Evaluating the Feasibility of Rearing Juvenile Freshwater Mussels in a Flow- Through Pond System at White Sulphur Springs National Fish Hatchery Andrea K. Mummert Thesis submitted to the Faculty of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences Defense December 13, 2001 Approved: _________________________________ ____________ Dr. Tammy J. Newcomb, Committee Chair Date _________________________________ ____________ Dr. Richard J. Neves, Committee Chair Date _________________________________ ____________ Dr. Bruce C. Parker, Committee Member Date _________________________________ ____________ Dr. Donald Cherry, Committee Member Date _________________________________ ____________ Dr. Donald J. Orth Date Keywords: freshwater mussel culture, hatchery, ammonia toxicity Evaluating the Feasibility of Rearing Juvenile Freshwater Mussels in a Flow- Through Pond System at White Sulphur Springs National Fish Hatchery by Andrea K. Mummert Dr. Tammy J. Newcomb, Chairperson Dr. Richard J. Neves, Chairperson (ABSTRACT) A flow-through pond at White Sulphur Springs National Fish Hatchery was evaluated as culture environment for juvenile freshwater mussels of Villosa iris and Lampsilis fasciola. Survival did not differ significantly (p = 0.1910) over 93 d for V. iris cultured with silt (mean 49.8% ± SD 14.5) and without (mean 32.9% ± SD 11.7). Survival differed significantly (p <0.0001) between juveniles of V. iris (mean 49.8% ± SD 14.5 at age 93 d) and L. fasciola (mean 6.3% ± SD 4.5 at age 86 d). This may indicate that the pond failed to meet requirements of L. fasciola, or may have resulted from microhabitat variables. Growth did not differ significantly between species (p = 0.1315). Villosa iris reached a mean length of 1.81 mm ± SD 0.67, and L. fasciola 1.78 mm ± SD 0.78. Water quality parameters remained within suitable ranges, and planktonic algal densities were between 2850 - 6892 cells/mL. Survival of V. iris and growth of both species compares favorably to previous culture attempts. Juveniles of V. iris and L. fasciola were exposed to ammonium chloride solutions for 96 h in static renewal conditions at 12°C and 20°C. Calculating LC50 values with the Trimmed Spearman-Karber method, juveniles of L. fasciola (mean 96 h LC50 of 0.26 mg/L NH3-N) were significantly more tolerant of unionized ammonia than juveniles of V. iris (mean 96 h LC50 of 0.11 mg/L NH3-N). The only organisms with reported LC50 values lower than those seen for V. iris juveniles were Ceriodaphnia dubia and Hyella azteca. ii Acknowledgements I thank my advisors, Dr. Tammy Newcomb and Dr. Richard Neves, for the opportunity to undertake graduate research and also for their guidance and support. I also extend my gratitude to my committee members, Dr. Donald Cherry and Dr. Bruce Parker. Without their expertise and time investment, this project would not have been possible. I also wish to thank the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the opportunity to conduct this study at the White Sulphur Springs National Fish Hatchery and for funding this project. I am especially grateful to the Hatchery staff for their work constructing the mussel culture facilities and for their continued assistance throughout the project. I would also like to thank my fellow graduate students and technicians who helped with this research, particularly Sarah Gibson and Julie Boyles. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1: General Introduction and Justifications.............................. 1 Threats to Freshwater Mussels......................................................................1 Life Cycle......................................................................................................3 Project Goal and Objectives:.........................................................................5 Study Species ................................................................................................6 Justification for Objectives 1, 2, and 3:.........................................................6 Justification for Objective 4:.........................................................................8 Chapter 2: Evaluation of a Flow-Through Pond System at White Sulphur Springs National Fish Hatchery for Rearing Juvenile Mussels ............................................................................................................ 10 ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................10 INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................10 Algae as a Food Source...............................................................................11 Supplemental Silt ........................................................................................12 Comparison of Two Species .......................................................................14 METHODS.....................................................................................................14 Establishing Appropriate Conditions for Growing Juvenile Mussels.........14 Monitoring Habitat Parameters and Water Quality.....................................17 Algae Production and Monitoring...............................................................18 Comparison of Growth and Survival of Villosa iris Reared with and without Fine Silt .......................................................................................................19 Comparison of Growth and Survival of Villosa iris and Lampsilis fasciola .....................................................................................................................22 RESULTS.......................................................................................................23 Flow.............................................................................................................23 Temperature ................................................................................................24 Algae Production.........................................................................................24 Water Quality ..............................................................................................32 iv Comparison of Growth and Survival of Villosa iris with and without Fine Silt ...............................................................................................................32 Comparison of Growth and Survival of Villosa iris and Lampsilis fasciola .....................................................................................................................40 DISCUSSION.................................................................................................46 Flow and Mussel Survival and Growth.......................................................46 Temperature ................................................................................................47 Algae as a Food Source...............................................................................48 Water Quality and Habitat Parameters........................................................50 Filamentous Algae.......................................................................................53 Growth and Survival ...................................................................................55 Comparison of Villosa iris and Lampsilis fasciola .....................................55 Comparison of Villosa iris Cultured with and without Fine Silt.................57 Suitability of the Flow-Through Pond System at WSSNFH As a Culture Environment for Juvenile Freshwater Mussels ...........................................59 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE JUVENILE MUSSEL CULTURE IN THE FLOW-THROUGH POND ..............................................................61 Chapter 3: An Evaluation of a California Raceway at White Sulphur Springs National Fish Hatchery for its Potential Use in Rearing Juvenile Mussels................................................................................. 62 ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................62 INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................62 METHODS.....................................................................................................63 Establishing Appropriate Conditions for Growing Juvenile Mussels in the Raceway ......................................................................................................63 Evaluation of Growth and Survival of Different Species Released in the Raceway and Comparison of Actinonaias ligamentina Released at Two Different Ages.............................................................................................65 RESULTS.......................................................................................................66 Water Quality and Temperature..................................................................66 v Algae Production.........................................................................................67 Growth and Survival ...................................................................................67 DISCUSSION.................................................................................................73 Chapter 4: Sensitivity of Juveniles of Two Species of Freshwater Mussels to Total and Unionized Ammonia........................................ 75 ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................75