Freshwater Mussels (Bivalvia: Margaritiferidae and Unionidae) of the Buffalo River Drainage, Tennessee
Freshwater Mussels (Bivalvia: Margaritiferidae and Unionidae) of the Buffalo River Drainage, Tennessee

Author: Matthew Philip Reed

Publisher:

Published: 2014

Total Pages: 98

ISBN-13:

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The Buffalo River in Tennessee once hosted a rich population of freshwater mussels. During the 1980s, monitoring efforts demonstrated evidence of drastic declines and extirpation of entire assemblages. Increases in municipal development in the headwater tributaries and agriculture in the main stem of the Buffalo River are suspected causes for mussel community declines throughout the river. In 2011, collection data documented evidence of recovery in the lower Buffalo River. The aims of this project were: 1) to update the status, distribution, and species composition of mussels in the Buffalo River and its major tributaries through qualitative sampling, and 2) to analyze healthy community structures through quantitative sampling. Timed qualitative searches to establish Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) were conducted at approximately 8 km intervals (5 river miles) in the main channel and in major tributaries. A total of 33 species including two species new to the river drainage were recorded at 57 collecting sites. The highest number of live species per site was 20, recorded 3.2 mi (5.1 km) above the confluence with the Duck River. The most abundant and widely distributed mussels recorded in qualitative sampling were Villosa taeniata and Lampsilis fasciola, which were observed at 21 and 18 sampling sites, respectively. Catch Per Unit Effort varied throughout the drainage, demonstrating isolated pockets of healthy mussel assemblages as well as stretches of river with few live individuals. Quantitative sampling was conducted at Buffalo River Mile 3.2 (BRM 3.2) because of its community’s abundance and species richness. Twenty species and 178 live mussels were observed, with an average of 1.8 mussels per quadrat. The once-abundant mussel fauna in the middle and upper Buffalo River has yet to recover, but encouraging signs of limited recovery in the lower reaches of the river should be strongly considered in the watershed’s future management and conservation efforts.

Survival and Growth Rate of Translocated Freshwater Mussels Lampsilis Fasciolaand Medionidus Conradicus
Survival and Growth Rate of Translocated Freshwater Mussels Lampsilis Fasciolaand Medionidus Conradicus

Author: Laura L. Pullum

Publisher:

Published: 2015

Total Pages: 185

ISBN-13:

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Freshwater mussels (Family Unionidae and Margaritiferidae) are a widely threatened group of bivalve molluscs, particularly in the Southeastern United States. Translocation of freshwater mussels is an increasingly common conservation method. However, there are relatively few studies that quantitatively investigate the factors influencing translocation success or failure. In October 2013, hundreds of Medionidus conradicus and Lampsilis fasciola were translocated to the Pigeon and Nolichucky Rivers in Tennessee, with an interim partial survey (June 2014) and a full survey (October 2014). In this study, I analyze this field collected data to determine the mechanism(s) that currently influence the outcomes of Tennessee mussel translocation. My recommendations for future surveys include open and timely data sharing between investigators and the scientific community at large. Given these data and associated collection methods, a better understanding of freshwater mussel communities and restoration success factors can be identified at lower future costs and facilitate longer-term research. My research recommendations include more frequent, complete surveys, and quantitative analyses at the mussel and community levels. The results of this study have implications for conservation translocation efforts. My results indicate that both L. fasciola and M. conradicus can be successfully translocated to the Pigeon River, if 1) they are translocated to the Pigeon where it has less boulder, cobble and exposed bedrock in favor of more coarse and fine gravel and sand; 2) it had lower peak and average water discharge rates, 3) if some translocations occurred in the spring-early summer, and 4) if the translocated mussels are initially housed in cages or silos. The non-housed mussels were not recovered, primarily due to high water volumes and velocities soon after the beginning of the study. The housed mussels were protected. There is no overall predictability of the water discharge timing and size of the Waterville Hydroelectric Power plant's dam. A management recommendation is for incremental releases and notification to conservation authorities. Due to significant mortality in the first 8 months of this study, some studies should start in the spring-early summer rather than in October to help translocated mussels survive their first over-winter by having some growth and habitat acclimation underway.

The Freshwater Mussels (Bivalvia: Unionidae) of the Harpeth River Drainage and the Upper and Middle Duck River Tributaries, Tennessee
The Freshwater Mussels (Bivalvia: Unionidae) of the Harpeth River Drainage and the Upper and Middle Duck River Tributaries, Tennessee

Author: Kristin Leigh Irwin

Publisher:

Published: 2018

Total Pages: 139

ISBN-13:

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The Cumberland and Tennessee River drainages harbor high diversity and endemism of freshwater mussels. The faunas of the Harpeth River drainage and Duck River tributaries have been disproportionally understudied relative to other Cumberlandian streams. Forty-two sites on 23 tributaries in the Harpeth River drainage and a 21-kilometer reach of the main channel were assessed qualitatively for freshwater mussels. Relic shells of four species were observed in eight sites on four of the tributaries. Twenty species were observed in the main channel including the discovery of a new Harpeth River drainage record: Simsponaias ambigua. Catch per unit effort (CPUE) ranged from 0.0 to 32.0 mussels/h. Lampsilis fasciola and Potamilus alatus were the most abundant species. Mussel populations were fragmented and all species exhibited primarily large size-classes. Eighty-three sites on 37 tributaries in the upper and middle Duck River drainage were sampled qualitatively. Nineteen species were observed and 12 were collected live or fresh dead, and CPUE ranged from 0.0 to 58.0 mussels/h. Villosa vanuxemensis and Villosa taeniata were the most abundant and widespread species observed. Live mussels were found in only five tributaries, although mussels historically occurred in 17 of the sampled streams. Length frequency analysis indicated recent recruitment for four species in Big Rock Creek. Results of canonical correspondence analysis for both drainages revealed no association between environmental variables and mussel community structure (live and fresh dead individuals combined), likely a result of low densities. Two sites on Big Rock Creek in the Duck River drainage were sampled quantitatively using 0.25-m2 quadrats. Densities were 0.33 and 1.27 mussels/0.25m2 and species richness ranged from four to five. Quantitative sampling indicated that qualitative timed searches may be sufficient for detecting recruitment in small streams. Anthropogenic alteration has resulted in extensive loss of freshwater mussel habitat, leading to local extirpations and a reduction of diversity and abundance in both watersheds.