DOCSLIB.ORG

Salamander Mussel Natural Diversity Section April 2015

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Salamander Mussel Natural Diversity Section April 2015 Species Action Plan Salamander Mussel Natural Diversity Section April 2015 Species Action Plan: Salamander Mussel (Simpsonaias ambigua) Purpose and Goals Salamander Mussel (Simpsonaias ambigua): Photo credit: Karen Little, Illinois State Museum. Purpose: This Species Action Plan is an initial Mussel in the Commonwealth, to ensure five-year blueprint for actions to address near- sufficient distribution, term and long-term goals for the conservation To adequately secure the species and, and recovery of the Salamander Mussel. Given Secure its populations and remove this the complexity of managing and recovering this species from the list of Pennsylvania species, as new information becomes available, endangered species (58 Pa. Code §75.1). this document plan will be updated to reflect progress toward these goals. This plan also Natural History supports the 2015 Pennsylvania Wildlife Action Plan (PA-SWAP) by specifically addressing the Taxonomy: Class Bivalvia, Order Unionoida, following goals: GOAL 1. Conserve Family Unionidae (unionids), Salamander Pennsylvania's native wildlife and its habitat by Mussel (Simpsonaias ambigua, Say, 1825). See implementing conservation actions in the Watters et al. (2009) for synonymy. Wildlife Action Plan. GOAL 2. Base wildlife Description: Parmalee and Bogan (1998) conservation decisions on the best available describe the shell characteristics as “thin, fragile, science, with an emphasis on Species of Greatest considerably elongated, and inflated, especially Conservation Need and its habitat, and GOAL 5. along the broadly rounded posterior ridge, which Develop a knowledgeable citizenry that supports is sometimes more swollen in females. This is a and participates in wildlife conservation. small species – individuals rarely exceed 50 mm Several Objectives and Strategies within these in length.” The shell noticeably lacks rays and is goals are also addressed. This Species Action differentiated from similar-looking Anodontine Plan (SAP) also includes a description of the genera Anodontoides, Pyganodon, and species natural history, its distribution and Strophitus by having rudimentary cardinal teeth threats that have led to its rarity or imperilment. (Watters et al. 2009). Goals: The goals of this Species Action Plan are Habitat: The Salamander Mussel is found in to: riverine conditions underneath flat shelter rocks Guide the maintenance and protection of where it typically co-occurs with its only known extant populations of Salamander host, the Mudpuppy salamander (Necturus maculosus). P a g e | 1 Species Action Plan Salamander Mussel Natural Diversity Section April 2015 Life History: The maximum age of Salamander Mussel is approximately 10 years, although most individuals collected have been around 4-5 years of age (Watters et al. 2009). The Salamander Mussel is a long- term brooder (bradytictic) and releases its glochidia (larvae) in the fall. The mechanism that triggers glochidial release onto its only known host, the mudpuppy, is unknown. The glochidia metamorphose into juveniles in the spring. The Salamander Mussel diet is unknown, but presumed to be bacteria, detritus, phytoplankton, and zooplankton. The Figure 1. National range and conservation status of Simpsonais Salamander Mussel is the only ambigua. North American unionid that uses an amphibian host. Pennsylvania Legal Status: Endangered Distribution and Status State Rank: S1 – Critically Imperiled Global Status: G3 – Vulnerable National Distribution: The Salamander Mussel is restricted to North American streams and rivers in the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River and Ohio River basins of the following states: 5 by D. Tanner (1968) and D. Stansbery (1970) Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, (Clarke 1985). Presently, the only extant Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Salamander Mussel population occurs in the Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, West Virginia, Allegheny River. Since the first collections of Wisconsin and Ontario, Canada (NatureServe this species in Pennsylvania in the late 1960’s, a 2012) (Figure 1). total of three Allegheny River navigational pools (5, 6, and 8) are known to harbor Salamander Pennsylvania Distribution: Little is known Mussels (EnviroScience 2007; Aquatic Systems about the historical distribution of this species in 2008; USFWS 2008; Smith and Meyer 2010; Pennsylvania. Early surveys (e.g., Ortmann Swecker 2013). A shell of this species was 1919) did not detect this species. The first recently found in Pool 9 (D. Counahan, personal occurrence of this species in Pennsylvania are communication). specimens collected from Allegheny River pool The Salamander Mussel also occurs in the Great P a g e | 2 Species Action Plan Salamander Mussel Natural Diversity Section April 2015 Lakes basin including Ohio tributaries to Lake analysis of occupied streams. Historical Erie (Watters et al. 2009). A specimen was populations can include yet-undiscovered recently found in the Ohio portion of Conneaut populations. Populations that contain at least Creek (Crail, personal communication). three distinct year classes and a minimum number of individuals will be considered viable. Two shell specimens were collected from A viable population is defined as a naturally French Creek in 1985 and 1995 by C. Bier reproducing population large enough to (Western Pennsylvania Conservancy). Despite maintain sufficient genetic variation to enable it intensive surveys of French Creek and its to evolve and respond to natural environmental tributaries (e.g., Smith and Crabtree 2010), no changes (Soule 1980). live Salamander Mussels have been collected from this watershed. Management Status The Salamander Mussel was known to occur in The Allegheny River, French Creek (Ohio River Dunkard Creek prior to a 2009 pollution event Basin), Dunkard Creek, and Conneaut Creek which destroyed the Dunkard Creek mussel have been surveyed in recent times. fauna (Zeto 1982; Wood 1994; PFBC unpublished data). Population trends: In the absence of other information, the status of the Allegheny River The Salamander Mussel will be considered for population is presumed stable. The status of the delisting when 80% of the historically-occupied French Creek population is presumed extirpated streams contain three distinct naturally- because evidence of this species occurrence in reproduced year classes (PABS Bivalve French Creek has not been observed since 1995 Committee listing criteria) and a minimum (see above). The Dunkard Creek mussel number of individuals in each stream. A population was destroyed by a 2009 toxic event. minimum number will be determined after No live specimens of this species have ever been collected from the Pennsylvania portion of Conneaut Creek. Threats Historical threats have resulted in a decline of Pennsylvania’s Salamander Mussel populations. Due to the historical and recent distribution of Salamander Mussels over a geologically and land-use diverse Pennsylvania landscape, qualitative uncertainty ranges were used to measure the scope of threats facing this species. Figure 2. Salamander Mussel historic and extant occupied watersheds in Pennsylvania. Existing and possible future threats (Salafsky et al. 2008) to the P a g e | 3 Species Action Plan Salamander Mussel Natural Diversity Section April 2015 Salamander Mussel include the following: industrial accident although the scope and severity of this particular risk is 1. Energy production and mining unpredictable. A single catastrophic pollution event could destroy a. Mining and quarrying Pennsylvania’s only remaining Despite the relocation of several Salamander Mussel population in the Salamander Mussels, commercial sand Allegheny River. and gravel dredging activities in Allegheny River pool 5 have recently resulted in loss of habitat for both Conservation and Salamander Mussel and Mudpuppies and Recovery Actions presumably some level of Salamander A. Allegheny River Mussel mortality may have occurred as a result of these activities. 1. Protect, conserve and enhance existing 2. Transportation and service corridors Salamander Mussel populations located in pools 5, 6, 8 and 9. a. Utility and service lines a. Gather baseline information Threats associated with pipeline crossings i. Characterize Salamander Mussel could be locally severe; however, severity populations. is reduced when stream crossings are 1. Collect the following quantitative accomplished using directional boring population demographic methods. Directional boring is preferred information: where feasible despite some risk a. Shell lengths, widths, depths. associated with bentonite spills that can be b. Determine gravidity period for associated with directional bores. These Pennsylvania. events can lead to the smothering of c. Ratio of gravid/nongravid (using mussels or the choking of interstitial non-lethal methods). spaces and/or shelter rock habitat. d. Number of individuals. Consultations for the recent discovery of e. Density, if practical. Rayed Bean (Villosa fabalis, a state and f. Number of individuals found federally threatened mussel species) in the under each rock structure that can Salamander Mussel-inhabited Allegheny be surveyed. River (pool 5) may also limit the risk of ii. Quantitatively and qualitatively pipeline crossings to freshwater mussels. characterize physical habitat. 1. Measure streamflow, water 3. Pollution chemistry at known locations. a. Industrial and military effluents. 2. Measure length, width, depth of Generally, freshwater mussels are occupied rock structures. vulnerable to point-source
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Unionidae) in Ohio Brush Creek Watershed
    Spatial Distribution of Freshwater Mussels (Unionidae) in Ohio Brush Creek Watershed, Southern Ohio A thesis presented to the faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences of Ohio University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Arts Jason K. Brown November 2010 © 2010 Jason K. Brown. All Rights Reserved. 2 This thesis titled Spatial Distribution of Freshwater Mussels (Unionidae) in Ohio Brush Creek Watershed, Southern Ohio by JASON K. BROWN has been approved for the Department of Geography and the College of Arts and Sciences by James M. Dyer Professor of Geography Benjamin M. Ogles Dean, College of Arts and Sciences 3 ABSTRACT BROWN, JASON K., M.A., November 2010, Geography Spatial Distribution of Freshwater Mussels (Unionidae) in Ohio Brush Creek Watershed, Southern Ohio (77 pp.) Director of Thesis: James M. Dyer Between July and October 2005, 42 sites across Ohio Brush Creek watershed were surveyed to assess the spatial distribution of native freshwater mussels (Unionidae). Freshwater mussel shells were recorded at 28 out of 42 sites representing 14 native species. A total of thirteen species were recorded at 19 sites as living or fresh dead. Associations between the presence, diversity, and abundance of freshwater mussels and coarse-scale variables (drainage area, stream gradient, and percent land cover) and fine- scale variables (200 meter stream-reach habitat features based on Ohio EPA’s Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI)) were explored using correlation and chi-square analysis. The presence, diversity, and abundance of mussel shells were associated with both coarse- and fine-scale variables. Drainage area and stream reaches with excellent channel development, high amounts of habitat cover, maximum water depths > 1 meter, and riffle depths > 5 cm were all associated with the presence, diversity, and abundance of mussels.
    [Show full text]
  • Fueling Extinction: How Dirty Energy Drives Wildlife to the Brink
    Fueling Extinction: How Dirty Energy Drives Wildlife to the Brink The Top Ten U.S. Species Threatened by Fossil Fuels Introduction s Americans, we are living off of energy sources produced That hasn’t stopped oil and gas companies from gobbling in the age of the dinosaurs. Fossil fuels are dirty. They’re up permits and leases for millions of acres of our pristine Adangerous. And, they’ve taken an incredible toll on our public land, which provides important wildlife habitat and country in many ways. supplies safe drinking water to millions of Americans. And the industry is demanding ever more leases, even though it is Our nation’s threatened and endangered wildlife, plants, birds sitting on thousands of leases it isn’t using—an area the size of and fish are among those that suffer from the impacts of our Pennsylvania. fossil fuel addiction in the United States. This report highlights ten species that are particularly vulnerable to the pursuit Oil companies have generated billions of dollars in profits, and of oil, gas and coal. Our outsized reliance on fossil fuels and paid their senior executives $220 million in 2010 alone. Yet the impacts that result from its development, storage and ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, and BP combined have reduced transportation is making it ever more difficult to keep our vow to their U.S. workforce by 11,200 employees since 2005. protect America’s wildlife. The American people are clearly getting the short end of the For example, the Arctic Ocean is home to some of our most stick from the fossil fuel industry, both in terms of jobs and in beloved wildlife—polar bears, whales, and seals.
    [Show full text]
  • WALKERANA VOLUME 15 NUMBER 1 MARCH 2012 Pages 1-10 Epioblasma Capsaeformis (Bivalvia, Unionidae.) How a State-Wide Stream Survey Can Aid in Jess W
    WALKERANA VOLUME 15 NUMBER 1 MARCH 2012 Pages 1-10 Epioblasma capsaeformis (Bivalvia, Unionidae.) How a state-wide stream survey can aid in Jess W. Jones, Richard J. Neves understanding freshwater mussel (Bivalvia: & Eric M. Hallerman Unionidae) ecology: examples of utility and limitations from Maryland. Pages 45-59 Matthew J. Ashton A qualitative freshwater mussel (Bivalvia: Unionidae) survey of the Lamine and Pages 11-16 Blackwater River Basins, Missouri. Reproductive biology and host fishes of four Stephen E. McMurray, J. Scott Faiman unionids from the Lake Pontchartrain Basin, & Sue A. Bruenderman Louisiana, U.S.A. Wesley M. Daniel & Kenneth M. Brown Pages 60-68 Assessing accumulation and sublethal Pages 17-26 effects of lead in a unionid mussel. Recent monitoring of the freshwater mollusks Shad Mosher, W. Gregory Cope, Frank X. of Kinniconick Creek, Kentucky, with comments Weber, Thomas J. Kwak & Damian Shea on potential threats. Ryan Evans Pages 69-82 Thermal tolerances of freshwater mussels Pages 27-44 and their host fishes: species interactions Population performance criteria to evaluate in a changing climate. reintroduction and recovery of two endangered Tamara J. Pandolfo, Thomas J. Kwak & mussel species, Epioblasma brevidens and W. Gregory Cope WALKERANA, 35(1): Pages 1-10, 2012 ©Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society (FMCS) WALKERANA The Journal of the HOW A STATEWIDE STREAM SURVEY CAN AID IN Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society UNDERSTANDING FRESHWATER MUSSEL (BIVALVIA: ©2010 UNIONIDAE) ECOLOGY: EXAMPLES OF UTILITY AND LIMITATIONS FROM MARYLAND Editorial Board Matthew J. Ashton CO-EDITORS Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Monitoring and Non-Tidal Assessment Division, Gregory Cope, North Carolina State University 580 Taylor Ave., C-2, Annapolis, MD 21401 U.S.A.
    [Show full text]
  • Distribution and Status of Rare and Endangered Mussels (Mollusca: Margaritiferidae, Unionidae) in Arkansas John L
    Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science Volume 41 Article 15 1987 Distribution and Status of Rare and Endangered Mussels (Mollusca: Margaritiferidae, Unionidae) in Arkansas John L. Harris Arkansas Highway & Transportation Department, [email protected] Mark E. Gordon Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarworks.uark.edu/jaas Part of the Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons Recommended Citation Harris, John L. and Gordon, Mark E. (1987) "Distribution and Status of Rare and Endangered Mussels (Mollusca: Margaritiferidae, Unionidae) in Arkansas," Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science: Vol. 41 , Article 15. Available at: http://scholarworks.uark.edu/jaas/vol41/iss1/15 This article is available for use under the Creative Commons license: Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-ND 4.0). Users are able to read, download, copy, print, distribute, search, link to the full texts of these articles, or use them for any other lawful purpose, without asking prior permission from the publisher or the author. This Article is brought to you for free and open access by ScholarWorks@UARK. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science by an authorized editor of ScholarWorks@UARK. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science, Vol. 41 [1987], Art. 15 DISTRIBUTION AND STATUS OF RARE AND ENDANGERED MUSSELS (MOLLUSCA: MARGARITIFERIDAE, UNIONIDAE) IN ARKANSAS JOHN L. HARRIS Environmental Division Arkansas Highway & Transportation Department P.O. Box 2261 Little Rock, AR 72203 MARKE. GORDON 304 North Willow, Apt. A Fayetteville, AR 72701 ABSTRACT Knowledge of the distribution and population status of freshwater bivalves occurring in Arkansas has increased markedly during the past decade.
    [Show full text]
  • Mussels Only)
    MUSSEL CWCS SPECIES (46 SPECIES) Common name Scientific name Bleufer Potamilus purpuratus Butterfly Ellipsaria lineolata Catspaw Epioblasma obliquata obliquata Clubshell Pleurobema clava Cracking Pearlymussel Hemistena lata Creek Heelsplitter Lasmigona compressa Cumberland Bean Villosa trabalis Cumberland Elktoe Alasmidonta atropurpurea Cumberland Moccasinshell Medionidus conradicus Cumberland Papershell Anodontoides denigratus Cumberlandian Combshell Epioblasma brevidens Dromedary Pearlymussel Dromus dromas Elephantear Elliptio crassidens Elktoe Alasmidonta marginata Fanshell Cyprogenia stegaria Fat Pocketbook Potamilus capax Fluted Kidneyshell Ptychobranchus subtentum Green Floater Lasmigona subviridis Kentucky Creekshell Villosa ortmanni Little Spectaclecase Villosa lienosa Littlewing Pearlymussel Pegias fabula Longsolid Fusconaia subrotunda Mountain Creekshell Villosa vanuxemensis vanuxemensis Northern Riffleshell Epioblasma torulosa rangiana Orangefoot Pimpleback Plethobasus cooperianus Oyster Mussel Epioblasma capsaeformis Pink Mucket Lampsilis abrupta Pocketbook Lampsilis ovata Purple Lilliput Toxolasma lividus Pyramid Pigtoe Pleurobema rubrum Rabbitsfoot Quadrula cylindrica cylindrica Rayed Bean Villosa fabalis Ring Pink Obovaria retusa Rough Pigtoe Pleurobema plenum Round Hickorynut Obovaria subrotunda Salamander Mussel Simpsonaias ambigua Scaleshell Leptodea leptodon Sheepnose Plethobasus cyphyus Slabside Pearlymussel Lexingtonia dolabelloides Slippershell Mussel Alasmidonta viridis Snuffbox Epioblasma triquetra Spectaclecase
    [Show full text]
  • Necturus Maculosus) Presence Along the St
    Eastern Michigan University DigitalCommons@EMU Master's Theses, and Doctoral Dissertations, and Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations Graduate Capstone Projects 2019 Assessment of mudpuppy (Necturus maculosus) presence along the St. Clair-Detroit River System using environmental DNA and occupancy modeling Jenny L. Sutherland Follow this and additional works at: https://commons.emich.edu/theses Part of the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons Recommended Citation Sutherland, Jenny L., "Assessment of mudpuppy (Necturus maculosus) presence along the St. Clair-Detroit River System using environmental DNA and occupancy modeling" (2019). Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations. 974. https://commons.emich.edu/theses/974 This Open Access Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Master's Theses, and Doctoral Dissertations, and Graduate Capstone Projects at DigitalCommons@EMU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@EMU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Assessment of Mudpuppy (Necturus maculosus) Presence along the St. Clair-Detroit River System using Environmental DNA and Occupancy Modeling by Jenny L. Sutherland Thesis Submitted to the Department of Biology Eastern Michigan University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE in Biology Ecology and Organismal Biology Thesis Committee: Katherine Greenwald, Ph.D., Chair Steve Francoeur, Ph.D. Kristin Judd, Ph.D. March 15, 2019 Ypsilanti, Michigan Abstract The mudpuppy (Necturus maculosus) is cryptic, fully aquatic salamander within the Great Lakes region. Once abundant throughout its range, evidence now suggests that there have been declines due to habitat loss and lampricide use.
    [Show full text]
  • A Revised List of the Freshwater Mussels (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Unionida) of the United States and Canada
    Freshwater Mollusk Biology and Conservation 20:33–58, 2017 Ó Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society 2017 REGULAR ARTICLE A REVISED LIST OF THE FRESHWATER MUSSELS (MOLLUSCA: BIVALVIA: UNIONIDA) OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA James D. Williams1*, Arthur E. Bogan2, Robert S. Butler3,4,KevinS.Cummings5, Jeffrey T. Garner6,JohnL.Harris7,NathanA.Johnson8, and G. Thomas Watters9 1 Florida Museum of Natural History, Museum Road and Newell Drive, Gainesville, FL 32611 USA 2 North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, MSC 1626, Raleigh, NC 27699 USA 3 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 212 Mills Gap Road, Asheville, NC 28803 USA 4 Retired. 5 Illinois Natural History Survey, 607 East Peabody Drive, Champaign, IL 61820 USA 6 Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, 350 County Road 275, Florence, AL 35633 USA 7 Department of Biological Sciences, Arkansas State University, State University, AR 71753 USA 8 U.S. Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, 7920 NW 71st Street, Gainesville, FL 32653 USA 9 Museum of Biological Diversity, The Ohio State University, 1315 Kinnear Road, Columbus, OH 43212 USA ABSTRACT We present a revised list of freshwater mussels (order Unionida, families Margaritiferidae and Unionidae) of the United States and Canada, incorporating changes in nomenclature and systematic taxonomy since publication of the most recent checklist in 1998. We recognize a total of 298 species in 55 genera in the families Margaritiferidae (one genus, five species) and Unionidae (54 genera, 293 species). We propose one change in the Margaritiferidae: the placement of the formerly monotypic genus Cumberlandia in the synonymy of Margaritifera. In the Unionidae, we recognize three new genera, elevate four genera from synonymy, and place three previously recognized genera in synonymy.
    [Show full text]
  • Habitat Selection and Host Detection in the Salamander Mussel, Simpsonaias Ambigua
    BearWorks MSU Graduate Theses Spring 2020 Habitat Selection and Host Detection in the Salamander Mussel, Simpsonaias ambigua Eric A. Stegmann Missouri State University, [email protected] As with any intellectual project, the content and views expressed in this thesis may be considered objectionable by some readers. However, this student-scholar’s work has been judged to have academic value by the student’s thesis committee members trained in the discipline. The content and views expressed in this thesis are those of the student-scholar and are not endorsed by Missouri State University, its Graduate College, or its employees. Follow this and additional works at: https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses Part of the Behavior and Ethology Commons, Biology Commons, and the Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons Recommended Citation Stegmann, Eric A., "Habitat Selection and Host Detection in the Salamander Mussel, Simpsonaias ambigua" (2020). MSU Graduate Theses. 3494. https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/3494 This article or document was made available through BearWorks, the institutional repository of Missouri State University. The work contained in it may be protected by copyright and require permission of the copyright holder for reuse or redistribution. For more information, please contact [email protected]. HABITAT SELECTION AND HOST DETECTION IN THE SALAMANDER MUSSEL, SIMPSONAIAS AMBIGUA A Master’s Thesis Presented to The Graduate College of Missouri State University TEMPLATE In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Science, Biology By Eric Stegmann May 2020 HABITAT SELECTION AND HOST DETECTION IN THE SALAMANDER MUSSEL, SIMPSONAIAS AMBIGUA Biology Missouri State University, May 2020 Master of Science Eric Stegmann ABSTRACT The native freshwater mussels, Order Unionida, have suffered many species extinctions and loss of abundance.
    [Show full text]
  • The Wide Distribution of the Same Species, and of Closely Allied Species of Freshwater Shells Must Have Surprised Every One Who Has Attended to the Subject.”
    “The wide distribution of the same species, and of closely allied species of freshwater shells must have surprised every one who has attended to the subject.” - C. Darwin, 1882. Nature. 26: 529-530. Exploring Levels of Genetic Variation in the Freshwater Mussel Genus Villosa (Bivalvia Unionidae) at Different Spatial and Systematic Scales: Implications for Biogeography, Taxonomy, and Conservation Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Kody F. Kuehnl, B.S., M.S. ***** The Ohio State University 2009 Dissertation Committee: Approved by Professor Marymegan Daly, Co-Advisor Professor G. Thomas Watters, Co-Advisor _________________________________ Professor H. Lisle Gibbs Advisor Graduate Program in Evolution, Professor Elizabeth A. Marschall Ecology, and Organismal Biology Copyright by Kody F. Kuehnl 2009 Abstract Freshwater mussels (Family Unionidae) are one of the most imperiled groups of animals in North America with approximately 75% of the currently recognized species listed by federal or states as endangered, threatened or species of concern. Despite this designation, conservation of freshwater mussels has been extremely difficult being limited by an inadequate knowledge of even the most basic principles of biology (e.g. life history, reproductive biology, ecology, habitat requirements, etc). Two of these that continue to pose challenges to the conservation of this important group of animals include; identification of 1) taxonomic units appropriate for conservation, and 2) criteria useful for the establishment or re-establishment of populations of freshwater mussels that are endangered, threatened, or species of concern. To address issues associated with the identification of freshwater mussels we employed a modern phylogenetic approach using an enigmatic and important group of unionids (Villosa) in order to assess ambiguities in taxonomic position and delineate species boundaries.
    [Show full text]
  • Volume 20 Number 2 October 2017
    FRESHWATER MOLLUSK BIOLOGY AND CONSERVATION THE JOURNAL OF THE FRESHWATER MOLLUSK CONSERVATION SOCIETY VOLUME 20 NUMBER 2 OCTOBER 2017 Pages 33-58 oregonensis/kennerlyi clade, Gonidea angulata, and A Revised List of the Freshwater Mussels (Mollusca: Margaritifera falcata Bivalvia: Unionida) of the United States and Canada Emilie Blevins, Sarina Jepsen, Jayne Brim Box, James D. Williams, Arthur E. Bogan, Robert S. Butler, Donna Nez, Jeanette Howard, Alexa Maine, and Kevin S. Cummings, Jeffrey T. Garner, John L. Harris, Christine O’Brien Nathan A. Johnson, and G. Thomas Watters Pages 89-102 Pages 59-64 Survival of Translocated Clubshell and Northern Mussel Species Richness Estimation and Rarefaction in Riffleshell in Illinois Choctawhatchee River Watershed Streams Kirk W. Stodola, Alison P. Stodola, and Jeremy S. Jonathan M. Miller, J. Murray Hyde, Bijay B. Niraula, Tiemann and Paul M. Stewart Pages 103-113 Pages 65-70 What are Freshwater Mussels Worth? Verification of Two Cyprinid Host Fishes for the Texas David L. Strayer Pigtoe, Fusconaia askewi Erin P. Bertram, John S. Placyk, Jr., Marsha G. Pages 114-122 Williams, and Lance R. Williams Evaluation of Costs Associated with Externally Affixing PIT Tags to Freshwater Mussels using Three Commonly Pages 71-88 Employed Adhesives Extinction Risk of Western North American Freshwater Matthew J. Ashton, Jeremy S. Tiemann, and Dan Hua Mussels: Anodonta nuttalliana, the Anodonta Freshwater Mollusk Biology and Conservation ©2017 ISSN 2472-2944 Editorial Board CO-EDITORS Gregory Cope, North Carolina State University Wendell Haag, U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service Tom Watters, The Ohio State University EDITORIAL REVIEW BOARD Conservation Jess Jones, U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Species Assessment for Green Floater
    Species Status Assessment Class: Bivalvia Family: Unionidae Scientific Name: Lasmigona subviridis Common Name: Green floater Species synopsis: Lasmigona subviridis belongs to the subfamily Unioninae, and the tribe Anodontini, which includes 16 extant and 1 likely extirpated New York species of the genera Alasmidonta, Anodonta, Anodontoides, Lasmigona, Pyganodon, Simpsonaias, Strophitus, and Utterbackia (Haag 2012, Graf and Cummings 2011). L. subviridis is a member of the Lasmigona genus, from the Greek words elasma, referring to the “plate-like” lateral tooth. The species name subviridis refers to its light green color (Watters et al. 2009). This species is found in the Atlantic Slope from North Carolina to New York, as well as the Kanawha River basin in North Carolina, Virginia, and West. Virginia. Since 1970, this species has been found live in thirteen New York waterbodies. Most records are from the Susquehanna River drainage, but records from the Mohawk, Hudson, Genesee, and Oswego River basins, and the Erie Canal also exist. The species has declined throughout most of its range, and relatively few populations remain in New York (Strayer & Jirka 1997). L. subviridis is ranked as “critically imperiled” in New York and “vulnerable” throughout its range. In North America, approximately 2/3 to ¾ of native mussel species are extinct, listed as endangered or threatened, or are in need of conservation status (Williams et al. 1993, Stein et al. 2000). While population trends in New York are unknown, based on sparse historical information, it is assumed that they too are declining due to a myriad of environmental stressors. 1 I. Status a. Current and Legal Protected Status i.
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter 5: Ecology & Biology
    NIAGARA RIVER WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PLAN (Phase 1) Chapter 5: Ecology & Biology Biological diversity – or biodiversity – is the term given to the diversity, or variety of plants and animals and other living things in a particular area or region. It is the variety within and between all species of plants, animals and micro-organisms and the ecosystems within which they live and interact. Ecological Biodiversity is the diversity of ecosystems, natural communities and habitats. In essence, it’s the variety of ways that species interact with each other and their environment. We look at the biodiversity of an ecosystem, a natural area made up of a community of plants, animals, and other living things in a particular physical and chemical environment. In practice, "biodiversity" suggests sustaining the diversity of species in each ecosystem as we plan human activities that affect the use of the land and natural resources. Maintaining a wide diversity of species in each ecosystem is necessary to preserve the web of life that sustains all living things. Each species of vegetation and each creature has a place on the earth and plays a vital role in the circle of life. Biodiversity boosts ecosystem productivity where each species, no matter how small, all have an important role to play. Plant, animal, and insect species interact and depend upon one another for what each offers, such as food, shelter, oxygen, and soil enrichment. Greater species diversity ensures natural sustainability for all life forms. Therefore healthy ecosystems and biodiversity influence and sustain natural ecosystems and the natural resources those ecosystems support, such as water.
    [Show full text]