Freshwater Mussels:North America’s

Silent Crisis

G. Thomas Watters, PhDCurator of MolluscsDepartment of Evolution, Ecology,

and Organismal Biology

Mike BrittsanCurator

Theyare

Extinct

North America’s Silent CrisisNorth America’s Silent Crisis

North America has the world’s most diverse freshwater mussel fauna with approximately 300 species, but it is one of the most rapidly declining animal groups on the

continent.

USFWS Box Score

12131419254762697576

# Endangered % EndangeredTaxa

< 1Arachnids5Amphibians4Reptiles1Crustaceans1Snails

<< 1Insects21Freshwater mussels14Mammals10Fishes8Birds

USFWS Box Score

12131419254762697576

# Endangered % EndangeredTaxa

< 1Arachnids5Amphibians4Reptiles1Crustaceans1Snails

<< 1Insects21Freshwater mussels14Mammals10Fishes8Birds

ThreatsThreats

Loss of habitat, run off & Loss of habitat, run off & siltationsiltation, water quality, , water quality, impoundments, impoundments, channelizationchannelization

Mussels are a sentinel speciesMussels are a sentinel species

Tennessee River ImpoundmentsTennessee River Impoundments

010203040506070

Before After

Fort Loudoun

05

101520253035

Before After

Nickajack

0

10

20

30

40

50

Before After

Chickamauga

05

10152025303540

Before After

Wheeler

Buttons!Buttons!

Cultured PearlsCultured Pearls

Zebra Mussels & Other ExoticsZebra Mussels & Other Exotics

Ammonia toxicityAmmonia toxicity

LC50’s- .124 mg/l NH3-N/l (In sediment)

LC50’s range- .157 to .372 mg/l NH3-N/l (In water)(Juvenile mussel data from Newton and Bartsch, May, 2007 SETAC)

Average ammonia levels in Scioto River near our conservation facility= .126 mg/l NH3-N/l (In water).

Values ranged from .001 to .270 from Sept 07 to March 08

What about Nitrite, Nitrate, Orthophosphate, and pharmaceuticals?

Ohio is fragmented Ohio is fragmented

Unique PartnershipsUnique Partnerships

Freshwater Mussel FacilityFreshwater Mussel Facility

Freshwater Mussel FacilityFreshwater Mussel FacilityFacility Goals Facility Goals

Basic ResearchHost Identification Host Identification

RefugiaRefugiaCulture Target SpeciesCulture Target Species

Health AssessmentHealth AssessmentEducationEducation

Fish PropagationFish Propagation

2400 sq ft facility 600+ sq ft tank space1100 individuals of

49 species

Bio-filter tower

To hot watersterilizer

UV sterilizer

Tank

Chiller/Heater

Recirculationpump

Quarantine system

The Sex Life

of Freshwater Mussels

The The Sex Life Sex Life

of of Freshwater MusselsFreshwater Mussels

Mussels play dirtyMussels play dirty

The Victims

An Interesting Life CycleAn Interesting Life Cycle

HitchhikersHitchhikers

How does a stationary animal How does a stationary animal attract a host?attract a host?

Creative Fishing Techniques!Creative Fishing Techniques!

Due to graphic content viewers are advised. Material may not be suitable for perch,

small mouth bass under the age of 17 months, and those offended by invertebrate reproduction..

NRS1.mpgNRS1.mpg

Nrs2.mpg

Gloch1.mpg

Host IdentificationHost Identification

Health AssessmentHealth Assessment

HemolymphHemolymph is drawn to assess acute and chronic is drawn to assess acute and chronic stressors. Looking at ways to test for infection, stressors. Looking at ways to test for infection,

toxic stress and general health.toxic stress and general health.

End ProductEnd Product

Release of Juvenile Mussels in Release of Juvenile Mussels in Darby Creek, OH (July ‘07)Darby Creek, OH (July ‘07)

So Why Should We Care?So Why Should We Care?

Many thanks to our sponsorsMany thanks to our sponsors

Morris Animal FoundationMorris Animal Foundation

Ohio Division of WildlifeOhio Division of Wildlife

USFWSUSFWS

National Fish and Wildlife National Fish and Wildlife FoundationFoundation

Mussel Mitigation TrustMussel Mitigation Trust

Columbus FoundationColumbus Foundation

Chemical AbstractsChemical Abstracts