U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Dwarf wedgemussel Alasmidonta heterodon with good water conditions. This Listing: Endangered, March 14, 1990. dependence on a certain species of fish 55 FR 9447 9451 increases the mussels’ vulnerability to habitat disturbances. If the fish host Critical habitat: None designated is driven off or eliminated because of habitat or water quality problems, Threats: Poor water quality and the mussels can’t reproduce and will habitat conditions have led to the eventually die out. decline and loss of populations of the dwarf wedgemussel and threaten Habitat: The dwarf wedgemussel the remaining populations. Studies inhabits creek and river areas with a have shown that freshwater mussels, Dwarf wedgemussel, USFWS slow to moderate current and a sand, especially in their early life stages, gravel, or muddy bottom. are extremely sensitive to many of Status: Endangered the pollutants (chlorine, ammonia, Range: The dwarf wedgemussel heavy metals, etc.) commonly found in Description: The dwarf wedgemussel occurs in at least 25 stream reaches municipal and industrial wastewater is relatively small, rarely exceeding along the Atlantic Coast from releases. Impoundments (dams), 1.5 inches in length. The shell’s outer New Brunswick, Canada, to North channelization projects, and in-stream surface (periostracum) is usually brown Carolina. Documented populations dredging operations directly eliminate or yellowish brown in color, with faint in North Carolina are located in the habitat. These activities also alter green rays that are most noticeable following drainages and streams: the quality and stability of remaining in young specimens. Unlike some Neuse River drainage - Little River stream reaches by affecting water mussel species, the male and female (Wake and Johnston County); Swift flow, temperature, and chemistry. shells differ slightly, with the female Creek (Wake and Johnston County); Agriculture (both crop and livestock) being wider to allow greater space for Middle and Buffalo Creek (Johnston and forestry operations, roads, egg development. A distinguishing County); Turkey Creek (Nash and residential areas, golf courses, and characteristic of this mussel is it’s Wilson County); Stony Creek (Nash); other construction activities that do dentition pattern: the right valve and Moccasin Creek (Nash, Wilson, not adequately control soil erosion possesses two lateral teeth, while the and Johnston Counties); Tar River and water run-off contribute excessive left valve has only one. drainage - Tar River and Shelton Creek amounts of silt, pesticides, fertilizers, (Granville County); Ruin, Little Ruin, heavy metals, and other pollutants The reproductive cycle of the species is and Tabbs Creek (Vance County); that suffocate and poison freshwater similar to other native mussels. Males Cedar, Crooked, Fox, Shocco, and Little mussels. The alteration of floodplains or release sperm into the water, and the Shocco Creeks (Franklin County); and the removal of forested stream buffers eggs are fertilized when the sperm are Shocco Creek (Warren County) can be especially detrimental. Flood taken in by the females through their siphons during feeding and respiration. Females retain the fertilized eggs in their gills until the larvae (glochidia) fully develop. This mussel is considered to be a long-term brooder, with females retaining larvae through the winter. The glochidia are released into the water and must attach to the gills or fins of the appropriate fish species. They remain attached to their “fish host” for several weeks, drawing nourishment from the fish while they develop into juvenile mussels. They do not hurt their “fish host.” The juvenile mussels then detach from the fish host and drop to the bottom of the stream where they continue to develop, provided they land in a suitable place U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service plains and forested stream buffers help We depend on the diversity of plant Participate in the protection of maintain water quality and stream and animal life for our recreation, our remaining wild lands and the stability by absorbing, filtering, and nourishment, many of our lifesaving restoration of damaged ecosystems. slowly releasing rainwater. This also medicines, and the ecological functions helps recharge groundwater levels and they provide. One-quarter of all the Prepared by: maintain flows during dry months. prescriptions written in the United U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service States today contain chemicals that Asheville Field Office Why should we be concerned about were originally discovered in plants and 160 Zillicoa Street the loss of species? Extinction is a animals. Industry and agriculture are Asheville, North Carolina 28801 natural process that has been occurring increasingly making use of wild plants, (828) 258 3939 since long before the appearance of seeking out the remaining wild strain humans. Normally, new species develop of many common crops, such as wheat December, 2011 through a process known as speciation, and corn, to produce new hybrids that at about the same rate other species are more resistant to disease, pests, become extinct. However, because of air and marginal climatic conditions. Our and water pollution, forest clearing, loss food crops depend on insects and other of wetlands, and other man-induced animals for pollination. Healthy forests environmental changes, extinctions are clean the air and provide oxygen for us now occurring at a rate that far exceeds to breathe. Wetlands clean water and the speciation rate. help minimize the impacts of floods. These services are the foundation of All creatures, including humans, are life and depend on a diversity of plants interconnected. Native mussels rely and animals working in concert. Each on certain fish species in order to time a species disappears, we lose not reproduce. In turn, these mussels only those benefits we know it provided provide numerous benefits to fish and but other benefits that we have yet to other aquatic organisms. Mussels realize. continuously filter the water for food and oxygen; as they do so, they are What you can do to help cleaning the water of pollutants and Establish and maintain forested large quantities of organic particles, stream-side buffers. Several federal, much line a tiny water purifying state, and private programs are system. They play an important role in available to assist landowners, both the aquatic food chain as a food source technically and financially, with for wildlife, including river otters, restoring and protecting stream-side muskrats, great blue herons, and buffers and eroding streams. numerous species of fish and turtles. Their shells provide cover and nesting Implement and maintain measures for habitat for aquatic insects, crayfish, controlling erosion and storm water and bottom-dwelling fish species like during and after land-clearing and darters, sculpins, and madtoms (major disturbance activities. Excess soil in prey items for man game fish species). our streams from erosion is one of the greatest water pollution problems we Endangered species are indicators of have today. the health of our environment. The loss of these plants and animals is a sign Be careful with the use and disposal that the quality of our environment of fertilizers, pesticides, and other – air, land, and water – is declining. chemicals. Remember, what you put on Gradual freshwater mussel die-offs, your land or dump down the drain may such as the declining Appalachian eventually wind up in nearby water. elktoe, and sudden mussels kills are reliable indicators of water Support local, state and national clean pollution problems. Stable, divers water legislation. mussel populations generally indicate clean water and a healthy aquatic Report illegal dumping activities, environment. While poor environmental erosion, and sedimentation problems. quality may first manifest itself in These activities affect the quality of the health of our plant and animals our water, for drinking, fishing, and populations, if untreated, it eventually swimming. affects humans directly, as we breathe polluted air, loose valuable topsoil to erosion, or get sick from swimming in contaminated water..