DOCSLIB.ORG

Key Metabolites in Tissue Extracts of Elliptio Complanata Identified Using 1H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Key Metabolites in Tissue Extracts of Elliptio Complanata Identified Using 1H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Volume 3 • 2015 10.1093/conphys/cov023 Research article Key metabolites in tissue extracts of Elliptio complanata identified using 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy Downloaded from Jennifer L. Hurley-Sanders1,2,3, Jay F. Levine1,3,*, Stacy A. C. Nelson2, J. M. Law1,3, William J. Showers4 and Michael K. Stoskopf3,5 1Department of Population Health and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Box 8401, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA http://conphys.oxfordjournals.org/ 2Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, College of Natural Resources, North Carolina State University, Box 7106, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA 3North Carolina State University, Environmental Medicine Consortium, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA 4Department of Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences, College of Sciences, North Carolina State University, Box 8208, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA 5Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Box 8401, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA *Corresponding author: Department of Population Health and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Box 8401, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA. Tel: +1 919 513 6397. Email: [email protected] at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on August 5, 2015 We used 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to describe key metabolites of the polar metabolome of the freshwater mussel, Elliptio complanata. Principal components analysis documented variability across tissue types and river of origin in mussels collected from two rivers in North Carolina (USA). Muscle, digestive gland, mantle and gill tissues yielded identifiable but overlapping metabolic profiles. Variation in digestive gland metabolic profiles between the two mussel collection sites was characterized by differences in mono- and disaccharides. Variation in mantle tissue metabolomes appeared to be associated with sex. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy is a sensitive means to detect metabolites in the tissues of E. complanata and holds promise as a tool for the investigation of freshwater mussel health and physiology. Key words: Freshwater mussels, metabolites, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy Editor: Steven Cooke Received 23 September 2014; Revised 18 April 2015; accepted 29 April 2015 Cite as: Hurley-Sanders JL, Levine JF, Nelson SAC, Law JM, Showers WJ, Stoskopf MK (2015) Key metabolites in tissue extracts of Elliptio complanata identified using 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Conserv Physiol 3: doi:10.1093/conphys/cov023. Introduction to monitor the health of surface waters (Doyotte et al., 1997; Won et al., 2005; Grabarkiewicz and Davis, 2008). The ecological niche filled by suspension-feeding bivalve molluscs makes them well suited to serve as biological moni- Metabolomics, the study of an organism’s profile of metab- tors of aquatic ecosystems. As filter feeders, they are exposed olites, has been used to study the physiological responses of to suspended solids and dissolved chemicals as they process both terrestrial and aquatic organisms to changes in their envi- large quantities of water and aqueous solutes for food. The use ronment. The techniques allow a broad range of metabolites of marine bivalves as biomonitors for contamination of the to be quantified in small samples collected by tissue biopsy or oceans is well established (Goldberg, 1986; Páez-Osuna et al., phlebotomy. Metabolomic profiles have beensuccessfully 1993a, b; Lehmann et al., 2007; Liu et al., 2011; Zhang et al., used to assess the response of bivalves to heavy metals and 2011), and efforts have been made to use freshwater bivalves endocrine disruptors (Liu et al., 2011; Zhang et al., 2011; © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press and the Society for Experimental Biology. 1 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted reuse, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Research article Conservation Physiology • Volume 3 2015 Leonard et al., 2013, 2014). The use of patterns of metabolites excised from the dorsal valve. Anterior and posterior adductor to characterize responses to particular environmental pertur- muscles (combined), foot muscle, mantle, right and left gill bations has the potential greatly to increase our understand- leaflets (combined) and digestive gland were excised; each tis- ing of the pathogenesis of environmental impacts on key sue block was then placed in preweighed polyethylene tubes bivalve species. and placed in dry ice for transport. Samples were held at approximately −80°C until analysis. A transverse section As a preliminary investigation, we conducted a non-targeted through the body cavity was taken and placed in formalin for nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) examination histopathological determination of sex and gravidity. The fixed of the metabolome of a relatively common Unionid mussel tissues were embedded in paraffin wax, sectioned into 5 mm species, Elliptio complanata. This mussel is found in many slices and placed on glass microscope slides. Haematoxylin Atlantic slope rivers and has the potential to be useful as a and eosin stains were applied, and the tissues were analysed bioindicator for ecosystem health and as a surrogate model for using an Olympus CK2 light microscope (Olympus Corporation, sympatric endangered mussel species (Chittick et al., 2001). Center Valley, PA, USA). Elliptio complanata from two river systems in the piedmont of North Carolina were sampled to evaluate differences in metab- Water analysis Downloaded from olome across tissue types. We collected haemolymph, adductor muscle, foot muscle, gill, digestive gland and mantle tissue to A YSI 6920 (YSI, Inc., Yellow Springs, OH, USA) encased in an examine the following hypotheses: (i) individual variation expanded metal cage was placed mid-stream in each river sys- would not obscure metabolic profile variations across tissue tem within the stream channel for 7 days prior to the collection of mussels. Measurements of temperature (in degrees Celsius), types; and (ii) variations in metabolic profile associated with http://conphys.oxfordjournals.org/ tissue type would be compatible with known physiological conductivity (in millsiemens per centimetre), pH, turbidity functions of the tissues. [nephelometric turbidity units (NTU)] and dissolved oxygen (expressed as a percentage and in milligrams per litre) were Materials and methods recorded every 15 min for 1 week. Freshwater mussel collection and Tissue processing processing Frozen tissues were pulverized using a Bullet Blender homoge- nizer (Next Advance, Averill Park, NY, USA). A 2:1 (v/w; 2 ml In October 2012, five adult E. complanata (three non-gravid solution to 1 g tissue) Amphibian Ringer solution (Fisher females and two males) were taken from the Eno River, near Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA) was added to the tissues, vor- at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on August 5, 2015 Hillsborough (NC, USA), ∼300 m downstream from a high- texed, and incubated at 4°C overnight. Amphibian Ringer solu- way bridge (Table 1). An additional five (five males) were taken tion was selected as an extraction medium because it is readily from the New Hope Creek, near Durham (NC, USA), ∼100 m available commercially and free of lactate found in other avail- upstream of a road bridge (Table 1). Global positioning system able Ringer solutions. Incubation in Ringer solution results in coordinates were recorded for the study sites. Mussels were solubilization of polar metabolites for NMR analysis. processed streamside. Each individual was measured with cal- lipers for height, length and width of shell. Tissue samples were After incubation, the samples were centrifuged at 3450g for collected and frozen as rapidly as possible (<1 min to process 20 min (Hermle Z300; Labnet International, Inc., Edison, NJ, from removal from the water to the last tissue being placed in USA). The supernatant was transferred into new polyethylene dry ice). As much haemolymph as could be retrieved (0.5– tubes and frozen at −80°C. All frozen samples, including the hae- 1.5 ml) was aspirated from the anterior adductor muscle as molymph samples, were then lyophilized overnight (Lyoph-Lock described by Gustafson et al. (2005a) and placed in a cryovial 18 Freeze Dry System; Laboconco, Kansas City, MO, USA). on dry ice. The valves were gently pried open and soft tissues Seven hundred microlitres of 0.1 mM deuterated t rimethylsilyl Table 1: Shell measurements (length, height and width) and median measurements for sampled Elliptio complanata (in millimetres) Length Height Width Length Height Width NH1 59 32 19 E1* 65 42 25 NH2 61 36 19 E2 64 39 23 NH3 70 42 21 E3* 72 41 23 NH4 58 33 22 E4 58 33 22 NH5 69 40 24 E5* 69 40 24 Median 61 36 21 Median 65 40 23 Abbreviations: E, Eno River; NH, New Hope Creek. *Non-gravid female; all other mussels were male. 2 Conservation Physiology • Volume 3 2015 Research article propionate in 10% deuterium oxide was added to the dried sam- width of 0.04 ppm excluding water and deuterated trimethyl- ples, transferred to microcentrifuge tubes and centrifuged for silyl propionate reference peaks (229 bins). 30 min at 5000g (AccuSpin Micro 17; Fisher Scientific) to The integral tables were normalized and Pareto scaled using remove any remaining particulate matter. The supernatant was Microsoft Excel 2010 and
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Francis Marion National Forest Freshwater Mussel Surveys: Final Report
    Francis Marion National Forest Freshwater Mussel Surveys: Final Report Contract No. AG-4670-C-10-0077 Prepared For: Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests 4931 Broad River Road Columbia, SC 29212-3530 Prepared by: The Catena Group, Inc. 410-B Millstone Drive Hillsborough, NC 27278 November 2011 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background and Objectives ................................................................................. 1 2.0 STUDY AREA ........................................................................................................ 2 3.0 METHODS .............................................................................................................. 2 4.0 RESULTS ................................................................................................................ 3 5.0 DISCUSSION ........................................................................................................ 19 5.1 Mussel Habitat Conditions in the FMNF (Objective 1) ..................................... 19 5.2 Mussel Fauna of the FMNF (Objective 2) ......................................................... 19 5.2.1 Mussel Species Found During the Surveys ................................................ 19 5.3 Highest Priority Mussel Fauna Streams of the FMNF (Objective 3) ................. 25 5.4 Identified Areas that Warrant Further Study in the FMNF (Objective 4) .......... 25 6.0 LITERATURE CITED .........................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Status and Population Genetics of the Alabama Spike (Elliptio Arca) in the Mobile River Basin
    STATUS AND POPULATION GENETICS OF THE ALABAMA SPIKE (ELLIPTIO ARCA) IN THE MOBILE RIVER BASIN A Thesis by DANIEL HUNT MASON Submitted to the Graduate School at Appalachian State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE August, 2017 Department of Biology STATUS AND POPULATION GENTICS OF THE ALABAMA SPIKE (ELLIPTIO ARCA) IN THE MOBILE RIVER BASIN A Thesis by DANIEL HUNT MASON August, 2017 APPROVED BY: Michael M. Gangloff, Ph.D. Chairperson, Thesis Committee Matthew C. Estep, Ph.D. Member, Thesis Committee Lynn M. Siefermann, Ph.D. Member, Thesis Committee Zack E. Murrell, Ph.D. Chairperson, Department of Biology Max C. Poole, Ph.D. Dean, Cratis D. Williams School of Graduate Studies Copyright by Daniel Hunt Mason 2017 All Rights Reserved Abstract STATUS AND POPULATION GENETICS OF THE ALABAMA SPIKE (ELLIPTIO ARCA) IN THE MOBILE RIVER BASIN Daniel H. Mason B.A., Appalachian State University M.A., Appalachian State University Chairperson: Dr. Michael M. Gangloff Declines in freshwater mussels (Bivalvia: Unionioda) are widely reported but rarely rigorously tested. Additionally, the population genetics of most species are virtually unknown, despite the importance of these data when assessing the conservation status of and recovery strategies for imperiled mussels. Freshwater mussel endemism is high in the Mobile River Basin (MRB) and many range- restricted taxa have been heavily impacted by riverine alterations, and many species are suspected to be declining in abundance, including the Alabama Spike (Elliptio arca). I compiled historical and current distributional data from all major MRB drainages to quantify the extent of declines in E.
    [Show full text]
  • Final Report- HWY-2009-16 Propagation and Culture of Federally Listed Freshwater Mussel Species
    Final Report- HWY-2009-16 Propagation and Culture of Federally Listed Freshwater Mussel Species Prepared By Jay F- Levine, Co-Principal Investigator1 Christopher B- Eads, Co-Investigator1 Renae Greiner, Graduate Student Assistant1 Arthur E- Bogan, Co- Investigator2 1North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine 4700 Hillsborough Street Raleigh, NC 27606 2 NC State Museum of Natural Sciences 4301 Reedy Creek Rd- Raleigh, NC 27607 November 2011 Technical Report Documentation Page 1- Report No- 2-Government Accession No- 3- Recipient’s Catalog No- FHWA/NC/2009-16 4- Title and Subtitle 5- Report Date Propagation and Culture of Federally Listed Freshwater November 2011 Mussel Species 6-Performing Organization Code 7- Author(s) 8-Performing Organization Report No- Jay F- Levine, Co-Principal Investigator Arthur E- Bogan, Co-Principal Investigator Renae Greiner, Graduate Student Assistant 9- Performing Organization Name and Address 10- Work Unit No- (TRAIS) North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine 11- Contract or Grant No- 4700 Hillsborough Street Raleigh, NC 27606 12- Sponsoring Agency Name and Address 13-Type of Report and Period Covered North Carolina Department of Transportation Final Report P-O- Box 25201 August 16, 2008 – June 30, 2011 Raleigh, NC 27611 14- Sponsoring Agency Code HWY-2009-16 15- Supplementary Notes 16- Abstract Road and related crossing construction can markedly alter stream habitat and adversely affect resident native flora. The National Native Mussel Conservation Committee has recognized artificial propagation and culture as an important potential management tool for sustaining remaining freshwater mussel populations and has called for additional propagation research to help conserve and restore this faunal group.
    [Show full text]
  • Species Habitat Matrix
    Study reference Fish/shellfish Habitat Requirements Threat/Stressor Fish/Habitat species Response Type DO Temp Salinity Direct Indirect Species 1 – Elliptio complanata Bogan and Proch Eastern elliptio Permanent 1997, Cummings body of and Cordeiro 2011, water: large Strayer 1993; rivers, small USACE 2013 streams, canals, reservoirs, lakes, ponds Harbold et al. Eastern elliptio Presence of Environmental Diminished 2014; LaRouche fish host stressors on fish reproductive 2014; Lellis et al. species species, success; local 2013; Watters (American eel migratory extirpation 1996 [Anguilla blockages rostrata], Brook trout [Salvelinus fontinalis], Lake trout [S. namaycush], Slimy sculpin [Cottus cognatus], and Mottled sculpin [C. bairdii]) Sparks and Strayer Eastern elliptio Rivers Interstitial Reduced Behavioral stress 1998 (juveniles) DO > 2-4 dissolved responses mg/L oxygen caused (surfacing, gaping, by extending siphons sedimentation, and foot), increased Study reference Fish/shellfish Habitat Requirements Threat/Stressor Fish/Habitat species Response Type DO Temp Salinity Direct Indirect nutrient exposure to loading, organic predation inputs, or high temperatures Gelinas et al. 2014 Eastern elliptio Freshwater Harmful algal Compromised blooms, algal immune system, toxins reduced fitness Ashton 2009 Eastern elliptio Multiple 20-24°C Land cover Decreased environment conversion in frequency of al variables upstream observation, lower (pH, mean drainage area, numbers of daily water elevated individuals temperature, nutrients, conductivity, acidification,
    [Show full text]
  • The Freshwater Bivalve Mollusca (Unionidae, Sphaeriidae, Corbiculidae) of the Savannah River Plant, South Carolina
    SRQ-NERp·3 The Freshwater Bivalve Mollusca (Unionidae, Sphaeriidae, Corbiculidae) of the Savannah River Plant, South Carolina by Joseph C. Britton and Samuel L. H. Fuller A Publication of the Savannah River Plant National Environmental Research Park Program United States Department of Energy ...---------NOTICE ---------, This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by the United States Government. Neither the United States nor the United States Depart­ mentof Energy.nor any of theircontractors, subcontractors,or theiremploy­ ees, makes any warranty. express or implied or assumes any legalliabilityor responsibilityfor the accuracy, completenessor usefulnessofanyinformation, apparatus, product or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. A PUBLICATION OF DOE'S SAVANNAH RIVER PLANT NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH PARK Copies may be obtained from NOVEMBER 1980 Savannah River Ecology Laboratory SRO-NERP-3 THE FRESHWATER BIVALVE MOLLUSCA (UNIONIDAE, SPHAERIIDAE, CORBICULIDAEj OF THE SAVANNAH RIVER PLANT, SOUTH CAROLINA by JOSEPH C. BRITTON Department of Biology Texas Christian University Fort Worth, Texas 76129 and SAMUEL L. H. FULLER Academy of Natural Sciences at Philadelphia Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Prepared Under the Auspices of The Savannah River Ecology Laboratory and Edited by Michael H. Smith and I. Lehr Brisbin, Jr. 1979 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page INTRODUCTION 1 STUDY AREA " 1 LIST OF BIVALVE MOLLUSKS AT THE SAVANNAH RIVER PLANT............................................ 1 ECOLOGICAL
    [Show full text]
  • Manual to the Freshwater Mussels of MD
    MMAANNUUAALL OOFF TTHHEE FFRREESSHHWWAATTEERR BBIIVVAALLVVEESS OOFF MMAARRYYLLAANNDD CHESAPEAKE BAY AND WATERSHED PROGRAMS MONITORING AND NON-TIDAL ASSESSMENT CBWP-MANTA- EA-96-03 MANUAL OF THE FRESHWATER BIVALVES OF MARYLAND Prepared By: Arthur Bogan1 and Matthew Ashton2 1North Carolina Museum of Natural Science 11 West Jones Street Raleigh, NC 27601 2 Maryland Department of Natural Resources 580 Taylor Avenue, C-2 Annapolis, Maryland 21401 Prepared For: Maryland Department of Natural Resources Resource Assessment Service Monitoring and Non-Tidal Assessment Division Aquatic Inventory and Monitoring Program 580 Taylor Avenue, C-2 Annapolis, Maryland 21401 February 2016 Table of Contents I. List of maps .................................................................................................................................... 1 Il. List of figures ................................................................................................................................. 1 III. Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 3 IV. Acknowledgments ............................................................................................................................ 4 V. Figure of bivalve shell landmarks (fig. 1) .......................................................................................... 5 VI. Glossary of bivalve terms ................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Carolina Lance (Elliptio Angustata)
    Supplemental Volume: Species of Conservation Concern SC SWAP 2015 Carolina Lance Elliptio angustata Contributor (2005): Jennifer Price (SCNDR) Reviewed and Edited (2012): William Poly (SCDNR) DESCRIPTION Taxonomy and Basic Description The shell of the Carolina Lance is elongate and elliptical or subrhomboid in shape. It is slightly compressed and rather thin, with a length of up to 140 mm (5.6 in.). The outer shell is olive but may become nearly black in older individuals; the inner shell is purple in color (Bogan and Alderman 2004, 2008). Status NatureServe (2011) identifies the Carolina Lance with a global ranking of apparently stable (G4) and a state ranking of vulnerable (S3) in South Carolina. POPULATION SIZE AND DISTRIBUTION The Carolina Lance is known to range from the Ogeechee River in Georgia north to the Potomac River in Virginia and Maryland. This species is widespread within South Carolina (Johnson 1970). It is occasionally found in abundance in several locations throughout the State including some stretches of the Great Pee Dee River, the Little Pee Dee River, and the Black River, but in other locations it is uncommon (Taxonomic Expertise Committee meeting 2004). HABITAT AND NATURAL COMMUNITY REQUIREMENTS The Carolina Lance seems to prefer sand and sandy gravel substrates and is often found at the edge of aquatic vegetation (Bogan and Alderman 2004, 2008). CHALLENGES Observations suggest that this species is sensitive to channel modification, pollution, sedimentation, and low oxygen conditions, but we do not know how the relative sensitivity of this species to these challenges compares to other species. CONSERVATION ACCOMPLISHMENTS The breeding season of E.
    [Show full text]
  • Eastern Elliptio Elliptio Complanata Complex
    Supplemental Volume: Species of Conservation Concern SC SWAP 2015 Eastern Elliptio Elliptio complanata complex Contributor (2005): Jennifer Price (SCDNR) Reviewed and Edited (2012): William Poly (SCDNR) DESCRIPTION Taxonomy and Basic Description This is a large, widespread complex including many potential species that were synonomized by Johnson (1970). E. errans, a former synonym of E. complanata, is currently recognized by some, but not all taxonomists. The taxonomy of all species in this complex is somewhat uncertain, so they will be treated together here. Some of the genetic studies that have been conducted so far have suggested that several species exist within the complex, but the results are quite complicated, and the complex is definitely in need of further study (A. Bogan pers. comm.). The Eastern Elliptio has a trapezoidal, rhomboid, or subelliptical shell shape which varies greatly in shell thickness. The anterior margin of the shell is rounded with the dorsal and ventral margins parallel, the ventral margin usually straight, and the posterior margin broadly rounded. The Eastern Elliptio has a broad, double posterior ridge. The exterior surface is yellowish to brown or blackish. Young specimens have indistinct greenish rays that disappear with age. The inner shell surface color varies from white to pink, salmon, or purple (Bogan and Alderman 2004, 2008). Status As currently classified, the Eastern Elliptio is one of the more common freshwater mussel species. However, because populations of multiple species may actually be combined under one name, as has been suggested by preliminary genetic results and by many morphological studies (A. Bogan, pers. comm.), the distributions of these separate species are likely to be more restricted.
    [Show full text]
  • Field Guide to the Freshwater Mussels of South Carolina
    Field Guide to the Freshwater Mussels of South Carolina South Carolina Department of Natural Resources About this Guide Citation for this publication: Bogan, A. E.1, J. Alderman2, and J. Price. 2008. Field guide to the freshwater mussels of South Carolina. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Columbia. 43 pages This guide is intended to assist scientists and amateur naturalists with the identification of freshwater mussels in the field. For a more detailed key assisting in the identification of freshwater mussels, see Bogan, A.E. and J. Alderman. 2008. Workbook and key to the freshwater bivalves of South Carolina. Revised Second Edition. The conservation status listed for each mussel species is based upon recommendations listed in Williams, J.D., M.L. Warren Jr., K.S. Cummings, J.L. Harris and R.J. Neves. 1993. Conservation status of the freshwater mussels of the United States and Canada. Fisheries. 18(9):6-22. A note is also made where there is an official state or federal status for the species. Cover Photograph by Ron Ahle Funding for this project was provided by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. 1 North Carolina State Museum of Natural Sciences 2 Alderman Environmental Services 1 Diversity and Classification Mussels belong to the class Bivalvia within the phylum Mollusca. North American freshwater mussels are members of two families, Unionidae and Margaritiferidae within the order Unionoida. Approximately 300 species of freshwater mussels occur in North America with the vast majority concentrated in the Southeastern United States. Twenty-nine species, all in the family Unionidae, occur in South Carolina.
    [Show full text]
  • A Species Action Plan for the Limpkin Aramus Guarauna
    A Species Action Plan for the Limpkin Aramus guarauna Final Draft November 1, 2013 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission 620 South Meridian Street Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600 Visit us at MyFWC.com LIMPKIN ACTION PLAN TEAM LIMPKIN ACTION PLAN TEAM Team Leader: Robin Boughton, Division of Habitat and Species Conservation Team Members: Tad Bartareau, Division of Habitat and Species Conservation Marty Folk, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute Melissa Juntunen, Division of Habitat and Species Conservation Mark Kiser, Office of Public Access and Wildlife Viewing Services Dan Mitchell, Division of Habitat and Species Conservation Alex Pries, Division of Habitat and Species Conservation Kelly Rezac, Division of Habitat and Species Conservation James Rodgers, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute Elena Sachs, Division of Habitat and Species Conservation Tim Towles, Division of Habitat and Species Conservation Zach Welch, Division of Habitat and Species Conservation Acknowledgments: Laura Barrett, Division of Habitat and Species Conservation Claire Sunquist Blunden, Office of Policy and Accountability Brie Ochoa, Division of Habitat and Species Conservation Cover photograph of limpkin by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Recommended citation: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. 2013. A species action plan for the limpkin. Tallahassee, Florida. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission ii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) developed this plan in response to the determination that the limpkin (Aramus guarauna) no longer warrants listing as a Species of Special Concern. The goal of this plan is to ensure the conservation status of the limpkin remains the same or is improved so that it does not warrant re-listing on the Florida Endangered and Threatened Species List.
    [Show full text]
  • Estrogens, Endocrine Disruption, and Approaches to Assessing Gametogenesis and Reproductive Condition in Freshwater Mussels (Bivalvia: Unionidae)
    Estrogens, Endocrine Disruption, and Approaches to Assessing Gametogenesis and Reproductive Condition in Freshwater Mussels (Bivalvia: Unionidae) Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy In the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By David M. Sovic, B.S. Graduate Program in Environmental Science The Ohio State University 2016 Dissertation Committee: Roman P. Lanno, Advisor G. Thomas Watters Susan Fisher Linda Weavers Copyright by David M. Sovic 2016 Abstract Organisms belonging to the family Unionidae, commonly referred to as freshwater mussels, unionids, or pearly mussels, have, over the last several decades, experienced drastic declines in range and number. These declines have not been localized to a particular region and have not been specific to any particular environment or habitat, but have been experienced by a great number of the species belonging to this diverse group. While a variety of potentially causative factors have been implicated in the decline of Unionids worldwide, the possibility that environmental contaminants, including those identified or suspected as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), might contribute to observed unionid declines is central to this work. Unionid bivalves are long-lived, sessile creatures that, by actively filter feeding, are at risk of a high degree of exposure to water-borne xenobiotics. Ecotoxicological research on potential endocrine disruptive effects on bivalves, and in particular many unionids, however, presents a unique challenge due to the highly endangered, and thus protected, nature of many of these species and a, generally, limited ability to secure and maintain organisms for testing. The ability to assess effects of toxicant exposure in both laboratory and field studies on unionid reproductive condition and gametogenic development using minimally invasive and nonlethal methods is paramount to the ability to gain information for such species.
    [Show full text]
  • Exploring Options for Mussel Restoration • Abstract
    Henry Hurt 1 16th of November, 2019 ENVR 391, Lookingbill Senior Capstone Final Paper: Exploring Options for Mussel Restoration • Abstract This paper seeks to explore the feasibility and possible procedures of restoring freshwater mussels to the Little Westham Creek (LWC) as a way to reduce excess organic pollutants such as nitrogen and phosphorus coming from upstream. To this end, the use of mussels in bioremediation and restoration procedures found in scientific literature were reviewed with the goal of creating a guideline of how such a project would be carried out at the Gambles Mill Eco- Corridor. Based on the results of past literature, water data collected by students in this seminar, and data from RES, it was estimated that a full restoration of mussels with a robust population has the potential to remove up to 5 tons of total suspended solids (TSS) and 200 pounds of Nitrogen per year. As a first step to achieving this, I suggest a project using mussel test cages containing Elliptio complanata (Eastern Eliptio) mussels be deployed to assess the suitability of the LWC for a larger restoration effort. Such a project could be carried out as a part of various biology classes as an educational component and is estimated to cost approximately $810 up front at most. If results indicate that the LWC is a suitable habitat, a further restoration could be attempted using the Elliptio complanata at a later time. • Background - mussels Freshwater mussels are a vital part of aquatic ecosystems that are in severe decline, and their restoration has high potential to be incorporated into stream restorations as a natural mechanism to improve water quality.
    [Show full text]