Putah Creek and the NZMS by William and Benjamin Weisman

Putah Creek and the Effects of the New Zealand Mudsnail: 

Putah Creek and the Effects of the New Zealand Mudsnail by William and Benjamin Weisman

Putah Creek (west of UC Davis): a Riparian Forest: 

Putah Creek (west of UC Davis) : a Riparian Forest

Putah Creek Habitat – Biotic Aspects: Fauna: 

Putah Creek Habitat – Biotic Aspects: Fauna Mule Deer Squirrel North American River Otter Beaver Coyote Raccoon Mt. Lion Black Bear Grey Fox

Putah Creek Habitat – Biotic Aspects: Fauna: 

Putah Creek Habitat – Biotic Aspects: Fauna Wood Duck Anna’s Hummingbird Ring Neck Duck Ruby Crowned Kinglet Yellow Rumpled Warbler Red Breasted Sapsucker Bullock's Oriole

Putah Creek Habitat – Biotic Aspects: Fauna: 

Putah Creek Habitat – Biotic Aspects: Fauna Rainbow Trout Sacramento Sucker Chinook Salmon Steelhead Squawfish

Putah Creek Habitat – Biotic Aspects: Flora: 

Putah Creek Habitat – Biotic Aspects: Flora Box Elder Mule Fat California Oak White Elder Oregon Ash California Nettle Wild Rose Wild Blackberry

Putah Creek Habitat - Abiotic Aspects: 

Putah Creek Habitat - Abiotic Aspects Economically important elements Gold Silver Mercury

Putah Creek Habitat - Abiotic Aspects: 

Putah Creek Habitat - Abiotic Aspects Geological Gently sloping alluvial plains Non-marine sandstone, siltstone, and volcaniclastic rocks Number of Quaternary and Cretaceous geologic formations

Putah Creek Habitat - Abiotic Aspects: 

Putah Creek Habitat - Abiotic Aspects Physical and Hydrologic Factors Large drainage basin from mountains Drains into Lake Berryessa Drains into Putah Creek and the Sacramento River Man-made dams Man-made canals

Very Large Effects on Putah Creek From a Very Small Invader: 

Very Large Effects on Putah Creek From a Very Small Invader

Human Influence on Putah Creek: 

Human Influence on Putah Creek New Zealand Mudsnail

Tiny Invaders From the Land Down Under: 

Tiny Invaders From the Land Down Under

New Zealand Mudsnail (Potamopyrgus antipodarum) : 

Originally described in 1843 by John E. Gray Shell has 7 or 8 whorls Between whorls are deep grooves Has a “lid” (operculum) that can seal the opening of its shell Shell colors vary from gray and dark brown to light brown Average length of the shell approximately 5 mm New Zealand Mudsnail (Potamopyrgus antipodarum) Operculum

How the NZMS Arrived: 

How the NZMS Arrived Was first detected in North America in 1987 in Idaho’s Snake River Means of introduction is unknown, it is likely that it was introduced in water transferred with live game fish First discovered in Putah Creek on Halloween 2003

Putah Creek Infested Area : 

Putah Creek Infested Area

How the NZMS Spreads: 

How the NZMS Spreads Fishermen Fishing gear Waiters Boots laces Boats (NZMS can live for 20 to 50 days out of water)

Limiting Factor: 

Limiting Factor The NZMS has no known limiting factor in North America Trematode (Microphallus)

Reproductive Success: 

Reproductive Success Clones itself All introduced populations in North America are clonal , consisting of genetically identical females 230 offspring per female per year >100,000 NZMS/sq. meter Trillions of NZMS in less than 10 years (remember: it has no predators or other naturally occurring limiting factors) 230 Year 1 52,900 Year 2 12,167,000 Year 3 2,798,410,000 Year 4 643,634,300,000 Year 5 148,035,889,000,000 Year 6 Numbers of NZMS after successive generations

How the NZMS Competes With its Environment: 

How the NZMS Competes With its Environment Eats the algae (the basic producer) Excretes a slime which alters the environment for the natural algae – a replacement algae grows in its place Insects and zooplankton are left with little or no natural algae to eat. The remaining insects and zooplankton do not eat the new algae

Effects of the NZMS on the Environment: 

Effects of the NZMS on the Environment Without the algae, the food chain collapses Primary consumers, such as zooplankton and insects, starve Small fish and mammals (the secondary consumers) starve for want of insects Larger fish and mammals (tertiary consumers) are left with nothing to eat Decomposers have little left to decompose

The Energy Flow of the Natural Putah Creek Ecosystem: 

The Energy Flow of the Natural Putah Creek Ecosystem Algae - autotroph Insects - heterotroph Small fish/mammals - heterotroph Larger fish, mammals & birds - heterotroph Man - heterotroph Decomposers Trophic Level Decomposers

The Energy Flow of the Putah Creek Ecosystem After the Introduction of NZMS: 

The Energy Flow of the Putah Creek Ecosystem After the Introduction of NZMS 1. Altered environment causes growth of a replacement algae The result is an explosion of NZMS and the destruction of normal energy flow ! 3. There is no food (energy) for the rest of the food chain, including decomposers 2. Insects do not eat NZMS or the replacement algae. The insects die off or find somewhere else to live

Healthy Life Web of the Organisms in Putah Creek : 

Healthy Life Web of the Organisms in P utah Creek

The NZMS Puts all Other Life Forms at a Competitive Disadvantage: 

The NZMS Puts all Other Life Forms at a Competitive Disadvantage

The Normal Carbon (Matter) Cycle in Putah Creek: 

The Normal Carbon (Matter) Cycle in Putah Creek CO 2 in Atmosphere CO 2 in Atmosphere

How the NZMS Alters the Carbon Cycle in the Putah Creek Environment: 

How the NZMS Alters the Carbon Cycle in the Putah Creek Environment CO 2 in Atmosphere CO 2 in Atmosphere

Possible Environmental Solutions: 

Possible Environmental Solutions Although none yet identified: Introduce predators Introduce parasites Introduce viruses Introduce trematodes (Microphallus)

Follow These Instructions!: 

Follow These Instructions!

Ways Fishermen Can Slow Down the Spread of the NZMS: 

Ways Fishermen Can Slow Down the Spread of the NZMS Remove any visible NZMS from their gear Expose fishing gear to extreme temperatures (hot or cold) Expose fishing gear to a copper solution Use separate gear for fishing in infested and uninfested waters

Political Aspects: 

Political Aspects Farmers and downstream cities want to keep the dams Water flow restricted by dams Water diverted for farmland irrigation Controlled flow increases destruction of Putah Creek Fishermen spread invasive and destructive species Environmentalists want to remove the dams to restore natural water flow

A Positive Affect You Can Make on the Putah Creek Environment: 

A Positive Affect You Can Make on the Putah Creek Environment

Plant a Tree!: 

Plant a Tree! It’s good for Putah Creek. It’s good for the Earth.

This Has Been a WillBen Production: 

This Has Been a W ill B en Production Become a member of, or contribute to, organizations such as the Putah Creek Council (www.PutahCreekCouncil.org)

Credits : 

Credits Benjamin and William Weisman, Students at Holmes Jr. High Ms. Quenon, Biology Teacher, Holmes Jr. High Special thanks to : Richard Marovich (the real one) , Head Stream Keeper Putah Creek Sara Tremayne , Community Stewardship Program Manager, Putah Creek Council

Works Cited:: 

Works Cited: Sources From Websites: (Crosier, Daniella M., and David C. Richards. "Potamopyrgus Antipodarum - New Zealand Mud Snail." Environmental Laboratory . New York State Museum. Web. 03 Nov. 2011. <http://el.erdc.usace.army.mil/ansrp/ANSIS/html/potamopyrgus_antipodarum_new_zealand_mud_snail.htm>.) This website tells of the taxonomy, the general biology, the behavior, the identifications, the life cycle, and the habitat that the New Zealand Mudsnails live in. Also, it discusses the distribution of the New Zealand Mudsnails, the diet of the New Zealand Mudsnails, the impacts of the New Zealand Mudsnails, and the management of the New Zealand Mudsnails. (Davidson, Timmothy M., Valance E. F. Brenneis, Catherine D. Rivera, Robyn Draheim, and Graham E. Gillespie. "Northern Range Expansion and Coastal Occurrences of the New Zealand Mud Snail Potamopyrgus Antipodarum (Gray, 1843) in the Northeast Pacific." REABIC . REABIC, 2008. Web. 11 Oct. 2011. <http://www.aquaticinvasions.ru/2008/AI_2008_3_3_Davidson_etal.pdf>.) This website talks about the range and expansion of the New Zealand Mudsnail in the Western Coast. We picked this website to learn the extent that the New Zealand Mudsnails have invaded the U.S., and how they can be transported. (Davidson, Timmothy M., Valance E. F. Brenneis, Catherine D. Rivera, Robyn Draheim, and Graham E. Gillespie. "Northern Range Expansion and Coastal Occurrences of the New Zealand Mud Snail Potamopyrgus Antipodarum (Gray, 1843) in the Northeast Pacific." Special Issue “Invasive Aquatic Molluscs – ICAIS 2007 Conference Papers and Additional Records” Frances E. Lucy and Thaddeus K. Graczyk (Guest Editors) . REABIC, 2008. Web. 11 Oct. 2011. <http://www.aquaticinvasions.ru/2008/AI_2008_3_3_Davidson_etal.pdf>.) This website is about the transportation of the New Zealand Mudnsnail, its effects of the ecosystem, how it can be killed, its habitat, and the characteristics of its physiology. We used this website to learn all of the above, but we mainly used it to learn about how the snail is transported. (Author Not Stated). "New Zealand Mudsnail (Potamopyrgus Antipodarum) - FactSheet." Nonindigenous Aquatic Species . USGS, 19 Aug. 2009. Web. 28 Oct. 2011. <http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.aspx?speciesID=1008>.) This website is about the New Zealand Mudsnail in general from a biologist's perspective. We used this website to learn about the ecology of the Mudsnail, and we also learned about where they are located in the U.S. (Author Not Stated). "DFG - Lands - Wildlife Areas - Bay Delta Region - Putah Creek Wildlife Area." Putah Creek Wildlife Area - Solano County . California Department of Fish and Game. Web. 03 Nov. 2011. <http://www.dfg.ca.gov/lands/wa/region3/putahcreek.html>.) This website gives a description of Putah Creek, and it has 45 beautiful pictures of the creek. We used this website to get pictures of the creek. (Author Not Stated. "New Zealand Mudsnail." California Department of Fish and Game . California Department of Fish and Game. Web. 03 Nov. 2011. <http://www.dfg.ca.gov/invasives/mudsnail/>.) This website is about how to prevent the spread of New Zealand Mudnails. Hence, we learned how to prevent the spread of New Zealand Mudnails from this website. (Author Not Stated. "Invasive Species Program." California Department of Fish and Games . California Department of Fish and Game. Web. 20 Oct. 2011. <http://www.dfg.ca.gov/invasives/mudsnail/Mudsnail_FAQ.html>.) This website answered frequently asked questions about New Zealand Mudsnails. Hence, from this website, we learned when and how the New Zealand Mudsnails came to America, when they first came into California, how they are spread, and what their current distribution is in California. (Author Not Stated. "New Zealand Mud Snails." Putah Creek Trout . Putah Creek Trout. Web. 03 Nov. 2011. <http://www.putahcreektrout.org/test/mudsnails/index.html>.) This website discusses various topics about the New Zealand Mudsnails. Hence, from this website, we learned why New Zealand Mudsnails are considered nuisances in ecosystems that they evade, and that they have a great potential to spread elsewhere in the U.S. (Author Not Stated. "Putah Creek Watershed." Putah Creek Council . Putah Creek Council. Web. 03 Nov. 2011. <http://www.putahcreekcouncil.org/node/37>.) This website talks about the restoration of the Putah Creek Watershed, including possible solutions to restoring Putah Creek from the damage that invasive species have caused. Wong, Richard. "New Zealand Mudsnails Invasive Species Pictures, Photos of San Gabriel Mountains Environmental Issues." Richard Wong Photography: Los Angeles Photographer . Richard Wong Photography, 2010. Web. 03 Dec. 2011. <http://www.rwongphoto.com/RW3864.html>. I used this website to get a picture of a caution sign that warns against the spread of the NZMS. "New Zealand Mud Snails - a Set on Flickr." Welcome to Flickr - Photo Sharing . Web. 03 Dec. 2011. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/pennstatelive/sets/72157625207397506/>. I used this website to get a picture of NZMS by a dime for size comparison. Rendamrenda@tahoedailytribune.com, Matthew. "New Zealand Mudsnails the Latest Invasive Species Detected at Lake Tahoe Basin | TahoeDailyTribune.com." South Lake Tahoe California | TahoeDailyTribune.com News . Tahoe Daily Tribune, 29 May 2010. Web. 03 Dec. 2011. <http://www.tahoedailytribune.com/article/20100529/NEWS/100529753>. I used this website to get a picture of NZMS by a penny for size comparison. Gufstafon, D. L. "Potamopyrgus Antipodarum (Gray)." Environmental Statistics Group . 15 Feb. 2003. Web. 03 Dec. 2011. <http://www.esg.montana.edu/aim/mollusca/potant.html>. I used this website to get a close up picture of NZMS. "Mimesis « Microecos." Microecos . Microecos, 23 Dec. 2009. Web. 04 Dec. 2011. <http://microecos.wordpress.com/tag/mimesis/>. I used this website to get pictures of various insects of Putah Creek. "Napa County WICC :: Putah Creek Basin - Soil and Geology." Napa County WICC Home . Watershep Information Center and Conservancy of Napa COunty, 2010. Web. 03 Dec. 2011. <http://www.napawatersheds.org/app_pages/view/85>. I used this website to get a chart of the soils of Putah Creek. Madison, Jamie. "Davis Fun to Do - Davis Real Estate Blog." Davis Real Estate Blog - By Jamie Madison . Davis Real Estate Blog, 2008. Web. 03 Dec. 2011. <http://www.davisrealestateblog.com/?cat=4>. I used this website to get pictures of various animals of Putah Creek. "American Ringtail History Habitat and Ecology ~ Aniamaldiscovery-chanel." Aniamaldiscovery-chanel . Aniamal Discovery-chanel, 16 Feb. 2011. Web. 03 Dec. 2011. <http://animaldiscovery-chanel.blogspot.com/2011/02/american-ringtail-history-habitat-and.html>. I used this website to get a picture of a ringtail raccoon Sillick, Darlene. "Http://www.columbusaudubon.org/production/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=745:upcoming-meetings-and-programs&catid=4:announcements." Columbus Audubon . Columbus Audubon. Web. 19 Nov. 2011. <http://www.columbusaudubon.org/production/images/stories/conservation/rainbow_trout.jpg>. I used this website to get a picture of a rainbow trout. "About Putah Creek Trout." About Putah Creek Trout . About Putah Creek Trout. Web. 19 Sept. 2011. <http://putahcreektrout.org/About_PCT.html>. I used this website to get a picture of Putah Creek. "Updates From Illinois Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey Program." Updates From Illinois Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey Program . Updates From Illinois Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey Program. Web. 20 Sept. 2011. <http://illinoiscapsprogram.blogspot.com/2008/08/invasive-species-spotlight-gladiolus.html>. I used this website to get a picture of the NZMS on a leaf. Personal: Photos of Putah Creek, Putah Creek by U.C.D. Personal photograph by author. 2011. Putah Creek Intro . Dir. William D. Weisman. Prod. William D. Weisman. By Benjamin I. Weisman. Screenplay by Benjamin I. Weisman. Adapt. Benjamin I. Weisman. Perf. William and Benjamin Weisman. Weisman Bros., 2011. Home Film. Putah Creek Ending . Dir. Benjamin I. Weisman. Prod. Benjamin I. Weisman. By William D. Weisman. Screenplay by William D. Weisman. Adapt. William D. Weisman. Perf. William and Benjamin Weisman. Weisman Bros., 2011. Home Film. Sources From Interviews: ("Interview with Richard A. Marovich, the Head Stream Keeper of Putah Creek." Personal interview. 24 Oct. 2011.) Sources From Printed Materials (Marovich, Richard A., comp. Effects Of NewZealand Mud Snail (Potamopyrgus Antipodarum) On Benthic Macroinvertabrate Food Sources of Salmonoids in Lower Putah Creek . Rep. Print.)