Freshwater pearly mussel (unionid) survey of Oaks Creek and the below its confluence, summer 20121

M.F. Albright, P.H. Lord and T.N. Pokorny

INTRODUCTION

Oaks Creek drains in central Otsego County and converges with the Susquehanna River about 15 km from its source. Over the summer of 2012, the benthic communities were evaluated at nine sites along the Creek, as well as a site on Fly Creek, immidiately above its confluence with Oaks Creek, and at a site on the Susquanna River below its confluence with Oaks Creek (Buckhout 2013). Additionally, an intensive qualitative survey was conducted on all aquatic taxa at a single streetch on the middle reaches of Oaks Creek (Heilveil and Buckhout 2013. This report attempts to describe the distribution of freshwater pearly mussels (unionids) throughout Oaks Creek and in the Susquehanna, below where the two meet.

METHODS

In anticipation of the field surveys, the BFS summer intern crew was trained on the basics of clam recognition and identification. This involved ½ day utilizing a collection of shells archieved at the BFS, and ½ day at a nearby site on the Susquehanna River which is known to be inhabited by unionids. Using glass bottom buckets and snorkel gear, crew members gained experience searching for and recognizing unionids in various habitats. The formal survey was conducted on 16-18 July 2012. Figure 1 provides a map showing the sample sites. All mussel identifications were confirmed by P.H. Lord.

RESULTS

Table 1 summarizes the number of each species of freshwater mussel collcted at each site, including both living specimens and empty shells. Site 1, just below the dam at Canadarago Lake’s outlet, was the only site on Oaks Creek proper where living unionids were found. Five living species were collected, as was the shell of an additional species. Lampsilis radiata was by far the most abundant mussel, with 111 individuals identified. The shells of three species were collected from site 2 and of one species at site 3. Several species of living and dead mussels were collected at sites 6, where Oaks Creek and the Susquehanna River converage, and several were collected at site 7, downstream several km at Clintonville Road.

1 This work was supported by the Otsego County Land Trust.

Figure 1. Sites surveyed for freshwater mussels on Oaks Creek (sites 1-5) and the Susquehanna River, below its confluence with Oaks Creek (sites 6 and 7), summer 2012. Table 1. Summary of living and dead (shells only) freshwater clam species collected on Oaks Creek and the Susquehanna River, below the confluence, 16-18 uly 2012. See Figure 1 for site locations.

Site Species 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Lampsilis cariosa (Yellow Lamp Mussel) 1 dead Elliptio complanata 6 live 4 live (Eastern elliptio) 38 dead 7 dead 2 dead 4.5 dead 14 dead Lampsilis radiata 111 live 6 live 10 live (Eastern lampmussel) 34 dead 10 dead 1 dead 42 dead Lasmigona compressa (Creek heelsplitter) 1 dead Alasmidonta undulata 10 live 3 live (Triangle floater) 14.5 dead 4 dead 3.5 dead Strophitus undulatus 2 live 14 live 1 live (Squawfoot) 4 dead 5 dead 2.5 dead 13 dead Pyganodon cataracta 5 live (Eastern floater) 5.5 dead

REFERENCES

Buckhout, B.C. 2013. Benthic marcroinvertebrate survey of Oaks Creek, Otsego County, NY. In 45th Annual Report (2012). SUNY Oneonta Biol. Fld. Sta., SUNY Oneonta.

Heiveil, J.S. and B.C. Buckhout. 2013. Qualitative spot biotic survey of Oaks Creek, White Creek, Cripple Creek, and Moe Pond in Otsego County, . In 45th Annual Report (2012). SUNY Oneonta Biol. Fld. Sta., SUNY Oneonta.