AR-1562 THE SOUTHWESTERN NATURALIST 52(3):424-445 SEPTEMBER 2007 NOTES CORBICULA FLUMINEA (BIVALVIA: SPHAERIACEA: CORBICULIDAE) IN COLORADO JAMES R. CORDEIRO,* ARLENE P. OLIVERO, AND JOHN SOVELL NatureServe, 11 Avenue de Lafayette, 5th Floor, Boston, MA 02111 and Division of Invertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, NY 10024 (JRC) The Nature Conservancy, Eastern Resource Office, 11 Avenue de Lafayette, 5th Floor, Boston, MA 02111 (APP) Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University, 254 General Services Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523 *Correspondent: jay- cordeiro@ natureserve. org ABSTRACT-We documented range expansion of the Asiatic clam, Corbiculafluminea, in Colorado since its first occurrence in 1993 in the South Platte River drainage. Using recent surveys and literature records, we compiled known occurrences of the Asiatic clam over the past 12 y and determined that it has expanded beyond the initial confines of the Platte River and Arkansas River drainages into the Colorado River and San Juan River drainages. All previously reported occurrences are still extant and the species continues to spread to new localities, especially in the Arkansas River drainage. We speculate on potential negative impacts to native freshwater mussels in Colorado, but have not conducted any definitive studies. RESUMEN-Deseamos documentar la extensi6n de la gama de la almeja Asiatica, Corbiculafluminea, en Colorado desde el primera ocurrencia en 1993 en el drenaje del Rio South Platte. Usando examenes y expedientes recientes de la literatura, compilamos ocurrencias sabidas de la almeja Asiatica a partir de los docena anios pasados y determinada que las poblaciones se han ampliado maLs all;a de los limites iniciales de los drenajes del Rio Platte y del Rio Arkansas en los drenajes del Rio Colorado y del Rio San Juan. Todas las poblaciones previamente divulgadas siguen siendo extant y muchas continfian a aumento a nuevos lugares, especialmente en el drenaje del Rio Arkansas. Studies of freshwater mollusks in the Rocky been documented in 42 states (Counts, 1986; A. Mountain region are rare compared to other M. Foster et al., http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/ regions of the United States, such as the Southeast SpFactSheet.asp?speciesID=92; A. J. Benson et and Northeast. Surveys include those by Cockerell al., 2004, unpublished report, United States Fish (1889, 1927), Ellis (1916), Ellis and Keim (1918), and Wildlife Service, Arlington, Virginiana). The and Henderson (1907a, 1907b, 1912,1924). More first documented occurrence in Colorado was in recent surveys include Brandauer and Wu (1978), June 1993 in Cherry Creek Reservoir, Arapahoe Herrmann and Fajt (1985), Wu (1989), Liu et County al. (Nelson and McNabb, 1994). Subsequent (1996a, 1996b), Cordeiro (1999), Cordeiro andoccurrences in the state also have been docu MacWilliams (1999) and A. H. Clarke et al. (2003, mented in Highline Lake, Mesa County, in 1995 unpublished report). The invasive Asiatic clam, (Kreiser and Mitton, 1995). It has become Corbiculafluminea (Miller, 1774) (family Corbicu established in Queen's (=Nee Skah) Reservoir, lidae), is native to temperate and tropical Kiowa County; in pools of the Arkansas River southern Asia west to the far eastern Mediterra below the dam to John Martin Reservoir, Bent nean, as well as northern Africa, the southeastern County; and in Pueblo Reservoir, Pueblo County Asian islands, and eastern Australia (Morton, (Cordeiro, 1999; Cordeiro and MacWilliams, 1986). It was first reported in the United States 1999). in 1938 in the Columbia River in Pacific County, Based on targeted surveys of freshwater mol Washington (Burch, 1944). Since that time it has lusks across Colorado in 2001-2004, we here This content downloaded from 129.107.109.182 on Mon, 28 Aug 2017 20:57:42 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms September 2007 Notes 425 report new occurrences Heritage Program of Corbicula of Totten fluminea Lake in 2004, 5 y from 18 additional after sites, the 6initial well away discovery, from those revealed that the previous reported species (Table also is1). extant Unlike at Cordeirothis site. In particular, (1999), who comprehensively the occurrence surveyed of 12 additional115 sites sites on the (80 different Arkansaswater bodies) River across drainage the indicate eastern C. fluminea is half of the state expanding for freshwater in this region.bivalves, occur rences reported Corbicula here are fluminea the result has beenof both documented in 4 a comprehensive of survey6 major of drainage 350 sites basins in eastern (Arkansas, Colorado, Colorado in 2001-2002 Platte, San(A. H.Juan; Clarke not etdocumented al., 2003, in Rio Grande unpublished report, or White-Yampa) Colorado Division in Colorado of Wild (or 5 of the 12 life) and 453 sites subbasins) in western as of Colorado 2004 (Fig. in 1).2003 Historical intro 2004 (J. R. Sovell ductions et inal., North 2005, America unpublished can be initially traced report, Colorado to Division passive dispersalof Wildlife) on waterspecifically currents, anthropo targeting freshwater genic transport mollusks inacross boat theballast state. and bait buckets, Also included are or periodicthrough non-targeted the aquarium surveys pet trade (Counts, at various new 1986; sites Isom, in eastern 1986). Range Colorado expansion as of occur documented by rences the Colorado on the NaturalArkansas Heritage River drainage has Program. Copies occurred of these rapidly reports since initialcan be discovery of C. obtained by contacting fluminea co-author there in 1996J. R. (Cordeiro, Sovell at 1999; Cordeiro the Colorado Naturaland MacWilliams, Heritage Program1999) with . 12For additional sites purposes of this discovered. project, A easternsimilar rapidColorado invasion is pattern from defined as all recentareas east initial of introductionsthe Continental also has been docu Divide and western mented Colorado in Texas includeswhere the all species areas occurs in 180 west of the Continentalof 257 counties Divide (Karatayev plus areas et al., 1995). New >200 m elevation invasions east of arethe notContinental limited to Divide. the eastern plains as Also included are new periodic occurrences non-targeted have been surveys uncovered in differ at various new ent sites regions in eastern of the ColoradoColorado River as drainage as documented by well. the The Colorado widely Natural disjunct Heritage distribution in Colora Program. In June do of 1999, the S.-K.remaining Wu collected occurrences 15 supports specimens from a theory Bonny of human-influencedReservoir in Yuma transport. At least County close 2to instances Kansas. ofA secondaquarium site dealers was in Colorado discovered in Septemberselling the of species the same have year been in documented Totten Lake in(Cordeiro Montezuma and MacWilliams, County in 1999; the University of extreme southwestern Colorado corner Museum of thespecimen state (Col lot UCM 41599). orado Natural Heritage Although Program previously , pers. reported comm.). to be limited in In 2001-2002, dispersal12 additional capability sites by were intolerance discov of cold temper ered, all in the atureArkansas (Mattice River and drainage: Dye, 1976; 3 in Graney the et al., 1980; Purgatoire River; McMahon, 3 in John 1983; Martin Sickel, Reservoir; 1986; French 2 and Schloes new sites in the ser, Arkansas 1991, 1996), River C. (1.2fluminea km north has been shown to and 6 km west survive of Lamar); cold temperatures and 1 each in (<40C) Hasty in areas without Lake, Lake Meredith thermal (=Meredithrefuge (Kreiser Reservoir), and Mitton, 1995; Cor Nee Gronda Reservoir, deiro and and MacWilliams, Nee Noshe Reservoir 1999). Totten Lake is (A. H. Clarke etsituated al., 2003, at aboutunpublished 2,050 mreport; elevation, Queen's, Fig. 1). Surveys Nee of Gronda western and Colorado Nee Noshe in 2003Reservoirs at about 2004 uncovered 1,700 4 additional m, Cherry sites Creek in the Reservoir Colora at about 1,850 m, do River drainage: Pueblo Beaver Reservoir Pond at aboutin Delta 1,600 Co., m, Highline Lake House Creek in at Montezuma about 1,550 m,Co., Lake and Meredith Spring and at about 1,350 m, Whitewater creeks John in MartinMesa Co. Reservoir (J. R. Sovell at about et al., 1,280 m, Hasty 2005, unpublished Lake report).at about 1,200In addition, m, and occurBonny Reservoir at rences in Bonny about Reservoir, 1,200 m Cherry elevation Creek (http://parks.state.co.us/ Reser voir, and the Arkansas Boating/BoatableWaters/). River (belowJohn NewMartin localities in west Reservoir) have ern been Colorado confirmed range fromto be aboutextant. 1,550 to 3,200 m Additional surveys elevation by the(Beaver Colorado Pond Naturalabout 3,200 m, House This content downloaded from 129.107.109.182 on Mon, 28 Aug 2017 20:57:42 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms 426 The Soutthwestern, Naturalist Vol. 52, no. 3 3~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~n0-~b 0- - -0 o -~~~.. n-I-.D iZ-.. -"Z~~~~ )- G'4.. Lo- '~~~~t4.0 - r-~-~ . e. "4-0-.a r-- C ~C.. C - 00C an"I U.) 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