfront trees, it is a good idea to wrap the trunks with chicken wire to discourage beavers from gnawing on them. Otherwise, the work that beavers do is beneficial and appreciated by a wide variety of animals, including Coho salmon, willow flycatchers, deer, and humans.

James Lee, MS – Implementation Branch Chief

James Lee grew up near Redding, Ca, but his heart has always been in the Trinity’s, where he chased tadpoles, salmon, deer, and gold nuggets for much of his youth. This love of the outdoors turned into an interest in managing fish, wildlife, water, timber, and other natural resources. 

Return to the October Newsletter