Triannual Unionid Report
Report No. 13
November, 1997
A forum for the informal exchange of information on the status of
North American unionid research, management, and conservation
Thanks to Jacob Garner, Muscle Shoals, Alabama, for the mussel art.
Richard G. Biggins
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
160 Zillicoa Street
Asheville, North Carolina 28801
NOTE: The intent of this report is to expedite the exchange of information
in an
informal format. Report submissions were solicited from individuals and
agencies involved in unionid conservation. The submissions were not edited.
They were copied as received and assembled into the report.
The report was then scanned to create this Web site.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TRIANNUAL UNIONID REPORT NO. 13
NOVEMBER 1997
Duncan, K
Contest: Develop a logo and slogan for the National Native Mussel
Conservation Committee
Buchanan, A.
Minutes of the November 6-7, 1997, Executive Committee meeting of the
National Native Mussel Conservation Committee
Tankersley, R.
Announcement: Conservation, Captive Care, and Propagation of Freshwater
Mussel Symposium, set for March 6-8, 1998, Columbus, Ohio
Garner, J. T.
1997 records of Alabama endangered species
Garner, J. T.
Mussels of Muscle Shoals
Butler, R.S., R.R. Cicerello, and E. L. Laudermilk
Obovaria retusa: Confirmation of an extant population in the upper
Green River, Kentucky
Lyttle, M., and M. Gibson
Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge Native Mussel Quarantine Facility - 1997
Lydeard, C.
Malacology-related publications
Ahlstedt, S. A.
Spiny riversnail (Io fluvialis): A 1997 reintroduction into the
French Broad and Holston Rivers, Tennessee
Neves, R. J.
First release of cultivated juvenile mussels in Tennessee
Hove, M., and J. Kurth
Cyclonaias tuberculata glochidia transform on catfish barbels
Hove, M., S. Strong, A. Jacobson, J. Schussler, and V.
Kurth
Northern Minnesota river holds three state-listed mussels
Marley, K., W. B. Richardson, and M. B. Sandheinrich
Secondary production of Hyallela azteca as influenced by Dreissena
polymorpha, larval fish, and nutrients
Havlik, M. E.
Effects of Dreissena polymorpha (Pallas 1771), zebra mussel, on
1996 unionid mollusk translocation procedures: Mississippi River mile
697.5, Hwy. 14/16/61, Cass Street Bridge, LaCrosse, Wisconsin
Hart, R. A., and M. Davis
Changes in density and size demography of threeridge mussels (Amblema
plicata plicata) in Pepin, Minnesota, and Wisconsin
Hillegass, K. R., and M. C. Hove
Suitable fish hosts for glochidia of three freshwater mussels: strange
floater, ellipse, and snuffbox
Birkle, T. R., and M. D. Delong
Effect of increased zebra mussel densities on macroinvertebrate community
structure of snags in the upper Mississippi River
Blodgett, K. D., J. A. Stoeckel, S. D. Whitney, and R. E.
Sparks
Use of a dynamic population model to evaluate management strategies for
native mussels
Hove, M., M. Nelson, S. Weller, R. Buech, and R. Bright
Bell Museum of Natural History: Organizing Minnesota's freshwater mollusks
into a GIS-compatible database
Kennedy, R., R. V. Anderson, and M. Morgan
Current status of the benthic community of Pool 19, Mississippi River
Kinsella, M., M. B. Sandheinrich, and W. B. Richardson
Effects of food limitation by zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha)
and fish predation on life history characteristics of Daphnia pulex
Monroe, E. M., T. J. Naimo, and R. G. Rada
Modification of the alkaline digestion and phenol-sulfuric acid method for
the determination of glycogen in aquatic invertebrates
Naimo, T. J., E. D. Damschen, and E. M. Monroe
Spatial and temporal variability in glycogen content in Hexagenia
mayflies and fingernail clams in the upper Mississippi River
Romano, M. A., A. D. Byers, R. V. Anderson, and N. C.
Krumanocker
Characterization of Dreissenid mussels from the Mississippi River using
specific DNA markers from mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase
Sauer, J. S.
Five years of Macroinvertebrate sampling on the upper Mississippi River
Servaty, R. B., and M. D. Delong
Predation of zebra mussels, Dreissena polymorpha, by riverine fishes
in the upper Mississippi River
Parmalee, P. W.
Freshwater Bivalves of Tennessee, (in press)
Havlik, M. E.
Age and size structure of commercial unionids, with emphasis on
Megalonaias nervosa (Rafinesque 1820), upper Mississippi River,
Reach 9- 19, Lansing-Fort Madison, Iowa, July-September, 1997
Havlik, M. E.
A unionid mollusk survey in an upper Mississippi River side channel near
Gray Cloud Island, Mile 820.0-821.5, Cottage Grove, Minnesota
Anderson, R.
New distribution record for Toxolasma parva in Pennsylvania
Steg, M. B., and R. J. Neves
Fish host identification for Virginia listed unionids (Ligumia recta
and Lasmigona holstonia) in the upper Tennessee River drainage
Barnhart, C. M., F. A. Riusech, and A. B. Roberts
Fish hosts of the federally endangered pink mucket, Lampsilis abrupta
Barnhart, C. M., and F. A. Riusech
Reinfestation of host fish with glochidia of the fat pocketbook,
Potamilis capax
Barnhart, C. M., and F. A. Riusech
Conglutinates and fish hosts of the Ozark shell, Fusconaia
ozarkensis (Call 1887)
Watters, G. T., and S. H. O'Dee
Identification of potential host: Elliptio fisheriana (Lea 1838),
Fusconaia masoni (Conrad 1834),Fusconaia flava (Rafinesque
1820), and Pleurobema clava (Lamark 1819)
Watters, G. T., and S. H. O'Dee
No acquired immunity against cogener
Watters, G. T., and S. H. O'Dee
Utterbackia imbecillis goes fishing with nets
Khym, J. R., and J. B. Layzer
Potential host for Actinonaias pectorosa
Dillon, R. T., and C. Lydeard
Divergence among Mobile Basin populations of the pleurocerid snail genus,
Leptoxis, estimated by allozyme electrophoresis. Malacologia (in
press)
Hubbs, D.
Efforts to reach commercial mussel size limit parity among states bordering
Tennessee and Tennessee's 1997 commercial mussel harvest
Hoke, E.
Confirmation of the former occurrence of the federally endangered unionid
Quadrula fragosa (Conrad, 1935) in Kansas
Howell, R. G.
Freshwater mussels of the Wichita River system, Texas
YIKES !
It's a contest!
Be a big winner-
maybe a ball cap
or a t-shirt??
The Outreach Committee of the National Native Mussel Conservation Committee
(NNMCC) has been charged with developing a logo and slogan f or the NNMCC,
and we'd like to pass that charge on to you in the form of a contest.
Entries can be funny or serious, just as long as mussels are the focus.
So, put your creative minds to work! What's the prize for such a
prestigious contest? The winner from each category (slogan and logo) will
have the honor of seeing the product of his or he ingenuity used by the
NNMCC and will receive the first ball cap or t-shirt printed (if we have
ball caps and t-shirts!).
Contest deadline is December 31, 1997. Please send all entries to
Kari Duncan
U.S. Fish and Wildlife
400 East Main Street
White Sulphur Springs, WV 24986
(Please write "NNMCC Contest" on the envelope.)
Phone: 304/536-1361
Fax: 304/536-4634
E-mail: kari_duncan@fws.gov
National Native Mussel Conservation Committee
MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION MEMORANDUM
Date: November 18, 1997
FROM: Al Buchanan
TO: National Native Mussel Conservation Committee
SUBJECT Executive Committee Minutes
Attached are the minutes of the November 6-7 Executive Committee meeting in
Charleston, West Virginia. The Executive Committee consists of the chairs
of the subcommittees, myself, and a representative of each of the regional
mussel groups. Also attached is a copy of the agenda for the recent meeting
and a copy of the 'Call For Papers' for the March 6-8 Mussel Symposium on
'Conservation, Captive Care, & Propagation.' We have scheduled the next
Native Mussel Conservation Committee Meeting (NNMCC) for the afternoon of
March 5 at the same location as the mussel symposium.
A lot has happened since the February meeting of the NNMCC. Several of the
subcommittees have plunged into their projects and most have had at least
one meeting. There is an incredible amount of work to be done so if you
feel like becoming involved in one or more of the projects discussed In the
minutes, contact the person(s) listed under each subcommittee or give me a
ca I and I can hook you up with the right person. There may also be aspects
of mussel conservation and management which aren't yet being handled under
existing committees so if you so desire, give me a call and we can discuss
forming another subcommittee or working group.
One of the things I have not done a particularly good job of during the
nine months since the formation of the NNMCC is keep the members informed
of all of the things that are going on. Part of this is because, like
everyone else, I'm busy and another part is because there is so much
happening in the subcommittees that I'm not keeping up with all of it. One
of my personal goals is to do a better job of communicating activities,
progress, and accomplishments during the coming; year. One of the avenues
is to begin updates to the committee via the Triennial Report produced by
Dick Biggins. If you are not receiving the Triennial Report and wish to,
call (704/258-3939) or send an email (richard_biggins@fws.gov) to Dick
Biggins and he will add you to the mailing list. The minutes of the recent
EXCOM meeting will be included in the Triennial Report and on the UNIO
server on the internet.
Another of the needs identified during the EXCOM meeting is for the
subcommittee chairs to keep the people who volunteered to work on projects
within their respective subcommittees involved in and informed about those
projects. If you haven't heard from the chair of the subcommittee you
volunteered to work on, give him/her a call. If that doesn't work, give me
a call and we'll work on it. There is a lot to do, your talents are needed,
and your involvement is important. In some cases, you volunteering to get
involved may jump start a project that hasn't gotten off of the ground yet.
Everyone is busy but if we work together and keep communicating, things
will get done. I'm impressed at how much has already gotten done and at the
amount of work some of the subcommittees have taken on and moved forward
on. You're doing great! One of the areas needing a lot of attention and
energy is funding. Some of the larger projects, such as producing the
Mussel Atlas, are going to take a fair amount of money and it's going to
take some innovative approaches and collective funding from several
different entities to complete those projects. Kurt Welke volunteered in
February to take on the Funding Working Group, and has acquired a copy of
Environmental Foundation Grant Making Catalogue and plans to put together a
list of potential funding sources for each subcommittee/project. We need
volunteers to work on that working group with Kurt and especially need
folks who may have some knowledge about and/or experience with writing
grant proposals. If you are interested give Kurt a call (608/326-8818).
Jerry Rasmussen agreed during the February meeting to include items needing
advocacy in River Crossings, so if you have issues such as dredging
projects, etc. which are likely to impact mussels contact Jerry
(319/359-3029, phone or fax; email: ijrivers@aol.com).
bc via email: Norm Stucky, Gary Novinger, Steve Weithman, Sue Bruenderman,
Travis Moore, Janet Sternburg,
Lastly, we are beginning to work on the agenda for the March meeting so if
you have items that need to be on the agenda give me a call
(573/882-9880,X3257) or send me an email
(buchaa@mail.conservation.state.mo.us). Present ideas for the agenda
compiled at the EXCOM meeting are 1) Background Progress. 2) Subcommittee
Reports. 3) Accomplishments. 4) Organizational Review. 5) Subcommittee
review re fleshing out subcommittees and reviewing the need for additional
subcommittees or working groups. 6) Feedback on direction and progress.
One more note. I can not emphasize enough the importance of us all working
together. With the nation's mussel fauna in serious decline we are going to
have to work hard just to maintain what we have; to make progress in
reversing the trend of decline is going' to take innovation and
cooperation. I see my primary role as Chair of the NNMCC as facilitating
communication, cooperation, and networking. I tend to be an optimist but
also have a fairly thick skin so if something is not working please let me
know. If we work together with the talent and energy I see in all of you we
will succeed in reversing the declines in the mussel fauna. So take care,
have fun, and keep up the good work
NNMCC EXCOM Meeting - November 6-7, 1997 MINUTES
Thursday, November 6, 1:00 pm - 6:00 pm.
The National Native Mussel Conservation Committee Executive Committee
Meeting began at 1:00 pm on Thursday, November 6 at the ~k River Town
Center Inn in Charleston, West Virginia. In attendance were Steve Ahlstedt
(USGS), Dick Biggins (USFWS), Alan Buchanan (MO DOC), Kevin Cummings
(INHS), Kari Duncan (USFWS), Heidi Dunn (Ecological Specialists), John
Jenkinson (TVA), Paul Johnson (TN Aquarium), Madeleine Lyttle (USFWS),
Debbie Mignogno (USFWS), and Patti Morrison (USFWS). Richard Tankersley (U.
of Maryland) joined us on the second day. An agenda accompanies these
minutes.
The meeting began with introductions and an introduction by Al Buchanan,
the Chair. Since the February meeting, Al sent a letter to Bill Reeves,
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, supporting standardization of
commercial clamming regulations; Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky, and other
neighboring states are pursuing standardization of regulations.
Stated goals of this meeting were: 1 ) Review National Native Mussel
Conservation Committee (NNMCC) structure, including roles of the chair and
subcommittee chairs, and general operation of the Committee. 2) Review ways
to improve communication. 3) Develop the focus and agenda for the March 5,
1998 meeting of the overall committee. 4) Review subcommittee progress. 5)
Discuss future symposia. 6) Discuss future activities and goals.
Debbie Mignogno took over as facilitator for the remainder of the meeting.
She began with a review of goals and the committee structure as outlined at
the February meeting. Presently the NNMCC is a subcommittee of the
Mississippi River Interstate Cooperative Resource Association (MICRA). The
NNMCC Executive Committee consists of the Chair, Chairs of the eight
Subcommittees, and one representative of each of the regional groups. This
evolved into a discussion of the structure and operation of the NNMCC. We
discussed the need for structure but agreed not to get too structured. We
agreed that the role of the Executive Committee will be to steer or
coordinate the activities of the NNMCC, facilitate information exchange,
review the goals and direction of the subcommittees, and organize meetings.
Most of the overall committee work will be accomplished within the
subcommittees or working groups. There is a need to poll the membership to
determine if further subcommittees and working groups are appropriate and
to ensure that anyone interested in participating on a subcommittee has the
opportunity to do so. The whole group is too big to include in
decision/direction-making meetings but there is a need for membership
input. We decided that the best approach is for the Executive Committee to
decide issues based on input from the membership through the subcommittee
chairs and subgroup representatives; major issues will probably require a
poll of the members. Meetings of the overall committee will involve updates
from the subcommittees and discussions of mayor issues as appropriate.
We also discussed membership and how a person identifies as a member of the
NNMCC. Minimal dues with the member receiving a hat or l-shirt seems the
best way to go. Outreach will work on development of a logo with a goal of
having the logo and hats or t-shirts available before the Mussel Symposium
on March 6-8, 1998 in Columbus, Ohio. The Outreach Subcommittee will
coordinate a logo design contest with the winning design becoming the logo
for the NNMCC. We also discussed forming a mussel society but tabled that
idea for the time being.
Better communication was identified as a need. Avenues for future
communication included 1 ) Chair memo with minutes of this meeting to the
membership. 2) Inclusion of the minutes in the Triennial report, and on the
Unio server, the NABS Journal, and in River Crossings, the MICRA
newsletter. 3) More frequent contact between the chair and subcommittee
chairs and the membership.
SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS:
SYMPOSIUM: There will be a Freshwater Mussel Symposium in Columbus, Ohio on
March 6-8, 1998. Therefore the scheduled Fall, 1998 symposium at
Chattanooga, Tennessee was moved to 1999 (March or April) because it was
felt that two symposia in the same year might dilute interest and reduce
attendance. Most of this discussion was put off until Friday morning when
Richard Tankersley, one of the organizers of the Columbus symposium would
be in attendance. To get involved contact Steve Ahlstedt (4231545 5331;
email: ahlstedt@usps.gov) or John Jenkinson (423/7514903; email:
jjjenkinson@tva.gov).
STATUS/DISTRIBUTION (Kevin Cummings): The Mussel Atlas Working Group (Art
Bogan, Sue Bruenderman, Kevin Cummings, Tom Muir, Doug Smith, Tom Watters,
and Jim Williams) met in Arlington, Virginia on October 20 & 21 to 1 )
compile lists of regional coordinators, compilers, and species. 2) Develop
the format. 3) Identify funding needs and potential sources. 4) Develop a
timetable for completion. 5) Develop a mission statement. 6) Develop an
itemized budget. Kevin handed out a prototype species account, regional
map, and a list of compilers. Sue Bruenderman facilitated meeting in
Washington. 320 species are divided by region. Each species account will be
two pages. GIS also: each compiler will be asked to compile a database but
GIS project will be an adjunct project. At the Arlington meeting it was
decided to do a historical account distribution for the first printing. We
discussed the problem of having old records when species are no longer
there. TNC doing a parallel project that is more hydrologic unit oriented.
This committee's effort will be dot-maps for entire range. Time Frame: Year
2000, and budget is about $250,000.00 to $300,000.00. Recommend getting
feedback from compilers. Sue Bruenderman is steering the effort and Kevin
is Chair. Next Step: regional contacts will be contacted. Need software for
compilers soon. Need money; need to identify sources. Atlas will be 600 700
pages. Final product will probably be about $50.00 per hard copy. The Atlas
will include an introduction, species accounts, appendices of historical
names (synonymy), a glossary, etc. Also will be CD ROM versions ($3.50 ea.;
5,000 copies estimated). Another objective would be to ID areas of national
significance. Put in Triennial Report and on UNIO listserver. If you are
interested in participating in this project, please contact Sue Bruenderman
(573/882-9880; email: bruens@mail.conservation.state.mo.us) or Kevin
Cummings (217/333-1623; email: ksc@mail.inhs.uiuc.edu
OUTREACH (Karl Duncan): The Outreach Subcommittee has had two conference
calls. The following products have been completed or are in the works: 1 )
Outreach Strategy has been completed. 2) An Outreach product survey
conducted-sent out in Triennial Report. 3) Developed a Draft Memorandum of
Understanding for Federal agencies for implementation of the National
Strategy for the Conservation of Native Mussels. We discussed the idea of
developing a similar MOU to be sent with a cover letter to each of the 50
states; the Outreach Committee will pursue the idea further and also look
at other federal agencies to include (present list includes the Departments
of Agriculture, Defense, Army, Commerce, Interior, and EPA). 4) Mussel
video development and distribution ideas. Kurt Welke compiled a list of
"sport fishing" shows for distribution of mussel video. The goal is to
promote the need for mussel conservation and need for a national effort to
protect and manage mussels on sport fishing shows- idea is a video for
showing on weekend sportfishing/outdoor shows. Will be soliciting video
footage from people who may have it with the idea of pulling together,
cutting and splicing existing video. Steve Ahlstedt contacted Heartland
Shows and they will not put out their copyrighted video or let it be
cannibalized. We discussed the idea of developing a slogan to reflect the
strategy. USFWS developing 'America's Hidden Treasures: Don't Let America
Lose Its Mussels'. Outreach will coordinate a request for a logo design
and a slogan. Another suggestion was to identify mussel speakers in various
areas who can provide presentations on mussels. A traveling display and/or
traveling program on freshwater mussels was another idea. American
Sportfishing Association, International Association of Fish and Wildlife
Agencies, TVA, EPA, COE, and other agencies/entities are potential
audiences for these presentations. Susan Mangin compiled a list of funding
partners. The World Wildlife Federation interested in producing sponsoring
shows on various nature issues. George Benz (TN Aquarium) trying to get
them interested in mussels and producing a mussel show. Need to focus on
extinctions in this country instead of going elsewhere for material. Go to
public radio programs=PSAs? To get involved contact Linda Drees
(913/539-3474; email: linda_drees@fws.gov) or Mike Davis (612/345-3331;
email: mike.davis@dnr.state.mn.us).
INFORMATION EXCHANGE (Madeleine Lyttle): Al Buchanan reported that there
hasn't been much progress in getting the National Strategy finalized and
printed. Need a cover design. Will approach Dick Neves re: getting the art
work done and possibly publishing. Cover must be color. Madeleine Lyttle
will develop a list of who it should go to. Governors, National
congressman, etc. should be included. The Strategy needs to be completed
before the March symposium in Columbus. WEB Site (Kevin Cummings): have not
developed a web site as such for this committee; presently putting
information out on UNIO and Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS) list
servers. Compiled a list of mussel specialists across country (on INHS web
site). Need for a committee logo reiterated. Compiled a list of mussel
collections worldwide (also on INHS web site), Triannual Unionid Report
(can send to Chris Mayer to get it
on list-on a disk would be ideal). Link to UNIO listserver. Abstracts from
AMU on there. Bibliography: Joint project of Kevin Cummings, Tom Watters,
and Art Bogan. Need funding ($30,000 - $40,000) but otherwise ready to go.
Debbie suggested that EPA may be interested in funding it to get it out
since they are looking at doing more work with mussels. Bibliography
includes about a 25-category search function. Kurt Welke's Funding Report
(Buchanan): Not much progress. Kurt has a copy of the Environmental
Foundation Grant-Making Catalogue and wants to put together lists of
likely/appropriate funding sources for each subcommittee/project. Already
been done (Karl Duncan) in Regions 4 and 5: Kari will send to Kurt.
Triannual Report (Dick Biggins): going out regularly; need more reports and
input from researchers et al. The call for papers went out recently and the
next Triannual Report will go out about the middle of November. List Of
Adverse Projects: Sunflower River project has occurred in MICRA publication
a couple of times. White River Project probably dead (Buchanan: information
from Steve Filapek). Information Exchange Subcommittee is handling this
right now (i.e. getting to River Crossings). Madeleine will talk to Jerry
Rasmussen re getting information in River Crossings-send out reminder with
this summary memo (i.e. if you have projects w/adverse impacts report to
Jerry Rasmussen). To get involved contact Madeleine Lyttle (802/951-6313;
email: r5ffa_lcfwro@gov.us).
WATER QUALITY/HABITAT ALTERATION/ZEBRA MUSSELS: (Buchanan et al. for Tom
Muir): Meeting was held in Atlanta last spring to put together white paper
on impacts of activities on freshwater mussels. Presented at NABS in May.
Being compiled & can be reviewed by contacting Tom Muir. Will be published
in J. NABS if it meets their standards. Can get spiral bound copy from
Jerry Diamond (Tetra Tech). To get involved contact Tom Muir (703/648-5114;
email: tmuir@usgs.gov).
PROPAGATION/RESTORATION/INTRODUCTION (Dick Biggins): Columbus symposium
will be a focus on this subject. Not much to report. Dick needs help
chairing this subcommittee. Richard Tankersley has agreed to co-chair this.
Will address reintroductions genetic guidelines at next meeting of TN
subgroup. Bob Butler & Dick Biggins interested in developing guidelines for
when or where things can be moved under X conditions. Dave Berg a good
contact re: guidelines. Need East Coast participation. USFWS draft document
on propagation and genetics (=a procedural guidance); need something a
little less strict. Dick will be coming to group at a later time with this
issue. An issue for inriver refugia, transplants, etc. To become involved
contact Dick Biggins (704/258-3939; email: richard_biggins@fws.gov).
GUIDELINES/TECHNIQUES (Heidi Dunn): Met w/Diane Waller, Lisie Kitchel, and
Bernard Seitman in WI. Decided on a series of guideline/techniques papers
which would review literature and recommend guidelines. Designed to be
spirally bound, passed out, etc. Looked at list of volunteers from February
meeting. Has emailed those folks and gotten responses from 13 folks. Will
go through strategy plan and ORVE plan and send list of issues needing
guidelines to those folks for comments before end of the year and go from
there. Goal to get list prioritized and create list of 5 top priorities for
producing guidelines and then developing those guidelines. Good subject for
a symposium (Jenkinson). Paul Johnson: have only invited speakers at such a
symposium. Need to ensure that papers are based in good science. To become
involved contact Heidi Dunn (314/447-5355; email: ecologists@aol.com).
COMMERCIAL (Buchanan): Due to SEA's sponsoring and coordinating a mussel
survey on the Upper Mississippi River, little progress has been made. To
become involved contact Cheryl Ballenger (319/264-2033; email:
cherlyb@muscanet.com).
OHIO RIVER ECOSYSTEM MUSSEL SUBGROUP (Patti Morrison): Formed in April,
1995. Have had 5 meetings so far. Most recent meeting on November 5/6. Up
to 40 partners who participate in group. Draft Mollusk Conservation Plan by
group. Meet twice per year. Work on components of the report. Will add us
(EXCOM) to mailing list. Will have revised draft by the March meeting.
Includes the Ohio River watershed minus the TN/Cumberland which has its own
group. Group is developing focus areas. To become involved contact Patti
Morrison (304/422-0752; email: r5rw_ohrinwr@mail.fws.gov)
TENNESSEE/CUMBERLAND RIVER SUBGROUP (Dick Biggins): Meeting next month.
Working on experimental population designation for 17 species below Wilson
Dam. Moved Io to two new places in Holston & French Broad
(historical places).
ST. CROIX GROUP (Heidi Dunn): Population viability assessment coming up for
Quadrula fragosa (in January). Trying to keep zebras out of St.
Croix River but found at Taylor Falls this summer. Going to try drawing
down the pool and search for zebras. Teams found gravid Q. fragosa
in September. Still in habitat; trying to decide what to do with it. Only
known population of Q. fragosa.
UMRCC MUSSEL AD HOC COMMITTEE (Al Buchanan): Kurt Welke is presently chair
of this committee. UMRCC Mussel Ad Hoc Committee has recently been focused
on two projects/issues. The first is standardization of commercial mussel
regulations between the five member states (IL, IA, MN, MO, WI). We have
achieved agreement on minimum size limits for mussels, harvest season, gear
limitations, legal species, sanctuaries, and bait limits, and on a standard
report form for both clammers and shell buyers. The second issue is a
proposed closure of washboard harvest on the Upper Mississippi River (UMR).
The five UMRCC states have proposed closure of the washboard harvest
because of declines in recruitment, densities of adults, and densities of
legal-size washboards, and a decline in pounds of shell harvested in spite
of high prices for shell. Shell Exporters of America (SEA) funded a survey
of mussels at select sites in seven UMR pools this summer and that data is
being analyzed and included in the decision making process.
Other regional groups which could not attend or the Chair forgot to notify
include the New England group (Susi VonOettingen), SEA (Cheryl Ballenger),
the Alabama group (Jeff Garner), the Western Zebra Mussel Task Force (Linda
Drees), and the Lake Champlain group (Madeleine Lyttle). As new groups
form, they need to contact the NNMCC Chair so they can be added to the
Executive Committee.
FUNDING:
Need a bigger funding group. The working group includes Kurt Welke and
Linda Drees. Concept: A group to keep track of funding entities and knowing
where funds might be available for various aspects of what we do. Two
different issues: 1 ) Identify funding sources. 2) Identify money handling
mechanism. MICRA has agreed to handle money for the NNMCC. MICRA charges
10% overhead which is cheaper than other money handlers. MICRA needs a
contact who approves checks but MICRA will not exert any control over where
the money goes. What about when we produce hats or something for sale (i.e.
how do we handle the money)? Same for posters, symposia, dues, "shirts,
donations, etc. Get a volunteer to be a Treasurer or advise us on treasury
stuff. We would need a tax exempt number, treasurer, etc. Invite a person
to the next meeting to help us out on this issue. Heidi Dunn volunteered to
try to set it up for the committee and serve as Treasurer. We need
volunteers to help Kurt Welke on the listing committee. Have a group write
grants? Put together subcommittee w/Kurt as chair and request volunteers to
help work on grant application preparation for various projects. Need
people to draft and review grant proposals. Need to look for matching funds
and act as a liaison. Bring in benefactors to talk to group. Training in
grant writing. Ask for suggestions on sources of funding. Kari will send
some information to Kurt. If you are interested in becoming involved
contact Kurt Welke (608/326-8818).
Friday Nov. 7, 1997, 8:00 am - 11:30 am
The Executive Committee reconvened at 8:00 am on Friday, November 7.
Richard Tankersley joined us to update us on the Columbus Mussel Symposium
and to provide input during the symposium discussion.
SYMPOSIUM DISCUSSION
Columbus Symposium (Richard Tankersley) This symposium came about as a
result of contact with Stewart Keefer of the American Zoo Association
(AZA). It is an effort to combine AZA and malacologists. interests in a
symposium. The focus is on propagation and captive care of freshwater
mussels. MOU between several federal agencies and AZA. Columbus Zoo wanted
to host the symposium. In the works as of January, 1997. Program: Oral
presentations on propagation and captive care and open posters to general
mussel papers. Call for papers on internet on Monday of this week. Lot of
interest. Brought copies of call. Workshops: 1 ) Tom Watters on Taxonomy.
2) Aquarium Association on Captive Care. Dave Stansbery is the keynote
speaker at the banquet on Saturday night. Looking for help reviewing papers
for the proceeding's. Considering another speaker for Friday evening (AZA
Cooperative programs). AZA really wanting' to become involved in
propagation of invertebrates. Size of Facility: Can handle about 200 people
at banquet. We will put the announcement in my summary, in Triennial
Report, and in River Crossings. Other journals? Will encourage exhibitors.
Still looking for sponsors. Hotel Contact: Penny Tiller (Sales and Catering
Account Manager; 614/431- 4459). Columbus Zoo really been helpful on this
project. We may be able to sell hats or T-shirts if we have such a thing;
Paul Johnson, Dick Biggins, and the Outreach Committee will work on this.
Paul Johnson: the TN aquarium can do logo and printing of T-shirts and is
willing to do so. Outreach is putting out call for design of logo with a
January 1 deadline. Will decide whether to produce caps or T-shirts after
logo design is complete.
The plan is to have the next NNMCC meeting the day before the mussel
symposium, on March 5, with the Executive Committee meeting in the morning
and the overall committee meeting in the afternoon. The tentative agenda
would include subcommittee reports and a discussion of whether we wish to
remain a committee or form a society.
A copy of the call for papers is attached.
NNMCC Sponsored Symposia: Chattanooga, TN in 1999 and AFS 2000 in St.
Louis, Missouri.
March/April, 1999 Symposium at Chattanooga The TN Aquarium has excellent
media connections & is very good at getting the word out. Aquarium will do
the local arrangements. Paul Johnson: need to bring in high profile groups
(e.g. World Wildlife Fund, etc.) to get them involved with mussels; get
other groups involved. TN Aquarium considering doing a series on endangered
fauna, etc.; this symposium may fit very well into that concept. Suggested
format is Plenary session with high profile speakers and then technical
sessions. Symposium Committee will work with TN Aquarium to set up meeting
for March/April of 1999. Symposium Committee will have a first announcement
ready by Columbus meeting with dates, some idea of program boundaries, etc.
Biggins: Have the 1999 conference in Chattanooga and then have a focus w/
invited papers at AFS 2000.
AFS 2000: The annual AFS meeting typically has 1,200 to 1,500 attendees,
including many state and federal agency chiefs. There is a need to bring
more attention to native mussels and educate fisheries administrators about
mussel problems, needs, and opportunities. Have focus papers in a technical
session and coordinate flashy posters to get attention on mussel issues.
How many slots can we get at AFS? Can we publish the mussel part of meeting
in our own proceedings? Buchanan will find out the rules and possibilities,
theme, etc. for AFS 2000. Try to get Jim Williams, Dick Neves, or someone
(Jamie Clark) else in the Plenary Session. I will report back to committee
in March.
We also discussed having/sponsoring symposia on focus areas and maybe start
having annual symposia/meetings.
Other Symposia: We recently reamed from Kerry Lippincott (307/235-8952)
that a Freshwater Mussel Symposium is planned in conjunction with the
October 1~17, 1998 Plains Anthropological Conference in Bismarck, ND. The
plan is for a 1-day symposium on mussels. Contact Kerry for further
information.
Goals and Objectives for 1998:
1) National Strategy completed and distributed 2) Columbus meeting
coordination 3) Group meeting at Columbus. 4) Atlas Committee progress. 5)
Outreach will pursue MOU, get speakers index produced, Logo/slogan done and
T-shirts or hats produced. 6) Guidelines/Techniques will pursue identifying
primary needs re protocols & workshops. 7) Propagation Subcommittee will
get their tasks identified and Rick Tankersley will become co-chair. 8) Al
Buchanan will contact Jerry Rasmussen re: getting stuff into River
Crossings, 9) Determine who and what we are. 10) Ahlstedt will touch base
w/ Cheryl Ballenger re: Commercial Committee and where it is going. 11)
Prepare a one page summary about the NNMCC, its structure, and its goals,
and solids membership/participation. 12) Develop a mailing list of people
interested in participating in mussel issues and programs. 13) Find someone
to serve as Secretary for the NNMCC to record minutes, help with mailings,
etc.
Future Meetings: March 5 in Columbus, March 1999 Symposium. On the 4th we
will meet the EXCOM in the morning and overall in the afternoon. Committee
Reports. Discussion of whether or not to evolve into a society. Ahlstedt
has some real concerns about excluding the folks who are doing the
on-the-ground work. Afternoon session on what has been accomplished, do
committee reports, and then talk about our structure and identity. Have the
structure/society discussion at the fall meeting of 1998 subsequent to the
March Meeting direction. In morning session work on logistics, etc.
AGENDA items for March NNMCC Meeting: 1 ) Background/Progress. 2)
Subcommittee Reports. 3) Accomplishments. 4) Organizational review. 5)
Subcommittee review re: further fleshing out of subcommittees and reviewing
the need for additional subcommittees or working groups. 6) Feedback on
direction and progress.
FALL 1998 MEETING: Concurrent with ORVE in October or November or other
Fall Meeting.
Other Business: We need a Secretary. Me poll the membership. Ask Rita
Villella? We agree on need for Secretary and Al will find one by next
meeting. Bob Hatcher another possibility. Have the Triannual Report become
the Output/Newsletter for the Committee. Have Secretary help with that
also. Put logo on it. Agreed.
What's Working and What's Not:
1 ) Need to communicate with the membership more.
2) Need to ensure that regional groups are at EXCOM meetings.
3) All subcommittee chairs will touch base with their volunteers before the
next meeting.
4) Subcommittees are moving along very well and are to be complimented on
accomplishments & progress.
5) Need to better define what our membership is and recruit more people
into the membership and to help with various activities. Ensure that people
working with mussels know that this is an open committee where anyone who
wants to participate can. Al will draft a one page 'Call for Members' to be
place in the Triannual Report and other media.
6) Need to develop a mailing list/membership list.
7) Need to solicit list of adverse projects for Madeleine to get to Jerry
Rasmussen. Dick Biggins can ask for it in the Triannual Report. Madeleine
will put together some guidelines for submission of those reports and email
to EXCOM for input. Evolve to web site for input ( when web site is
completed).
8) Do subgroup chairs stay forever? Probably too early to decide that but
need to discuss
chair/officer rotation probably at March meeting in general discussion.
Freshwater Mussel
Symposium: Conservation, Captive Care, and Propagation
The Columbus Zoo, the Ohio Biological Survey, and the Ohio Division of
Wildlife are hosting a special symposium on March 6-8, 1998 focusing on the
captive care and propagation of freshwater unionid mussels. The purpose of
the meeting is to provide a forum for the discussion and dissemination of
information on the rearing, maintenance, and long-term care of juvenile and
adult mussel populations under artificial conditions. The symposium will be
held at the Holiday Inn Columbus/Worthington Conference Center in Columbus,
OH and the program will include oral and poster presentations, workshops,
and an evening banquet and keynote address. Scientists, researchers, and
professionals from industry, academia, public aquaria, and federal and
state agencies are encouraged to participate.
Program Schedule
Jeffrey T. Garner
Alabama Game and Fish Division
P.O. Box 66
Decatur, AL 35602
(205) 232-2101
fax 240-0402
e-mail: bleufer@aol.com
1997 records of Alabama endangered species
Notable records from 1997 field work in the Tennessee River include three
possible Plethobasus cicatricosus (verification pending) which were
collected in the vicinity of Sevenmile Island (Lauderdale County, Alabama).
A total of 13 Lampsilis abrupta were collected from the tailwaters
of Guntersville and Wilson dams. Also notable were on Plethobasus
cyphyus and one Ptychobranchus fasciolaris, both also collected
in the vicinity of Sevenmile Island.
Endangered species encountered during one day on the Paint Rock River in
1997 include Fusconaia cuneolus (1 live, 2 fresh dead).
Fusconaia cor (1 fresh dead), Lampsilis virescens (2 fresh
dead) and Toxolasma cylindrellus (1 fresh dead). One fresh dead
Epioblasma brevidens was collected from Bear Creek, Colbert County,
Alabama.
In field work on the Alabama River, eight Pleurobema taitianum and
one Pleurobema decisum were collected near Selma. According to Paul
Hartfield (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) P. taitianum had not been
collected alive since 1987 (from the Buttahatchee River, Mississippi)
During a snail survey of Locust Fork, one fresh dead Lampsilis
perovalis and one fresh dead Ptychobranchus greeni were
collected in Jefferson County.
Mussels of Muscle Shoals
Alabama Game and Fish Division recently requested that the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service attempt to establish nonessential experimental populations
of extirpated endangered freshwater mussels and one snail in the tailwaters
of Wilson Dam on the Tennessee River in northwest Alabama. In order to
facilitate decisions on which species to consider, the following list of
mussels which historically occurred at Muscle Shoals was drafted. Included
are their current abundance or the last dates on which they were observed
in the area. Muscle Shoals extended from the upper reaches of what is now
Pickwick Reservoir through Wilson Reservoir into Wheeler Reservoir.
Included on the list are recent records from the entire areas of the three
reservoirs. If anyone has additional data (e.g. new species to add to the
list or more recent observations) I would greatly appreciate the
information to include on the table.
Mussel species documented from Muscle Shoals*, Tennessee River, Alabama
|
|
|
Species
|
pre-1976
|
1976-1977
|
Remarks
|
|
Actinonaias ligamentina
|
X
|
|
last record 1931 6
|
|
Actinonaias pectorosa
|
X
|
|
last record ca. 1925 2
|
|
Amblema plicata
|
X
|
X
|
common a
|
|
Anodonta suborbiculata
|
X
|
X
|
common, lentic habitata
|
|
Arcidens confragosus
|
|
X
|
uncommona
|
|
Cumberlandia monodonta
|
X
|
X
|
very rare, several coll. 1995b
|
|
Cyclonaias tuberculata
|
X
|
X
|
commona
|
|
Cyprogenia stegaria*
|
X
|
X
|
last record 1976-78b
|
|
Dromus dromas *
|
X
|
|
last record 19316
|
|
Ellipsaria lineolata
|
X
|
X
|
commona
|
|
Elliptio crassidens
|
X
|
X
|
commona
|
|
Elliptio dilatata
|
X
|
X
|
rarea
|
|
Epioblasma arcaeformis
|
X
|
|
last record ca. 19252
|
|
Epioblasma biemarginata
|
X
|
|
last record ca. 19252
|
|
Epioblasma brevidens *
|
X
|
|
last record ca. 19252
|
|
Epioblasma capsaeformis *
|
X
|
|
last record ca. 19252
|
|
Epioblasma florentina florentina *
|
X
|
|
last record ca. 19252
|
|
Epioblasma haysiana
|
X
|
|
last record ca. 19252
|
|
Epioblasma obliquata obliquata
|
X
|
|
last record ca. 19252
|
|
Epioblasma personata
|
X
|
|
last record ca. 19252
|
|
Epioblasma torulosa torulosa *
|
X
|
|
last record 19316
|
|
Epioblasma triquetra
|
X
|
|
last record 19316
|
|
Epioblasma turgidula *
|
X
|
|
last record ca. 19252
|
|
Fusconaia barnesiana
|
X
|
|
last record ca. 19252
|
|
Fusconaia cor *
|
X
|
|
last record ca. 19252
|
|
Fusconaia cuneolus *
|
X
|
|
last record ca. 19252
|
|
Fusconaia ebena
|
X
|
X
|
abundanta
|
|
Fusconaia subrotunda
|
X
|
X
|
rarea
|
|
Hemistena lata *
|
X
|
|
last record ca. 19252
|
|
Lampsilis abrupta *
|
X
|
X
|
rarea
|
|
Lampsilis fasciola
|
X
|
X
|
last record 19781
|
|
Lampsilis ovata
|
X
|
X
|
rarea
|
|
Lampsilis teres
|
X
|
X
|
rarea
|
|
Lampsilis virescens *
|
X
|
|
last record ca. 19252
|
|
Lasmigona complanata
|
|
X
|
very rarea
|
|
Lasmigona costata
|
X
|
|
last record ca. 19252
|
|
Lemiox rimosus *
|
X
|
|
last record ca. 19252
|
|
Leptodea fragilis
|
X
|
X
|
uncommona
|
|
Leptodea leptodon
|
X
|
|
last record ca. 19252
|
|
Lexingtonia dolabelloides
|
X
|
|
last record 19635
|
|
Ligumia recta
|
X
|
X
|
rarea
|
|
Medionidus conradicus
|
X
|
|
last record ca. 19252
|
|
Megalonaias nervosa
|
X
|
X
|
commona
|
|
Obliquaria reflexa
|
X
|
X
|
commona
|
|
Obovaria olivaria
|
X
|
X
|
last record 19781
|
|
Obovaria retusa *
|
X
|
X
|
very rare, 1 coll. 1992d
|
|
Plethobasus cicatricosus *
|
X
|
X
|
very rare, 3 coll. 1997f (ed. can't read
this superscript)
|
|
Plethobasus cooperianus *
|
X
|
X
|
last record 19781
|
|
Plethobasus cyphyus
|
X
|
X
|
very rare, 1 coll. 1997a
|
|
Pleurobema clava *
|
X
|
|
last record ca. 19252
|
|
Pleurobema coccineum
|
X
|
X
|
last record 1976-781
|
|
Pleurobema cordatum
|
X
|
X
|
uncommon
|
|
Pleurobema oviforme
|
X
|
X
|
last record 1976-781
|
|
Pleurobema plenum *
|
X
|
X
|
very rare, coll. 1996b
|
|
Pleurobema pyramidatum
|
X
|
X
|
very rare, coll. 19971
|
|
Potamilus alatus
|
X
|
X
|
commona
|
|
Ptychobranchus fasciolaris
|
X
|
X
|
very rare, 2 coll. 1995 &
1997a
|
|
Ptychobranchus subtentum
|
X
|
|
last record ca. 19252
|
|
Pyganodon grandis
|
X
|
X
|
common, lentic habitata
|
|
Quadrula cylindrica
|
X
|
|
last record 19316
|
|
Quadrula fragosa *
|
X
|
|
last record 19604
|
|
Quadrula intermedia *
|
X
|
|
last record ca. 19252
|
|
Quadrula metanevra
|
X
|
X
|
rarea
|
|
Quadrula nodulata
|
|
X
|
very rare, coll. 1995e
|
|
Quadrula pustulosa
|
X
|
X
|
abundanta
|
|
Quadrula quadrula
|
X
|
X
|
commona
|
|
Strophitus undulatus
|
X
|
|
last record 19316
|
|
Toxolasma lividus
|
X
|
X
|
rarea
|
|
Toxolasma parvus
|
X
|
X
|
rarea
|
|
Tritogonia verrucosa
|
X
|
X
|
uncommona
|
|
Truncilla donaciformis
|
X
|
X
|
uncommona
|
|
Truncilla truncata
|
X
|
|
last record 19316
|
|
Utterbackia imbecillis
|
X
|
X
|
uncommon, lentic habitata
|
|
Villosa nebulosa
|
X
|
|
last record ca. 19252
|
|
Villosa taeniata
|
X
|
|
last record ca. 19252
|
|
Villosa trabalis *
|
X
|
|
last record ca. 19252
|
|
Villosa vanuxemensis
|
X
|
X
|
very rare, 2 coll. 1996a
|
|
* Records from the areas which are now Pickwick, Wilson and Wheeler
reservoirs are included in this list.
abundant - ten specimens can be collected with very little effort,
usually without moving from a position.
common - ten specimens can be collected easily, but a little searching
is required.
uncommon - ten specimens can usually be collected but considerable
effort must be expended.
rare - not likely that ten specimens will be encountered in a day's
work.
very rare - only a few specimens have been encountered during recent work.
a Jeffrey T. Garner, personal observation, field work
1995-1997
b Paul Yokley, Jr., personal communication, 1997
c Steve Ahlstedt, personal communication, 1997
d Terry Richardson, personal communication, 1997,
collected by commercial mussel harvester, identified by
Richardson
e Jeffrey T. Garner, personal observation, in mussel
harvester's catch
d Jeffrey T. Garner, identification verification
pending
1. Gooch, C.H., W.J. Pardue and D.C. Wade. 1979. Recent mollusk
investigations on the Tennessee River, 1978. Tennessee Valley
Authority, Water Quality and Ecology Branch, 126 pp.
2. Ortmann, A.E. 1925. The naiad fauna of the Tennessee River
system below Walden Gorge. The American Midland Naturalist,
9:321-372.
3. Richardson, T.D. 1993. Colonization of Tennessee River bivalves
by the invading zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha
(Pallas): final report for FY 1993, 38 pp.
4. Scruggs, G.D. 1960. Status of freshwater mussel stocks in the
Tennessee River. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Special
Scientific Report. Fisheries. 370:1-40.
5. Stansbery, D.H. 1964. The Mussel (Muscle) Shoals of the
Tennessee River revisited. Annual Reports for 1964 of the American
Malacological Union: 25-98.
6. Van der Schalie, H. 1931. Additional notes on the naiades
(fresh-water mussels) of the lower Tennessee River. The American
Midland Naturalist, 22: 452-457.
Obovaria retusa: Confirmation of an extant population in
the upper Green River, Kentucky
Robert S. Butler, Ronald R. Cicerello, and Ellis L. Laudermilk
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
160 Zillicoa Street
Asheville, NC 28801 (RSB)
and
Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission
801 Schenkel Lane
Frankfort, KY 40601 (RRC & ELL)
Obovaria retusa (Lamarck, 1819) was described from the Ohio
River at Cincinnati. Historically, it occurred in large river shoals
throughout the Ohio River basin. Widespread population losses from
habitat alteration led to its Federal listing as endangered in 1989.
Only four populations remain: two each in Kentucky and Tennessee.
According to the 1991 recovery plan, it is doubtful that any of them
are experiencing successful reproduction and recruitment.
The upper Green River harbors one of the few populations of this
critically endangered species. Obovaria retusa was first
collected from the Green River at Mammoth Cave by R.E. Call (ca.
1900). The 34+ specimens Call collected (Cicerello & Hannan
1990), coupled with Ortmann's (1926) assertion that it was "not rare"
at a nearby site. would seem to indicate that it was relatively
common over 75 years ago. Although several freshly dead specimens
have been reported since, the last verified live specimens were
collected in the 1960's.
The Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission (KSNPC) is
conducting an assessment of the mussel populations in the Green River
between Green River Reservoir and Mammoth Cave National Park (MCNP)
in conjunction with a riparian habitat stress analysis and impending
watershed protection effort by the Kentucky Chapter of The Nature
Conservancy. In September 1997, KSNPC discovered a live specimen of
Obovaria retusa completely exposed in a shallow gravel shoal
upstream of MCNP. After the specimen was measured (63 mm), aged (16+
years), and photographed, it was returned to the substrate. Two other
federally endangered species, Cyprogenia stegaria (Rafinesque,
1820) and Pleurobema plenum (Lea, 1840), were found during the
recent assessment. Several specimens of C. stegaria were found
live at several sites in the project area, while a single specimen of
P. plenum was found live in Green County, which represents the
upstream-most record for this globally rare species.
There are records for 71 species from the Green River system
(Cicerello & Hannan 1990), including 59 species in the project
area. Thirty-four live or freshly-dead species were located this
year, 17 of which were represented by at least one specimen deemed a
juvenile or sub-adult. An additional six species were found only as
weathered or subfossil shells. This information indicates that the
Green River continues to harbor a relatively healthy and diverse
mussel fauna. Seven federally listed mussel species and 14 other
species considered rare in Kentucky are known from the project area
underlying the importance of the upper Green River as a mussel
refugium.
Cicerello, R.R., & R.R. Hannan. 1990. Survey of the
freshwater unionids (mussels) (Bivalvia: Margaritiferidae and
Unionidae) in the Green River in Mammoth Cave National Park,
Kentucky. Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission unpublished
report to the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park
Service. 44 pp.
Ortmann, A.E. 1926. The naiades of the Green River drainage in
Kentucky. Annals of the Carnegie Museum 17:167-188.
Report: Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge Native Mussel
Quarantine Facility - 1997
Authors: Madeleine Lyttle and Megan Gibson
Address: Lake Champlain Fish and Wildlife Resources Office
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
11 Lincoln Street
Essex Junction, VT 05452
Numbers: Phone: (802) 951-6313 Fax: (802) 951-6315
E-mail: R5FFA_LCFWRO@FWS.GOV
The Lake Champlain Native Mussel Working Group identified Lewis
Creek Delta, located on the Vermont side of Lake Champlain, as an
area with a unique native mussel population. The Delta is highly
colonized by zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha). This
document summarizes removal and quarantine of several rare species
from Lewis Creek and provides information on the quarantine
results.
The quarantine facility, located on the Missisquoi NWR, consists
of a 17x13.5 ft. fenced-in area large enough to hold a holding tank,
three drainage barrels, and any periphery equipment needed for the
project. The five foot diameter, 12" deep tank was equipped with a
small fountain aerator. The water used in the quarantine was taken
from the Missisquoi River.
On July 1, 1997, with a crew of 11 people, rare native mussels
were recovered from the Lewis Creek Delta. The native mussels were
cleaned three times - on the boat, before loading them into the
truck, and when they arrived at the quarantine facility. The mussels
collected were: Leptodea fragilis (62), Pyganodon
grandis (2), Potamilus alatus (144), Lampsilis
ovata (3), and Alasmidonta undulata (14).
Over the next month, the mussels were inspected weekly for five
weeks. The water was changed in conjunction with the inspections.
Periodically, the tank water was drained through a filter and
examined for any evidence of zebra mussel veligers. The water
temperature in the holding tank was maintained at approximately
21oC to promote the growth of zebra mussels and help sustain the
native mussels. Additionally, algae, cultured by the Vermont
Department of Environmental Conservation, was regularly added to the
tank.
No adult zebra mussels or veligers were found on the native
mussels, or in the water samples taken from the tank drainage.
However, some mortalities did occur. Of the 225 collected, 16 died
while in quarantine.
On August 11, 1997, biologists from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service and the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation
returned the native mussels to Lewis Creek, above the zebra mussel
infested delta. These sections were selected because the mussels
could be easily monitored and the areas have a low potential for
zebra mussel infestation. The mussels will be monitored in Spring
1998.
University of Alabama's Malacological Research
Chuck Lydeard, Asst. Professor
University of Alabama, Dept. Biological Sciences
Box 870345
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487
Phone: 205-348-1792
FAX: 205-348-6460
email: clydeard@biology.as.ua.edu
Ph.D. Students:
Wallace Holznagel
Russ Minton
Kevin Roe
Malacology-Related Publications:
Lydeard, C., and R.L. Mayden. 1995. A diverse and endangered
aquatic ecosystem of the Southeast United States. Conservation
Biology 9:800-805.
Lydeard, C. 1996. U.S. Biodiversity Status Report. Conservation
Biology 10:1480-1482.
Lydeard, C., M. Mulvey, and G.M. Davis. 1996. Molecular
systematics and evolution of reproductive traits of North American
freshwater unionacean mussels (Mollusca:Bivalvia) as inferred from
16S rRNA gene sequences. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal
Society of London Series B 351:1593-1603.
Lydeard, C., W.E. Holznagel, J. Garner, P. Hartfield, and J.
Malcolm Pierson. 1997. A molecular phylogeny of Mobile River drainage
basin pleurocerid snails (Caenogastropoda: Cerithioidea).
Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 7:117-128.
Mulvey, M., C. Lydeard, D.L. Pyer, K.M. Hicks, J.C. Brim-Box, J.D.
Williams, and R.S. Butler. 1997. Conservation genetics of North
American freshwater mussels Amblema and Megalonaias.
Conservation Biology 11:868-878.
Roe, K.J., A.M. Simons, and P. Hartfield. 1997. Identification of
a fish host of the inflated heelsplitter Potamilus inflatus
(Bivalvia: Unionidae) with a description of its glochidium.
American Midland Naturalist 138:48-54.
Spiny Riversnail (Io fluvialis)
Steven Ahlstedt
U. S. Geological Survey
1820 Midpark Drive
Knoxville, TN 37921
PH: (423) 545-4140 Ext. 17
FAX: (423) 545-4496
Spiny riversnail reintroduction sites in the lower French Broad
(Campbell Island) and upper Holston River (Surgoinsville) were
searched in July 1997 for adult survival of specimens transplanted in
1996. Thirty-three live specimens were found in the French Broad and
none were found in the Holston. No reason could be given for the
disappearance of the snails in the Holston because other pleurocerid
riversnails were abundant.
During August 1997, 600 more measured and marked spiny riversnails
were reintroduced into the French Broad and Holston River at the same
1996 locations. Both sites will be evaluated in FY 1998 for adult
survival. Evidence of reproduction is a long-term process and may be
4-6 years away from determining if transplants were successful. The
disappearance of the snails in the Holston is not unusual because
they could have been distributed downstream during high flows and/or
the small number transplanted makes finding them difficult.
Funding for this project was provided by Dick Biggins, USFWS,
Endangered Species Field Office, Asheville, North Carolina. Help in
collecting specimens was provided by students of Dr. Jim Lazer, Tenn.
Tech University, Fisheries Coop Unit, TVA, TWRA, and TNC.
First Release of Cultured Juvenile Mussels in Tennessee
Author(s): Richard J. Neves
Address: Virginia Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit
Biological Resources Division
Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA 24061-0321
Phone Number(s): (540) 231-5927
Fax Number(s): (540) 231-7580
Email: mussel@vt.edu
The first release of juvenile freshwater mussels, cultured at the
Mussel Research Center at Virginia Tech, occurred on September 24,
1997. A total of 52 endangered tan riffleshells (Epioblasma f.
walkeri) and 360 wavy-rayed lampmussels (Lampsilis
fasciola) were released immediately upstream of the Route 68
crossing of the Hiawassee River, within Cherokee National Forest,
North Carolina. Other participants in this first release included Ed
Stiles and Leigh McDougal (USFS), Janice Cox (TVA), Dick Biggins
(FWS), and Steve Ahlstedt (USGS). The tan riffleshells were 2-3
months old and less than 1 mm in length. The wavy-raved lampmussels
were 6-12 months old and ranged from 2-5 mm in length. These mussels
were surplus from culture experiments completed in summer 1997. The
State of Tennessee has recently funded a project for us to produce
juvenile mussels of a suite of species for release into historic
habitats within the state. Cooperators in this project include the
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, and Virginia Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit. A
listing of potential release sites for each species is being prepared
for TWRA approval.
Cyclonaias tuberculata glochidia transform on catfish
barbels
Mark Hove and Jennifer Kurth
University of Minnesota
1980 Folwell Avenue
Saint Paul, MN 55108
(612) 624-3019
email addresses: Mark.Hove@fw.umn.edu
kurt0007@gold.tc.umn.edu
Ictalurids probably encounter glochidia as they search for food on
the river bed when mussels are releasing their young. A preliminary
study suggests Cyclonaias tuberculata glochidia can transform
on the barbels of channel catfish. Host suitability teals were
conducted this spring using methods similar to those described in
Neves et al. ( 1985). Juvenile C. tuberculata were collected
from four of seven Ictalurids tested (Tables 1 and 2). One group of
channel catfish had only their lower barbels exposed to C.
tuberculata glochidia. Although this trial ended prematurely due
to an outbreak of Ich, we plan to repeat barbel infestation tests in
the future.
Table 1. Attachment period of unsuitable hosts for Cyclonaias
tuberculata glochidia.
|
|
|
Number of
|
Number of
|
Glochidia
|
|
Common name
|
Scientific name
|
individuals inoculated
|
inoculated survivors
|
attachment period (days)
|
|
brown bullhead
|
Ameiurus nebulosus
|
7
|
0
|
*
|
|
black bullhead
|
Ameiurus melas
|
1
|
0
|
*
|
|
black bullhead
|
Ameiurus melas
|
7
|
0
|
*
|
|
(barbels only)
|
|
|
|
|
|
stonecat
|
Noturus flavus
|
8
|
8
|
17
|
|
tadpole madtom
|
Noturus gyrinus
|
8
|
8
|
22-24
|
|
|
|
|
|
*-Incomplete trial, test subjects died before completion of the
study.
Table 2. Fish species that facilitated Cyclonaias tuberculata
glochidia metamorphosis.
|
|
|
Number of
|
Number of
|
Juvenile
|
Number of
|
|
Common name
|
Scientific name
|
individuals inoculated
|
inoculated survivors
|
recovery period
|
juveniles recovered
|
|
channel catfish
|
Ictalurus punctatus
|
4
|
0*
|
29-31
|
61
|
|
channel catfish
|
Ictalurus punctatus
|
4
|
0*
|
17-19
|
2
|
|
(barbels only)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
yellow bullhead
|
Ameiurus natalis
|
6
|
3
|
24-38
|
87
|
|
black bullhead
|
Ameiurus melas
|
9
|
6
|
29-33
|
3
|
|
flathead catfish
|
Pylodictus olivaris
|
|
0*
|
29-33
|
16
|
|
|
|
|
|
*-Incomplete trial, test subjects died before completion of the study.
Neves, R.J., L.R. Weaver, and A.V. Zale. 1985. An evaluation of
fish host suitability for glochidia of Villosa vanuxemi and
V. nebulosa (Pelecypoda: Unionidae). American Midland
Naturalist 113( 1): 1 3-19.
Northern Minnesota river holds three state-listed mussels
Mark Hove, Shawn Strong, Amy Jacobson, Johanna Schussler. and
Valeri Kurth
University of Minnesota
1980 Folwell Avenue
Saint Paul, MN 55108
(612) 624-3019
(note new) email address: Mark.Hove@fw.umn.edu
The mussel assemblage of the Lake of the Woods watershed in
northern Minnesota is among the least studied unionoid faunas in the
state (Graf 1997). The Big Fork River, a subdrainage in the
watershed, flows north over rolling moraines, across the flat bed of
Glacial Lake Agassiz, to the Rainy River; Minnesota's border with
Canada. Much of the Big Fork River watershed is relatively pristine.
Most of the land is covered by second growth aspen and pine forests,
and a small number of ranches (Waters 1977).
Twenty-five sites were surveyed in the Big Fork River basin.
Lampsilis siliquoidea, Pyganodon grandis, and L. cardium
were regularly found throughout the watershed. Lasmigona
compressa was found in the lower two-thirds of the basin.
Utterbackia imbecillis, Anodontoides Jerussacianus, Lasmigona
complanata, Strophitus undulatus, and Ligumia recta had
scattered distributions. L. costata was represented by a
single valve from a headwater tributary. Lasmigona compressa, L.
costata, and Ligumia recta are listed as special concern
species in Minnesota. Mussel densities ranged between 0-32
mussels/m2 (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Mussel densities in the Big Fork River, Minnesota.
During the survey we observed an interesting color variant of
Ligumia recta. Most L. recta in the St. Croix and upper
Mississippi rivers have gray and black mantles with white-tipped
papillae. However, two displaying L recta in the Big Fork
River had a much lighter, yellow-gray mantle. These mussels, like
other brooding L recta we've witnessed, were lying out on top
of the river bed occasionally waving their mantles.
This survey was made possible with support from: the Legislative
Comm. on Minnesota Resources, Chantel Cook and Richard Buech of the
National Park Service, Jay Hatch, Joanne Iskerka, Cindy Lee, and
Susan Weller of the Bell Museum of Natural History, Dan Hornbach of
Macalester College, and Anne Kapuscinski of the University of
Minnesota.
Graf, D. L. 1997. Distribution of unionoid (Bivalvia) faunas in
Minnesota, USA. The Nautilus 110(2): 45-54.
Waters, T. F. 1977. The streams and rivers of Minnesota.
University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis. Minnesota. 373 pp.
1997 Mississippi River Research Consortium abstracts
Mark Hove
University of Minnesota
1980 Folwell Avenue
Saint Paul, MN 55108
(612) 624-3019
email address: Mark.Hove@fw.umn.edu
The following abstracts were selected from presentations made at
the 29th annual meeting of the
Mississippi River Research Consortium (April 24-25, 1997). The
next meeting will take place at LaCrosse, WI on April 23-24,
1998.
SECONDARY PRODUCTION OF HYALELLA AZTECA AS INFLUENCED BY DREISSENA
POLYMORPHA, LARVAL FISH, AND NUTRIENTS.
Kari Marley1*, W.B. Richardson1,2, and M.B.
Sandheinrich1 1Dept. of Biology and
Microbiology, University of Wisconsin, La Crosse, La Crosse, WI
54601
2Upper Mississippi Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey,
La Crosse, WI 54601
*Research supported by Wisconsin Seagrant.
Beds of zebra mussels typically contain greater densities of
benthic macroinvertebrates than adjacent areas, but little data
exists on the effect of zebra mussels on benthic secondary
production. We tested the hypotheses that (1) benthic production
would increase where zebra mussels and elevated nutrients were
present, but decrease in the presence of a vertebrate predator; and
(2) the presence of both zebra mussels and elevated nutrients would
offset the negative effects of fish on benthic production. In a 35-d
mesocosm experiment we manipulated the presence or absence of (1)
Dreissena (1500/m2), (2) larval fathead minnows
(Pimephales promelas: 250/m3), and (3) nutrients at
2x supply water concentrations (0.44 mg/L N and 0.035 mg/L P). These
factors were cross-classified, resulting in 8 treatment combinations;
N=3. Benthic samples were collected weekly, and the
amphipodHyalella azteca removed from the samples to estimate
secondary production (cohort growth increment summation method). We
also measured chlorophyll concentration, zooplankton density, and
fish diet and growth. Production of Hyalella increased in the
presence of zebra mussels, nutrients, and larval fish in comparison
to controls, however production decreased in the combined treatment
of zebra mussels and larval fish. The results suggest that (1)
secondary production is elevated in the presence of zebra mussels,
and (2) because zebra mussels effectively outcompete the larval fish
for zooplankton prey, the fish are forced to feed on the benthos more
intensely than when zebra mussels were not present.
EFFECTS OF DREISSENA POLYMORPHA (PALLAS 1771), ZEBRA
MUSSEL, ON 1996 UNIONID MOLLUSK TRANSLOCATION PROCEDURES: MISSISSIPPI
RIVER MILE 697.5, HWY 14/16/61, CASS STREET BRIDGE, LA CROSSE,
WI.
Marian E. Havlik
Malacological Consultants, 1603 Mississippi Street, La Crosse, WI
54601-4969.
E-mail: havlikme@aol.com
In July and August 1996, prior to routine riprap placement around
three bridge piers, 12698 unionids (27 species) including five
endangered Lampsilis higginsi (Lea 1857), and 580 other
Wisconsin special status unionids, such as 39 Ellipsaria
lineolata (Rafinesque 1820), 29 Arcidens confragosus (Say
1829), and 234 Pleurobema sintoxia (Rafinesque 1820) were
translocated, mostly from about 900 m2 around each of two
piers. Densities and number of species per pier were: Pier 6,
2.81/m2 (22 species); Pier 7, 0.07/m2 (12
species); and Pier 8, 10.65/m2 (27 species). The mean
density was 4.65 mussels/m2. This unionid translocation
was probably the first to have been conducted in an area seriously
impacted by Dreissena polymorpha, 6-44 mm long. Some
unionids, mainly from sand substrata, were devoid of this exotic,
although many showed evidence of previous D. polymorpha
attachment (byssal threads). At Piers 6 and 7 there were a small
number of D. polymorpha on most unionids, but at Pier 8, on
the left descending bank and 320 m downstream of a barge facility,
the river substrata was blanketed with zebra mussels 25-75 mm deep,
and up to 120 or more adults on 80% of the unionids. Depths at Pier 8
were 6-9 m with very strong currents, and a cobble, gravel, and sand
substrata. The number of D. polymorpha greatly slowed unionid
collection by experienced divers. Many unionids were nearly covered
with D. polymorpha, but few appeared to have been killed by
this exotic. The saving factor may be the strong current at Pier 8,
on outside of a large, river bend. Processing time was doubled
because visible D. polymorpha were hand stripped, like
shucking popcorn, before unionids were marked or numbered on each
lower anterior valve. A local waste management company required D.
polymorpha to be bagged, and advance disposal notice given to
facilitate immediate landfill burial. The first records for La Crosse
since 1907, and for the Upper Mississippi River since 1930, included
three Alasmidonta marginata Say 1818 and four Lasmigona
costata (Rafinesque 1820). Depths of 6-9 m were probably records
for these two generally small stream species. Amblema p.
plicata (Say 1817) was 39.75% of the fauna. The most suitable
translocation area for special status unionids was 4 miles upstream.
A nearby site was used as the translocation area for some common
species. Several species reported alive nearby by Havlik (1983) were
not found, including Anodonta suborbiculata Say 1831, however
the habitat was not typical for this species. All special status
specimens appeared to be doing well on 6 October 1996, except that
#131, Ligumia recta (Lamarck 1819) (160 mm long) was found
dead with about 50 - 5 mm long juvenile D. polymorpha attached
to this shell. These small D. polymorpha represented the 1996
August-September cohort.
CHANGES IN DENSITY AND SIZE DEMOGRAPHY OF THREERIDGE MUSSELS
(Amblema plicata plicata) IN LAKE PEPIN, MINNESOTA, AND
WISCONSIN
Rick Alan Hart1 and Mike Davis2
1North Dakota State University, Department of Zoology,
Fargo, ND 58105. 701/231-7030, rhart@prairie.nodak.edu
2Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Ecological
Services Section, Lake City, MN 55041. 612/345-3331
Density and size demography of unionid mussel populations were
quantitatively sampled at several mussel beds in Lake Pepin,
beginning in 1990. Densities of the commercially harvested threeridge
mussel, Amblema plicata plicata (Say, 1817), declined at 5 of
the 7 mussel beds sampled. The most dramatic decline occurred at the
Hok Si La, MN, bed where average densities ofA. p. plicata
equaled 21.7/m2 during 1993, declining to
6.0/m2 in 1995 and 5.0/m2 in 1996 (F=8.820,
P=0.0001). Densities of non-harvested mussel species increased or
remained stable at all seven beds. Average shell height ofA. p.
plicata significantly decreased at 4 beds, remained stable at 2,
and increased at 1. These data implicate commercial harvesting as a
contributing factor in the decline of this mussel species. During
this study, zebra mussels, Dreissena polymorpha, became
established in Lake Pepin. The greatest density of zebra mussels was
found at the King's Coulee bed in 1995 (1750/m2),
decreasing to 971/m2 in 1996 (T=2.366, P=0.021). Although
densities of zebra mussels decreased at this bed, infestations of
zebra mussels uponA. p. plicata did not. The average number of
live zebra mussels per liveA. p. plicata equalled 44 in 1995
and 48 in 1996. With the large percentage of infested A. p.
plicata at the King's Coulee bed in 1996 (91%), an increase in
zebra mussel induced mortality could soon become evident. While zebra
mussels can not be controlled by resource agencies, the impacts of
commercial harvesting can. An attempt is being made to model safe
levels of harvesting, thus ensuring a sustainable yield ofA. p.
plicata.
SUITABLE FISH HOSTS FOR GLOCHIDIA OF THREE FRESHWATER MUSSELS:
SQUAWFOOT, ELLIPSE, AND SNUFFBOX
Katie Rose Hillegass and Mark C. Hove
University of Minnesota, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, St.
Paul, MN 55108.
Of 297 freshwater mussel species living in North America, 213 are
either endangered, threatened, or of special concern. The
identification of fish hosts is listed in the National Strategy for
Freshwater Mussel Conservation as an urgent research objective. We
conducted laboratory studies to determine suitable fish hosts for
three species of freshwater mussels: squawfoot (Strophitus
undulatus), ellipse (Venustaconcha ellipsiformis), and
snuffbox (Epioblasma triquetra). Various fish species were
exposed to mussel larvae via artificial infestation. A fish was
considered a suitable host when larval metamorphosis to the juvenile
stage was observed. Juvenile squawfoot were collected from five of
seven species tested: largemouth bass, green sunfish, black
bullheads, bluegills, and yellow perch. Of nine fish species exposed
to ellipse glochidia, only blackside darters were suitable hosts.
Snuffbox glochidia metamorphosed on logperch and blackside darters.
Host requirements for squawfoot glochidia appeared to be quite
general, whereas ellipse glochidia were more selective.
Species-specific molecular markers are being developed for use in the
identification of glochidia collected from naturally infested
fish.
EFFECT OF INCREASED ZEBRA MUSSEL DENSITIES ON MACROINVERTEBRATE
COMMUNITY STRUCTURE OF SNAGS IN THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER
Todd R. Birkle and Michael D. Delong
Large River Studies Center, Biology Dept., Winona State University,Winona,
MN 55987
Studies of the zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha, in Europe
suggest that we can expect this exotic species to reach an
equilibrium with native invertebrates in the upper Mississippi River,
but at a cost. Some documented on native invertebrates include a
decrease in the availability of hard substrata and lower
phytoplankton abundance. We collected samples of woody debris (snags)
from backwater and main channel habitats of the upper Mississippi
River to determine if increasing zebra mussel densities were
affecting the density and diversity of native benthic invertebrates.
Our data were compared to those of a similar study conducted in 1993,
prior to any substantial snag colonization by zebra mussels. Samples
were collected from two sites (near RK 1155 and 1172) in September
1996 using a DTH snag sampler. Zebra mussel densities on snags were
low in both the main channel and backwaters in 1993. By 1996,
densities in excess of 200 individuals/m2 were not
uncommon. Of particular note were the densities observed in
backwaters, which were in the same general locations were zebra
mussels were first observed in 1993. The invertebrate community in
1996 was characterized by an abundance of Chironomidae and small to
marked reductions in the abundance of heptageniid mayflies and
several groups of Trichoptera. Comparison of data from 1993 to 1996
suggest that the same trends observed in other areas, including the
Great Lakes, will hold true for the upper Mississippi River. Benthic
invertebrates which can use zebra mussel byssus and pseudofeces as
habitat and possible food source, respectively, (e.g.,
Chironomidae) will take advantage of the new conditions, whereas,
organisms competing with mussels for space (e.g., some
Trichoptera and Ephemeroptera) will see a reduction in overall
densities.
USE OF A DYNAMIC POPULATION MODEL TO EVALUATE MANAGEMENT
STRATEGIES FOR NATIVE MUSSELS.
K. Douglas Blodgett 1, James A. Stoeckel 2,
Scott D. Whitney 1, and Richard E. Sparks2
1 LTRMP Field Station, Illinois Natural History Survey, 704 N.
Schrader Ave., Havana, IL 62644
2 Forbes Biological Station, Illinois Natural History
Survey, P.O. Box 590, Havana, IL
62644
Currently, management of native mussels is hampered by our
inability to quantitatively assess the impacts of natural and
anthropomorphic stresses, such as natural and harvest mortality, on
populations of this economically and ecologically important resource.
Sound science-based management requires a tool that combines data on
current populations with knowledge of population dynamics to predict
future conditions under various management scenarios. Using Stella II
software running on a personal computer, we developed a dynamic,
single-species population model that can be used as one tool to help
evaluate effects of different management strategies on native mussel
populations. Input parameters include initial mussel density (number
per m2), age-frequency distribution, growth rate, age or
size at maturity, and age-specific mortality rates. In our model,
recruitment is density dependent and can be calculated either as a
percentage of the reproductive population or by using a submodel
which incorporates fecundity rate, sex ratio, density-dependent
fertilization rate, and glochidial attachment, transformation, and
survival rates. The primary output from the model is live mussel
standing stocks (numbers per m2) of different age classes
over time. In our model, harvest can be regulated by various
management strategies including minimum shell height (the current
management practice in Upper Mississippi River [UMR] states),
harvest allowed only when a specific mussel density is exceeded,
maximum harvest rate (number per m2), assorted closure
regimes, or combinations of these. Model outputs include annual and
cumulative harvest (numbers and/or pounds per m2). The
model also can use mussel weight- or size-dependent price estimates
to calculate dollar values for standing stocks and annual, mean, and
cumulative harvest. We used data for the threeridge mussel
(Amblema plicata) collected from Reach 15 of the UMR near Rock
Island, IL, and compared 100-year simulation runs of the model using
two types of regulation strategy. The first strategy produced a set
of five runs with harvest regulated by minimum harvest heights of
1.50, 1.90, 2.50, 2.75, and 3.00 inches. The second strategy used a
constant minimum harvest height of 2.75 inches (the limit in most UMR
states) and five different minimum harvest densities, allowing
harvest of legal-size mussels only when their densities exceeded 0.5,
1.0, 2.5, 5.0, or 10.0 per m2. Using the minimum harvest
height regulations alone, the total 100-year harvest ranged from 5.3
to 5.8 live mussels harvested per m2, and the 100-year
mean mussel density (standing stock) ranged from 0.8 to 2.8 mussels
per m2. Regulation by minimum harvest density resulted in
total 100-year harvests from 4.0 to 12.9 mussels per m2
and mean densities of 1.5 to 12.8 mussels per m2. Use of
this or similar models should aid in the development and
implementation of improved management strategies to protect or even
enhance our native mussel resources (e.g., provide higher standing
stocks) while contributing to a sustained harvest at an increased
rate and/or value.
BELL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY: ORGANIZING MINNESOTA'S FRESHWATER
MOLLUSKS INTO A GIS-COMPATIBLE DATABASE
Mark Hove1, Mark Nelson2, Susan
Weller1, Richard Buech2, and Robert
Bright1
1 James Ford Bell Museum of Natural History, University of
Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108
2 US Forest Service, North Central Forest Experiment
Station, St. Paul, MN 55108
The Bell Museum of Natural History is Minnesota's repository for
freshwater mollusks. The museum collection includes 5737 lots; 5146
from states surrounding and including Minnesota. Freshwater bivalves
constitute 92% of the collection, including 250 lots collected before
1910. Specimens collected beyond Minnesota and adjacent states
include freshwater mussels from 22 states (n=188 lots) and 2 other
countries (n=2 lots), and snails from 31 states (n=369 lots) and 11
other countries (n=32 lots). Most of these collection records are
entered into a computer database (Filemaker Pro customized by Daniel
Graf). In addition to active acquisition of specimens, we are
expanding our computer database on Minnesota mollusks to include a
review of species locality data collected from journal articles and
federal reports. In collaboration with the US Forest Service, we are
in the process of converting our literature database to a
GIS-friendly format. With GIS capability, it is possible to visualize
collection needs, changes in fauna over time, and the correlation of
mussel species' distributions with geoclimatic and vegetation
records. This database and GIS capability will provide distribution
information in an accessible format to resource managers, and
facilitate efforts to identify and conserve rare species.
CURRENT STATUS OF THE BENTHIC COMMUNITY OF POOL 19, MISSISSIPPI
RIVER.
Robert Kennedy, Richard V. Anderson, and Melissa Morgan
Dept. of Biological Sciences, Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL
61455.
Benthic samples have been collected at standard sites in Pool 19,
Mississippi River for over 25 years. During this period benthic
density and diversity has fluctuated substantially. During this
period sedimentation, extreme droughts and floods have also occurred.
When evaluating the benthic data in terms of habitat changes brought
about by these extreme events some specific relationships are
apparent. Burrowing forms of benthic organisms occur in the channel
border habitat of most of the lower reach of Pool 19. Dense
populations (1-10 X 104/m2) of some of these burrowing
benthic organisms, particularly fingernail clams (Musculium)
and burrowing mayflies (Hexagenia), occur in soft sediments in
association with vegetation but not directly in vegetated habitats.
When areas of soft substrate develop vegetation, such as during
droughts or when sedimentation decreases water depths, populations of
these benthic organisms are greatly reduced (>100/m2).
However, if flooding removes the vegetation the Musculium,
Hexageniadominated benthic community is quickly reestablished
an appears to persist until dense stands of aquatic macrophytes again
develop. The aquatic macrophytes produce unsuitable conditions in the
substrate below the plants but provide a good food source in adjacent
benthic habitat. Once sedimentation rates stabilize in an impounded
reach of a navigation pool, density of fingernail clams and burrowing
mayflies may fluctuate in relation to flooding or drought events of
sufficient magnitude to alter patterns of aquatic macrophyte
development.
EFFECTS OF FOOD LIMITATION BY ZEBRA MUSSELS (DREISSENA
POLYMORPHA) AND FISH PREDATION ON LIFE HISTORY CHARACTERISTICS OF
DAPHNIA PULEX.
Michael Kinsella1, Mark B. Sandheinrich1,
and William B. Richardson2
1River Studies Center, Department of Biology &
Microbiology, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, La Crosse, WI
54601.
2 U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Mississippi Science
Center, La Crosse, WI 54602
Life history strategies of organisms have evolved to maximize the
fitness of the individual and may be influenced by the environment of
the species. Competition and predation are interspecific interactions
that may alter life history characteristics. Zooplankton (e.g.,
Daphnia spp.) subject to intense fish predation, generally
shunt energetic resources into reproduction rather than growth and
produce large clutches of small eggs at an early age. In contrast,
Daphnia subject to invertebrate predation and competing for
food with other filter feeders grow quickly, delay reproduction, and
produce small clutches with large eggs. Since its introduction into
the Laurentian Great Lakes in 1986, the zebra mussel (Dreissena
polymorpha)has spread throughout the Great Lakes region and now
occurs within the upper Mississippi River. Although several studies
have demonstrated that zebra mussels effectively filter phytoplankton
and compete with zooplankton, no studies have assessed the effects of
this exotic mussel on the life history characteristics of native
zooplankton. The objectives of this mesocosm study were to determine
the effect of resource depression due to filter-feeding zebra mussels
and the effect of fish predation on life history characteristics of
Daphnia pulex. A two factor cross-classified experimental
design was used to assess the main and interactive effecs of the
presence or absence of zebra musssels and fish. There were four
treatment combinations, with three units per treatment. Intrinsic
rate of increase, instantaneous birth and death rates, clutch size,
size at first reproduction, and population size of the Daphnia
were estimated weekly during the eight-week study. Preliminary
results suggest that zebra mussels increased clutch size and
increased death rates. Fish increased death rates and decreased
population size and size at first reproduction of Daphnia.
When co-occurring, zebra mussels and fish decreased population size
and increased the average clutch size of Daphnia. These
results suggest that zebra mussels may alter zooplankton life history
characteristics and depress population growth in Daphnia.
MODIFICATION OF THE ALKALINE DIGESTION AND PHENOL-SULFURIC ACID METHOD FOR THE DETERMINATION OF GLYCOGEN IN AQUATIC INVERTEBRATES.
Emy M. Monroe1, Teresa J. Naimo1, and Ron G.
Rada2 1
U.S. Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division, Upper Mississippi
Science Center, La Crosse, WI 54602 and
2University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, River Studies Center, La
Crosse, WI 54601.
The amount of glycogen in animal tissue is often used as an
indicator of energetic status of the organism. In long-lived
invertebrates, such as unionid mussels, where short-term measures of
growth are unrealistic, repeated analysis of glycogen content may
provide a valuable tool to assess changes in physiological condition
of individuals. Recently developed biopsy techniques make it possible
to repeatedly remove from an individual organism small tissue samples
(10-30 mg) that can be analyzed for constituents such as glycogen.
Methods for measuring glycogen, however, are numerous, and the method
detection limits are usually unreported or unknown. Our objectives
were to modify the alkaline digestion and phenol-sulfuric acid
spectrophotometric method for the analysis of glycogen in small (10
mg) samples and to determine the accuracy and method detection limit
of the modified method. Based on 10 batches of analyses, the method
is rapid, has high precision (mean RSD of triplicate analyses=9.4%),
low bias (mean percent recovery of known additions=109%), and has a
method detection limit of 0.02 mg glycogen. Thus, the modified method
can accurately measure glycogen in small tissue samples, allowing the
repeated measurement of glycogen in individual organisms over
time.
SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL VARIABILITY IN GLYCOGEN CONTENT IN
HEXAGENIA MAYFLIES AND FINGERNAIL CLAMS IN THE UPPER
MISSISSIPPI RIVER.
Teresa J. Naimo, Erika D. Damschen, and Emy M. Monroe
U.S. Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division, Upper
Mississippi Science Center, La Crosse, WI 54602.
Recently, physiological indicators of condition, such as glycogen
concentration, have been used to assess the relative health of benthic
invertebrates in laboratory studies. However, data on the spatial and
temporal variability in glycogen concentration from field populations are
lacking. We assessed the glycogen concentration in 5 male and 5 female
mayflies (Hexagenia spp.) and 5 fingernail clams (Musculium
transversum) obtained monthly (May-Oct.) from 4 sites in Navigation
Pool 8 of the Upper Mississippi River in 1994 and 1995. In fingernail
clams, glycogen concentration ranged from 0.3 to 51.8 mg/g wet weight (mean
11.8) and did not differ significantly between years, or among sites or
months. In mayflies, glycogen concentration ranged from 1.1 to 14.0 mg/g
wet weight (mean 4.9) and differed significantly among months (p=0.001),
but not between sexes or years, or among sites. In mayflies, glycogen was
highest in late spring and declined throughout the summer and fall. In both
organisms, glycogen content (mg) was positively correlated with length and
weight. These data suggest that the variability in glycogen concentration
is driven by temporal, rather that spatial, patterns. Thus, glycogen
concentration may be a useful indicator of physiological and reproductive
condition in field and laboratory studies if temporal variation is
accounted for.
CHARACTERIZATION OF DREISSENID MUSSELS FROM THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER
USING SPECIFIC DNA MARKERS FROM MITOCHONDRIAL CYTOCHROME C
OXIDASE.
Michael A. Romano, Angela D. Byers, Richard V. Anderson, and N.
Carol Krumanocker Dept. of Biological Sciences, 1 University Circle,
Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL 61455.
In a recent study of Dreissenid mussels in the Mississippi River,
Krumanocker (1996) reported that, in addition to Dreissena
polymorpha (zebra) and D. bugensis (quagga), Mytilopsis
leucophaeata (dark false mussel) has become established in the
Mississippi. Identification of the three purported taxa based upon
morphology and electrophoretic studies of those specimens appeared to
corroborate the identification of those species. In an attempt to confirm
the presence of all three species, a different molecular technique has been
utilized to establish whether the three species are present. Baldwin et al.
(1996) utilized the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) to amplify an
approximately 710 bp fragment of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene
(COI0 from D. polymorpha, D. bugensis and M. leucophaeata.
They demonstrated three very distinct restriction fragment lenght
polymorphic (RFLP) patterns when the PCR product was digested with the
restriction endonuclease NlaIV. We have successfully extracted DNA from all
three of the morphologically identified Dreissenids and have amplified a
DNA fragment utilizing the same set of PCR primers reported in Baldwin et
al. (1996). The RFLP results of PCR product from all three morphological
types will be presented.
FIVE YEARS OF MACROINVERTEBRATE SAMPLING ON THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI
RIVER
Jennifer S. Sauer
Environmental Management Technical Center, 575 Lester Avenue,
Onalaska, WI 54650
The temporal variability in mayflies (Ephemeridae), fingernail clams
(Sphaeriidae), and midges (Chironomidae) in six study reaches of the Upper
Mississippi River System was examined. Spatial distribution also is
discussed for these organisms along with the Asiatic clam, Corbicula
fluminea, and the zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha). Sample
allocation was based on a stratified random design which was based on
aquatic area. No significant linear trends across years were determined in
estimated mean number of organisms. However, the overall test for
differences in intercepts among study reaches was statistically significant
(P<0.05) for mayflies, fingernail clams, and midges. Overall, the
impounded aquatic areas and silt/clay substrates tended to support higher
numbers of the select macroinvertebrates.
PREDATION OF ZEBRA MUSSELS, DREISSENA POLYMORPHA, BY
RIVERINE FISHES IN THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER
Renae B. Servaty and Michael D. Delong
Large River Studies Center and Biology Dept., Winona State
University, Winona, MN 55987.
Previous studies of zebra mussels, Dreissena polymorpha, in the
upper Mississippi River have indicated that fish are actively feeding on
this exotic species. Furthermore, these studies suggest that fish are
selectively removing zebra mussels larger than 8-mm. The objective of this
study was to analyze gut contents of fish to determine what fish are
consuming zebra mussels and to verify size selectivity of mussels larger
than 8-mm. Samples were taken by boat with an electroshocker along three
400-m transects from backwater and main channel shoreline habitats in Pool
6 of the upper Mississippi River. Fish were identified, weighed, measured,
and the stomachs were examined for the presence of zebra mussel shells.
Septum width and total length, when possible, were measured. A regression
model was developed to estimate total length using septum length when
damage to the shell made it impossible to measure the former. Several
species of fish were found to consume zebra mussels. Major predators in the
main channel included redhorse (Moxostoma spp.), carp (Cyprinus
carpio), and freshwater drum (Aplodinotis grunniens). All three
species were also found to consume zebra mussels in addition to bluegill
(Lepomis macrochirus). Bluegill exhibited a preference for zebra
mussels of 4 - 7 mm total length whereas other predators consumed zebra
mussels most frequently of 5 - 20 mm total length. Fish predators in the
main channel appeared to prefer zebra mussels > 6 mm. The results of
this study suggest that differences in size preference exist between main
channel and backwater habitats, with the composition of fish assemblages
being a major factor. As a result, zebra mussel population dynamics may
differ in main channel and backwater areas of the upper Mississippi
River.
FRESHWATER BIVALVES OF TENNESSEE, in Press
Paul W. Parmalee, McClung Museum, University of Tennessee,
Knoxville, TN 37996 and
Arthur E. Bogan, North Carolina State Museum of Natural Sciences,
P.O. Box 29555, Raleigh, NC 27626
This volume presents basic biological information on freshwater bivalves
of the family Unionidae in Tennessee, including shell structure, growth,
development, general ecology, distribution (prehistoric and present),
aboriginal and historic commercial utilization, and current status. The
synonymy, general and Tennessee distribution, shell description, life
history and ecology, and status are presented for each of the 129 native
species reported from the state. A color plate showing two specimens of
each species and a Tennessee distribution map with an insert map showing
the total species distribution, accompanies the discussion of each mussel
species.
This volume is being published by the University of Tennessee Press,
Knoxville, Tennessee. The volume is expected to be published in Fall 1998.
No price has been set at this time.
AGE AND SIZE STRUCTURE OF COMMERCIAL UNIONIDS, WITH EMPHASIS ON
Megalonaias nervosa (Rafinesque 1820), UPPER MISSISSIPPI
RIVER, REACH 9-19, LANSING - FORT MADISON, IOWA, JULY - SEPTEMBER,
1997.
HAVLIK, MARIAN E.
Malacological Consultants
603 Mississippi Street
La Crosse, WI 54601-4969
Phone/Fax: 608-782-7958
E-mail: havlikme@aol.com
In 1997 the Shell Exporters of America Inc. (SEA) began the most
extensive survey ever done on commercial unionids. From 1 July-14 Sept. we
sampled 8 Reaches (Pools) of the Mississippi River, Mile 663.0-386.0,
Reaches 9-12, 14-16, 19, with emphasis on M. nervosa. Sites were
identified by divers, the malacologist and clammer/buyer's experiences, and
a Resource Inventory. I designed a modified 0.25 m2 Surber
sampler with an attached mesh bag, a 15 m rope, and an inflatable buoy. 11
quads were made by Tennessee Shell, Camden, TN. One or 2 major and several
minor sites were sampled in most Reaches. The Sylvan Slough Sanctuary,
Moline, IL, was sampled in both Reaches 15 and 16. 252 random timed dives
were done starting near shorelines; results are given as a CPU. If this was
productive, we did quadrats (N = 692) in transects across the width of the
unionid bed. Over 20,400 live and dead unionids were processed from 944
dive sites. Mean density of M. nervosa/Reach =
2.7-7.6/m2; quad densities ranged from 0.0-68.0/m2.
4800 living M. nervosa were measured and aged after being scrubbed
with steel bristled paint stripping brushes to remove Dreissena
polymorpha byssal debris. Few M. nervosa were fresh-dead from
D. polymorpha. The youngest M. nervosa was 2 yrs (10 mm ht).
The apparent lack of young M. nervosa reported in 1986 was not real
as evidenced by large numbers of 10 to 13 year old age classes in 1997,
apparently a response to the 1982-1986 Mississippi River die-off. In some
areas 5-7 year age classes were well represented. Nearly all age classes
were quite well represented from ages 5-early 20's. Age does not equal
size. Growth varies from Reach to Reach, and within a bed, especially from
upstream to downstream in the Mississippi. Growth rates generally increase
further south, but Reach 9 (WI) also had good growth. The youngest
commercial M. nervosa was 9 yrs, the oldest 38 yrs. In most Reaches
2.4-10.8% (mean 7.8%) of a bed is of commercial size (101.6 mm). The
highest number of legal sized unionids were in Sylvan Slough (18.5%)
indicating little illegal harvest; sanctuary status is working. 2200 dead
M. nervosa were measured for height. The smallest and largest
Amblema p. plicata (Say 1817) from each sample were also measured
and aged. Few malacologists have ever had the opportunity to observe
unionid age and growth in such a long reach of a large river.
Reach/Location |
# Quads | # M.n. |
#/m2
|
Tot. Mn
|
Total Legal
|
|
9 Lynxville, WI
|
101
|
192
|
7.60
|
1394
|
2.08%
|
|
10 Prairie du Chien, WI
|
69
|
65
|
3.77
|
526
|
10.77%
|
|
11 Platte River, WI
|
130
|
88
|
2.71
|
823
|
10.23%
|
|
12 Dubuque, IA
|
-
|
|
|
62
|
|
|
14 Princeton, IA
|
147
|
109
|
2.97
|
330
|
12.84%
|
|
15 Moline, IL
|
-
|
|
|
245
|
|
|
Sylvan Slough, IL
|
82
|
76
|
3.71
|
611
|
18.42%
|
|
19 Ft. Madison, IA
|
163
|
257
|
6.31
|
813
|
9.34%
|
|
A UNIONID MOLLUSK SURVEY IN AN UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER
SIDE CHANNEL NEAR GREY CLOUD ISLAND, MILE 820.0 - 821.5,
COTTAGE GROVE, MN.
HAVLIK, MARIAN E.
Malacological Consultants
603 Mississippi Street
La Crosse, WI 54601-4969
Phone/Fax: 608-782-7958
E-mail: havlikme@aol.com
No federally endangered unionids were found at the above
site, during a survey done 22-24 September 1997 just
downstream of the metropolitan St. Paul, MN area. However,
the first two random dives, each covering about 3 m X 15 m,
yielded one Minnesota endangered Quadrula nodulata
(Rafinesque 1820) and one Minnesota threatened Tritogonia
verrucosa (Rafinesque 1820) among 130 unionids (11
species). Both of these special status unionids are probably
the first live representatives of these species in the
Minnesota portion of the Upper Mississippi River for many
years. The source of Q. nodulata is unknown, but
T. verrucosa lives in the nearby St. Croix River.
Random dives throughout the site yielded seven more Q.
nodulata, each representing different age classes (3, 4,
6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13 years old) indicating nearly yearly
reproduction of Q. nodulata in the area.
At total of over 700 unionids were found representing 14 living species
at a mean density of about 2.0/m2. An additional 11 species were
represented by empty shells, four of which were represented by fresh
shells, while the remaining 7 species were represented by sub-fossil
shells. All living unionids were measured and aged. There was recent
reproduction of most species. Living unionids were in excellent exterior
condition with well preserved beak sculpture and no evidence of any
erosion, even at 10 to 20 years of age; this phenomena is almost never
seen. Only one living Dreissena polymorpha (Pallas 1771) was found
attached to a Quadrula quadrula (Rafinesque 1820) One fresh-dead D.
polymorpha was also found. The host fish for Quadrula nodulata
apparently has not been confirmed in recent times, but the early 1900's
literature indicate the host may be the channel catfish, flathead catfish,
bluegill, or smallmouth bass (Fuller 1978). Q. nodulata was not
found alive in 1996 among over 6,000 unionids we handled at Winona, MN, nor
among nearly 13,000 unionids handled at La Crosse, W1, about 100 and 125
river miles downstream respectively of the Grey Cloud Island site. Q.
nodulata is nearly unknown from the nearby St. Croix River (Havlik
1987). The Tritogonia verrucosa was 11 years of age. Studies for the
host of T. verrucosa have been done recently (Hove 1997).
Improvements to the sewage treatment plants in the Twin Cities, MN, area,
along with the general cleanup of industrial contamination, have apparently
improved water quality conditions to the extent that unionids have begun to
re-populate areas downstream of the Pig's Eye Sewage Treatment Plant,
including the area near Grey Cloud Island. This site is also near the
upstream limits of the commercial navigation channel. Apparently nearby
barge traffic has little recent effect on this Mississippi River side
channel unionid mollusk population.
New Distribution Record for Toxolasma parva in Pennsylvania
Robert Anderson
U.S. Geological Survey
1000 Liberty Ave, Rm 2204
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
PH: (412) 644-2778; FAX: (412) 355-2548; e-mail: rmanders@usgs.gov
In July 1996, a specimen of Toxolasma parva was collected for the
first time in the Monongahela River, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. A
composite of five (5) sediment samples were collected with a petit ponar.
The samples were taken from depths of 0.5 - 1.5 m. in a mud substrate near
river mile 5 within the city of Pittsburgh. The T. parva specimen
measured 25 mm long and is therefore larger than is typical for this
species. Age has not been determined. The specimen was deposited in the
Carnegie Museum of Natural History (Catalog number 47.389).
Toxolasma parvahas been documented only once from Pennsylvania.
Several specimens were collected at Conneaut Lake Outlet, Crawford Co., Pa.
(Ortmann, 1919). The habitat typically associated with this species has
very low stream velocity and silt substrate. The habitat at the collecting
site in the Monongahela River has these characteristics.
The Monongahela River has a history of severe degradation but has exhibited
recovery in recent years. This river is maintained for commercial
navigation for its entire length and is effected by acid mine drainage,
extensive industrialization, sewage, and urban runoff. The macro-biotic
community has been reduced and was previously virtually eliminated. The
loss of the entire unionid community in this river segment occurred a
century or more ago (Ortmann, 1909). The re-colonization of the lower
Monongahela River by a unionid mussel follows a significant recovery of the
fish community of the Monongahela River, Allegheny River, and upper Ohio
River since the mid- 1960's.
The sample was collected as part of the National Water Quality Assessment
(NAWQA) Program that assesses water quality through the analysis of
surface-water and ground-water chemistry, stream habitat, and biotic
measurements in numerous basins nationwide. This assessment is designed to
intensely focus on relatively few sites in each basin for a period of three
years in the initial phase to be repeated in 5-year cycles. The
Allegheny-Monongahela Study Unit in western Pennsylvania, West Virginia,
Maryland, and New York completed the initial year of sampling in 1996.
Ortmann, A.E., 1909, The destruction of the fresh-water fauna in western
Pennsylvania. Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society. v. 48 p.
90- 110.
Ortmann, A.E.. 1919, A Monograph of the Naiades of Pennsylvania. Memoirs of
the Carnegie Museum, Pittsburgh, PA. p. 1 - 385.
Fish Host Identification for Virginia Listed Unionids in the Upper
Tennessee River Drainage
Authors: Michelle B Steg, Dr. Richard J. Neves
Address: Virginia Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit
Biological Resources Division
Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA 24061-0321
Phone Numbers: (540) 552-8846 (M.B. Steg); (540) 231-5927 (R.J. Neves)
Fax Number: (540) 231-7580
Email: msteg@vt.edu (M.B Steg); mussel@vt.edu (R.J. Neves)
Report:
Fish hosts were identified for two Virginia state listed freshwater mussel
species, the black sandshell (Ligumia recta) and Tennessee
heelsplitter(Lasmigona holstonia) during 1996 and 1997. Both species
exhibited low degrees of host specificity in laboratory tests. Host fish
identified for the state threatened L. rectawere large mouth bass,
green sunfish, redbreast sunfish, rockbass, white perch, yellow perch,
platy, and convict cichlids. Non-indigenous fish species were tested for
potential use in the captive production of mussels. Host fish identified
for the state endangered L. holstonia were the banded sculpin and
rockbass. Central stonerollers, striped shiners and warpaint shiners were
identified as potential hosts, with numerous encysted glochidia observed on
fish that died at ten days post-infestation. The average water temperature
was 21.5oC. The following table summarizes our results- note that
some species exhibited limited success and may require further testing.
| | | | Mussel
Species | | |
| | | L.
holstonia | | L. recta | |
| | | Days to # encysted
(days | | | Days to |
| Host fish (#) | #
juveniles | transform | post-infestation) | #
juveniles | transform
|
| Micropterus salmoides (12) |
| | | 198 | (11-30) |
| Lepomis
cyanellus(1) | | | | 4 | (1
9-29) |
| Ambloplites rupestris (3)
| 1 | 14 | | 4 | 23 |
| Lepomis auritus (2)
| | | | 2 | 11 |
| Morone americana (1)
| | | | 1 | 27 |
| Perca flavescens (2)
| | | | 18 |
(10-21) |
| Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum (1)
| | | | 58 |
(15-26) |
| Xiphophorus maculatus (20)
| | | | 21 | 24 |
| Luxilus chrysocephalus (2)
| | | 75
(10) | | |
| Cottus carolinae (1) | 19 | (12-24) | 28
(15) | | |
| Campostoma anomalum (5) | | | 24
(10) | | |
| Luxilus coccogenis (1) | | | 49
(10) | | |
|
Fish hosts of the federally endangered pink mucket, Lampsilis
abrupta
M. Chris Barnhart, Frank A. Riusech and Andrew D. Roberts
Department of Biology, Southwest Missouri State University
Springfield, MO 65804
417-836-5166; MCB095f@wpgate.smsu.edu
Herein we report the results of laboratory tests for suitable fish hosts of Lampsilis abrupta(Say, 1831). The distribution and taxonomy of this species, [formerly known as Lampsilis orbiculata(Hildreth, 1828)] were reviewed in the Recovery Plan (USFW 1985). Both Lampsilis abrupta and its near relative, Lampsilis higginsi,are federally