U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Endangered and Threatened Mussels in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint Basin

Freshwater Mussel Facts They make no sound. They Common and scientific names: Fat threeridge Fat threeridge mussel (Amblema cannot see. Some may live for neislerii), Shinyrayed pocketbook (Lampsilis subangulata), Gulf moccasinshell (Medionidus penicillatus), decades, but seldom move from Oval pigtoe (Pleurobema pyriforme), Chipola slabshell (Elliptio chipolaensis), and Purple bankclimber (Elliptoideus a secure spot. Yet, freshwater sloatianus). Status: All six mussels were listed on mussels are causing a stir; March 16, 1998. Chipola slabshell Description: Mussels are bivalve becoming noticed and making mollusks, which means they have two valves (shells) surrounding a soft fleshy us ponder their future as we body. Freshwater mussels are related to snails, oysters, clams and squids. Habitat: Mussels live in the sand and make plans for our own. gravel bottoms of streams and rivers. They require good water quality, stable Mussels are in trouble. No other country in stream channels and flowing water. the world equals the United States in Diet: Mussels filter their food out of the Purple bankclimber freshwater mussel variety. While all of water. They eat algae, bacteria, and Europe supports only 12 species, nearly 300 other small, organic particles filtered kinds live here. It’s estimated that 70% of from the water column. our freshwater mussels are extinct, endangered, or in need of special protection. Life history: The larvae of these In the Apalachicolan Region, three species mussels are parasites on the gills and have already been declared extinct, seven fins of freshwater fishes, including have been federally protected under the darters, minnows and bass. The larvae Endangered Species Act, and six more are use the host fish for dispersal and cause proposed as candidates for federal them little to no harm. Many mussels protection. Many of their problems stem use lures that mimic minnows, worms, Shinyrayed pocketbook from how they live and changes that have leeches or aquatic insects to attract a occurred to their habitat during the past 200 suitable fish host. years. Natural predators: Some species of fishes and turtles, as well as muskrats, Why are freshwater mussels so raccoons, and otters feed on mussels. imperiled? Our native freshwater mussels face greater Threats to survival: Habitat problems today than they did just a few modification through manmade years ago. Some problems aren’t new. structures like dams and channel Habitat losses from channelization, clearing alterations has destroyed free-flowing of riparian and streambank vegetation, water habitats. These modifications restrict mussels and fish from Gulf moccasinshell siltation, dredging, and dam construction, cause the greatest threat to native mussels. dispersing which results in small, Although water quality has improved in isolated populations. In addition to some areas, pollution, especially non-point habitat modifications, mussel source pollution, still persists. Mussels are populations are exposed to point source impacted by loss of fish hosts from fish kills pollution and nonpoint source pollution or dams that prevent fish migration. such as toxic runoff containing Poachers can impact mussels by violating fertilizers, harvest regulations set by conservation herbicides and agencies. However, in some parts of the pesticides from country, it’s a non-native mussel causing the land-use most concern. practices. Oval pigtoe U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Life Down Under ■ Ecological value: agencies are working together to find Most freshwater mussels live mussels are natural filters, feeding solutions to problems facing our burrowed in sand and gravel at the on algae, plankton, and silts, they mussels. bottom of rivers and streams. Only a help purify the aquatic system. few are adapted to the quiet water Mussels are also an important food The Endangered Species Act of 1973 and muddy depths of lakes, ponds, source for many species of wildlife provides an important tool for and reservoirs. including otters, raccoon, muskrat, conservation of endangered and herons, egrets, and some fish. threatened species. Federally Unlike most animals, which must endangered species are so rare they travel in search of food, their food ■ Economic value: are in danger of becoming extinct. drifts to them, mainly tiny plants and freshwater mussels have been and Unfortunately, extinction is forever animals called plankton suspended in continue to be a major economic and once gone, a species can never the water. By drawing water inside resource; first in the button return to our web of life. Threatened their shells through a siphon, their industry and now in the cultured species are more abundant at this gills filter out food and take in pearl industry. Mussels from North time but may become endangered in oxygen. American form the nucleus of the the future. cultured pearl industry in Asia. Mussels usually don’t move much, but How can you help? a muscular “foot” helps them burrow ■ Education and aesthetic value: In order to protect mussels, thereby and allows limited travel if disturbed the study of mussels, their natural protecting ourselves, the following by floods or drought. The foot also history, and habitat requirements things can be done: helps anchor them against strong provides interesting and important currents and may prevent a hungry lessons on the interconnectedness ■ Limit or cease pesticide use to muskrat from tugging them out for of the aquatic system and how conserve soil and prevent runoff its dinner! A mussel’s shell, however, species adapt to their ecosystem. into nearby lakes and streams. provides its main protection from Integrated Pest Management ■ Cultural value: predators. (IPM) strategies can replace Mussels played an important role in pesticide use—find out more about Their hard, calcium-based shells the cultural history of prehistoric it. consist of two halves joined by a and recent native peoples of the hinge. Unique names like “fat Apalachicola River Basin. They ■ Help control soil erosion by threeridge,” “purple bankclimber,” were used as food and the shells planting trees and plants to avoid and “Chipola slabshell” refer to the were used for ornamentation, tools, runoff of soil into freshwater areas. wide range of shell size, color, shape, and as a commodity for trade. ■ Remove aquatic weeds from boat and texture found among mussel Indian shell middens (the piles of trailers and motors before using shells. shells that native Americans have again to prevent the spread of left behind) extend for miles along Although their lives appear boring, things such as zebra mussels. Do sites of old villages and encampments not throw weeds back into the their reproductive strategies are along the Apalachicola River. quite fascinating. Fertilized eggs water. ■ develop and are released into the Biodiversity: ■ Help support watershed water to begin a parasitic stage. With Mussels have, and hopefully will management programs by calling little time to waste, these youngsters, continue, to play an important role in your local resource management called glochidia, must attach our aquatic ecosystems. Considering agency. themselves to a host fish or perish. that less than 20 mussel species are For some mussels, the host is limited found in most other countries of the ■ Support and follow zebra mussel to only a few fish species. This world, our North American rivers quarantine, inspection, and harmless parasitic stage lasts a and streams are truly “rich” with decontamination programs. matter of weeks before the larvae close to 300 species!! ■ transform into young mussels and are Conserve water. Some mussels do not get cancer. ready to drop off the fish and begin a For more information, contact: life in the stream bottom. Researchers want to know why and mussels may have additional values Panama City, Florida Field Office Why do we care? in the future that we cannot now 850/769 0552 ■ Monitors of aquatic health: predict. The loss of any of these or Athens, Georgia Field Office the presence of diverse and species will definitely have 706/613 9493 reproducing populations of mussels consequences on how the aquatic or indicate a healthy aquatic system ecosystem functions. Tom MacKenzie, Media Relations which means good fishing, good External Affairs, Atlanta water quality for waterfowl and What is being done? 404/679 7291 other wildlife species, as well as Biologists from the U.S. Fish and insurance that our water is safe. Wildlife Service (Service) and the Conversely, when mussel U.S. Geological Survey along with populations are at risk, it indicates other Federal, State, and private problems for other fish and wildlife species, and people too.