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ORVE Mollusk Subgroup
Meeting Minutes
plus an Addendum from White Sulphur Springs
National Fish Hatchery
Columbus, Ohio
October 31 – November 1, 2005
2004 Action Item
Review:
- Study design for
mussel community project to be submitted to the subgroup. Project will
be done through a PhD candidate with Dr. Benfield at Virginia Tech.
- ORVE mussel list
serv is up and running. Bob Butler will forward mailing list to Leslie
Tewinkle.
- Leroy Koch and
Patty updated the protocol for sampling the Ohio River.
- Janet Clayton and
Craig Stihler to compile information on L. subviridis for status
review. Craig had sent letters but did not receive any response. They
will send letters again this coming year.
Developing a mussel
strategy for propagation , population augmentation, and reintroduction
efforts in the ORVE
Bob Butler is
currently heading up a similar effort for Cumberland region. He recently
met with Jess Jones and Steve Fraley to finalize the plan. This strategy
will lay out the plan for population augmentation and reintroduction to
increase the Cumberland mussel fauna and set up a database to track these
activities. The strategy prioritizes the 57 species – 3 tiers of
imperilment from critically imperiled to highly imperiled and imperiled,
and includes candidate and listed species. Hope is to streamline the
permitting process to facilitate activities to restore these populations.
There is a need for a similar program for the ORVE, using the Cumberland
plan as a template, to help guide those working to conserve mussel
populations. Managers want to see the plan for propagation/conservation in
region 5. Region 3 has a plan for E.t rangiana and P. clava
for population augmentation and reintroduction and sees the value of an
ORVE plan.
Ohio River Sampling
Protocol
The sampling protocol
was revised this year. The Corps is using it and accepting the data
resulting from the protocol and more agencies are looking at this protocol
for guidance in sampling. This protocol should be viewed as a working
document with Aug 2004 being the most recent version. Transects are placed
every 100 m and broken into 10 m segments. This is working well for
contractors and helps normalize the sampling in the Ohio. Brent mentioned
the protocol should include documenting where substrate change occurs.
This change will be included in the protocol. The Corps asks how to adhere
to the sampling timeframe. The timeframe should be flexible but still be
used for guidance. Currently May 15 - Oct 31 is the sampling timeframe. A
suggestion was made to change this to a temperature guideline instead. If
the protocol is just being used on the mainstem Ohio there is no problem
with these dates. Temperature would be defensible whereas the current date
isn’t. There may be a need for a small group to get together in the winter
to step this protocol down for use in smaller rivers. Initial intent of
this protocol was for identifying mussel concentrations in the Ohio River
mainstem that need to be avoided for sand and gravel operation permitting,
recognizing the difficulties of sampling a big river. Keep in mind the
objective of this proposal prior to trying to use it on other rivers. This
protocol has been used in the pools of the lower Allegheny by Ryan Evans.
The protocol does identify triggers signifying areas to avoid and
designates buffer areas. Janet mentioned a need for an additional trigger,
suggesting that if the surveyor finds more than 2-3 species on consecutive
transects that this be an additional trigger. The current protocol states
that if 5 or more mussels are found per 10 meter segment on a transect,
then this is the trigger for a significant mussel concentration and to
move on. The protocol can be modified to address state concern species.
The list serv would be a place to gather literature to establish a new
trigger for the protocol and get input. Protocol working great on the
Ohio, problem is having it being used verbatim on other rivers. If 12-13
species are found, it is likely there will be an endangered species
present – paper by Jenkinson and Ahlstedt. Maybe include indicator species
that commonly occur with a listed species, indicating it is likely to be
present, maybe use a species score or multimetric approach as a mussel IBI.
The protocol is a major improvement over previous sampling schemes because
it can be replicated by others.
In the Allegheny 1
mussel per m2 is a mussel concentration. In the Allegheny the
issue is elimination of the habitat so it is important to know what is
there. T&E species are being found in the lower Allegheny that were not
thought to be there because no one has looked before. The 5-year permit
has just been renewed for sand and gravel dredging in the lower Ohio
River, however, they basically stay in one spot. In the Allegheny the sand
and gravel dredgers would like to move around but we do not know what is
in that river. Where they’ve dredged there is nothing there – basically a
watery desert. There are 9 locks and dams in the lower river. Rare
mussels are showing up in pools in 8 and 9 and V. fabalis were
found in pool 6. Over the past 5 years 6 species have been found that were
thought to be extirpated from the lower river. Obliquaria reflexa,
Toxolasma parvus, and Simpsonais ambigua are some of the
species that have been found. The water quality continues improving since
the decline of industry. With water quality improving it is hard to say
what species will come back. However, the sand and gravel industry wants
to take the river depth from 15 feet deep to 50 ft deep over the next 10
years. This is not a temporary impact. Pool 4 is a desert.
The PA state view as to what is a significant mussel resource is in
conflict with what is accepted by the majority of those working with
mussels. PA Fish and Boat is trying to hire a malacologist so there should
be improvement in the future. There is now the first state listed species
– Margaritifera margaritifera and there is a PA mussel technical
committee. But current PA state law protects the species and not its
habitat.
One problem mentioned
is the lack of consistency among regional FWS offices in addressing T&E
species in harm’s way. There is a difference among FWS offices as to what
areas to protect and which areas to basically ignore. There are 3 regions
in the ecosystem. They are trying to improve consistency in addressing the
Indiana bat conservation – a work in process. Possibly build on this for
other species.
Action item
– Leroy will post the following to the list serv: changing from the
sampling dates to using temperature guidelines for sampling, and an
additional trigger to designate significant mussel concentration for
comment prior to making the change to the Ohio River Survey Protocol.
Ongoing Surveys and
Projects
Allegheny River
Leetown has been
continuing the Allegheny River survey, this year having qualitatively
surveyed 22 sites beginning below Tionesta, PA and moving downriver.
Plethobasus cyphysus was found at 17 sites with highest numbers (20-62
individuals over 12 transects) found about 5 km above Oil City to about 1
km below. Villosa fabalis was found at 10 sites with Villosa
iris found at 5 sites. There was 1 E. triquetra shell found in
the substrate mid-channel at one of the sites below Oil City. The highest
concentration of both P. clava and E. t. rangiana occurs
below Tionesta to below Hunter Station (RKM 53.2 - RKM 58.4), a 5.2 km or
slightly over 3 mi segment of river. This project will continue next
summer. A salvage of mussels within the proposed causeway area at West
Hickory was completed in late August to early September. Over 1000
clubshell and more than 2000 northern riffleshell were tagged and moved to
2 relocation sites upriver where both species were present but at lower
densities. All mussels tagged and moved to the relocation sites will be
monitored and survival rates estimated. This project will be completed in
2007.
This summer Ryan Evans
and crew surveyed pools 4 and 6 in the lower Allegheny River, surveying
specific segments in pool 4 in relation to dredging and found that areas
not dredged (10-15 ft deep) were impacted by dredging; i.e., lot of silt
present. They surveyed 6 transects using the Ohio River protocol and found
6 species in pool 4, including 1 F. subrotunda and mostly L.
siliquoidea and Ligumia recta. In pool 6 they are gathering
good baseline data having documented 16 species with S. ambigua and
V. fabalis found live. Around Cogley's Island is where S.
ambigua was found. There is a lot of good mussel habitat in pool six,
more like big river run habitat, with quite a bit of current around the
island. Water depth is 8 to 17 feet where the habitat is considered good
for mussels. Some areas 25-30 ft deep – probably dredge holes. They
surveyed below lock and dam 7 and saw great habitat in the navigation
channel and found V. fabalis. This would be a place to search for
northern riffleshell. A shell was found the previous year. Hope to survey
pools 7, 8 and 9 next summer and put together a good composite data set
for the river, what has been dredged and hasn’t, what has been surveyed
and found to be present.
Several questions were
raised. First, is there anywhere in the lower Allegheny river where we can
place Cyprogenia stegaria to increase the number of viable
populations to one day downlist the species? With what is known
currently, Bob Anderson said no because even though habitat currently
exists to maintain fanshell, this habitat can not be protected. If the
habitat could be protected the potential exists to introduce several big
river species, especially in pools 6, 8 and 9 where candidate species have
been found. C. stegaria has only been found historically in pool 5
and if this habitat is gone then the species can not be introduced back
into its historical range. PA likely wouldn’t have a problem with putting
C. stegaria 30 miles further up the river. Wherever it is put want
to assure it has some protection in the Allegheny. Second, what can the
ORVE mussel subgroup do to bring the dredging activities in the Allegheny
to the attention of the conservation community? Is this an issue in other
states? The subgroup should consider putting together a synthesis of the
literature, what has been found, and show how each state is handling the
dredging issue in relation to mussel communities in big rivers. A letter
from FMCS should be written addressing gravel dredging and its impact on
the mussel fauna of the lower Allegheny. Action item: The subgroup
will compile the information and forward to FMCS environmental affairs
committee. Ryan Evans will take the lead on this.
The critical habitat
issue is one of the issues holding up candidate species being listed. Is
it a good idea for the subgroup to suggest to R3 to pursue listing one or
the other of the candidate species? It is believed there are no V.
fabalis left in region 4 and where P. cyphyus is found in WV
and in R4 other listed species are present. The rayed bean is found in a
number of small streams and would offer protection to areas of those
streams. While P. cyphyus is protected by cohorts in the mussel
communities where it is found the same can not be said for most V.
fabalis sites. It was recommended this subgroup not place 1 species
above the other to try to stop gravel dredging and it probably wouldn’t
work anyhow. Should funding ever be available for listing, R3 will come
back to the subgroup for input, likely through the list serv.
Allegheny River
tributaries
TNC received a state
wildlife grant to survey the Allegheny and its tributaries (Olean,
Cassadaga and Conewango) in NY. They qualitatively surveyed 60 sites this
summer, 20 of those on the mainstem. They found 2 live clubshell in the
Cassadaga and live rayed bean in Cassadaga, Olean and mainstem Allegheny.
The 2 year study in French Creek was completed this summer, including the
NY section of French Creek. Anyone interested in a copy of the report
contact Tamara. Found both clubshell and northern riffleshell. They also
received a grant to survey Le Boeuf and Muddy Creek, tributaries to French
Creek. Some funds to continue work in NY and hopefully funding to do some
quantitative surveys.
Elk River Survey
FWS funded Heidi Dunn
to survey the Elk from Kings Shoals to Sutton dam and then from the mouth
to Kings Shoal. Several clubshell were found at 1 site that was resurveyed
and several dead shells further downriver. Additional surveys disn't turn
up additional federal species. Janet set up a permanent monitoring site at
Sutton at a known clubshell site. They tagged all mussels found in a given
area and this spring did a timed search recording tagged and untagged
mussels. This is a diverse but not an abundant bed. This year set up a
second permanent monitoring site at queen’s shoals (a third of the way up
to the dam) and tagged about 3000 mussels and picked up some L. abrupta
with A. ligamentina the most abundant species. Set out temp loggers
and scour chains, did pebble counts and mapped cross sections.
Kanawha River
Funded by the Corps to
systematically survey the Marmet Poll in the Kanawha River (Elk River is a
tributary) Bank to bank transects were surveyed every tenth mile
completing 18 so far. Transects are broken into 10 m segments, recording
species, pebble counts and substrate penetration measurements. Documented
the second finding of Cumberlandia monodonta for the state. Mussels
were found on every transect with L. recta being common and quite
large, also lot of P. alatus, L. cardium, A. ligamentina
and A. plicata. Where shallow (9 ft) in the main navigation channel
the substrate has been churned by barge traffic. Where water is 15-18 ft
deep the substrate looks great. The state funded White Sulpur Springs to
do some propagation with brood stock from the Elk (zebra free) since zebra
mussels are present in this part of the Kanawha. They also set up a
monitoring site at Kanawha Falls (5 mile free flowing reach) and found
about 7/m2 in the main channel about 5/m2 along the
side. Both L. abrupta and P. cyphyus were found with A.
ligamentina and P. alatus the most common species. Few zebra
mussels found in the Marmet Pool but not found near Kanawha falls – 5
miles above head of navigation. At the Muskingham site in the Ohio River
found fair number of small zebra mussels (10 mm or less), and some on the
mussels but the river bottom was covered by dead small zebra mussels.
Ohio River
Belleville Pool was
lost this winter due to barges that sank and wrapped around the lock
gates, keeping the gates open about a month resulting in frozen mussels
and a salvage operation. This is currently in litigation. They used the
AFS mussel kill protocol to assess the kill, using systematic sampling
with random start throughout the pool. Around Feb 1 the pool started
filling up. This hit at the worst time because of the extreme cold
temperature. If it had gone on much longer it would have impacted a major
mussel bed at Muskingham Island. Water dropped 19 feet toward the end of
the pool but did expose great substrate. This incident shows the mussel
fauna in the Ohio River is vulnerable. Barges could have been towing toxic
chemicals. Basically little regulation on barge traffic and what are
regarded as unsafe conditions for operating towboats and barges. Would
like to see the coast guard be involved in regulating this navigation
traffic. Tentative settlement reached in previous mussel kill case in the
Ohio River with USA and States of WV and OH as plaintiffs. Settlements
will go towards restoration of fish, mussels and snails. In 2004 and 2005
tagged about 10,000 mussels at 5 permanent monitoring sites.
Green River
The FWS funded Monte
McGregor to search for O. retusa. Selected a shoal and surveyed
several days but no ring pink at that site. On a float trip 1 was found
and sent to the propagation facility and they later picked up 4 juveniles
that seem to be ring pink. Monte went to the same site where the adult was
found and found another about 50 ft from the first – both males. About 130
man hours to find 1. Seeing a lot of recruitment in the Green River of
almost all species, including clubshell. There is a population near
Greensburg and further up near the Green River dam. In 1 day they found 8
live and Leroy picked up over 20 in a midden, mostly young juveniles. This
is 1 of 2 populations south of the Ohio River – Green and the Elk rivers.
Several were brought into the propagation facility. Probably can find
enough in the Green to use for propagation. Though there is recruitment
the clubshell population is sparse. In WV looks like they are losing the
Hackers Creek clubshell population. Fanshell are doing fairly well and
they picked up P. plenum further downstream near Mammoth Cave as
well as L. abrupta, P. cyphyus and rabbitsfoot being found
in area associated with clubshell. This is likely the best rabbitsfoot
population. In the extreme section upstream of the park and upstream of
Mumsfort they are not finding catspaw and riffleshell in this section
where they were last found. Both could be brought into the Green without
worrying about mixing stock. Found Cumberlandia shell but not live animals
as of yet.
P. clava
– not ready yet for delisting but getting a better handle on good
populations and if augmentation efforts in Region 3 are successful (i.e.,
evidence of recruitment) there would be at least 5 good populations. This
is 1 species potentially that can be saved. About 400 V. fabalis
from the Allegheny went to the Green River and some went to Ohio State.
Muddy Creek
Host fish surveys were
done in Muddy Creek (tributary to French Creek) as a follow up to the 2003
comprehensive mussel survey. SUNY Brockport resurveyed those areas looking
for likely host fish. There are 22 species of mussels in Muddy and 48 fish
species – including eastern sand darter and 11 known host fish.
Information is still being compiled. Looking at association of location of
rare mussels and host fish. Existing land acquisition plan is along French
Creek. Upstream of Mill Village and Le Boeuf found viable populations and
recommended this area be included in boundary extension of the refuge.
Ohio River Islands
NWR
Last year received
funds to build new office and visitor center and work began Aug 1.
Developing a long term monitoring protocol for mussels in the Ohio River,
a priority of the refuge and ORVE mollusk subgroup. Protocol has both
qualitative and quantitative components and procedure for selecting sites.
Plan to survey 26 sites in different strata. The protocol was tested at 3
sites – 1 below Olmstead in the free-flowing section. They found 2 P.
cooperianus (1 animal per 6 diver hours) and found an additional
animal the following week. This site is highly diverse and zebra mussels
have come and gone with hardly any on animals. At Rosewood, IN haven’t
been there since 2000 and no zebra mussels seen this summer and native
mussels have survived – lot of E. crassidens and F. ebena.
Quantitative sampling didn’t take lot of time but qualitative did – dark
and deep. Few zebra mussels there but a lot of dead amblema shells
associated with zebra spike in 1999-2000. At Phillis Island in Beaver
County PA zebra mussels were worse than other locations. This is river
mile 35 below Pittsburgh, where historically there were 30 species and
they found evidence of about 12 species of natives overall. New surveys
found 6 species, including L. fragilis, Q. quadrula, O.
reflexa, P. alatus, U. imbecillis and T. donaciformis,
including juveniles. Will continue to test the protocol but will need
other offices to assist since it takes about 3 days to complete a site.
At Clarks River Refuge
in the Clark River (in the lower TN-Cumberland ecosystem) near Paducah 24
species were found including many big river species. This river needs
additional survey work to determine if federally listed species are
present. The lower river is destroyed.
Update on
wide-ranging mussel status review
In August the
rabbitsfoot status review was sent for review and comment. Arkansas took
the lead having 12 of 46 extant populations. The candidate elevation
package is in the regional office awaiting approval for candidate
elevation. The snuffbox status review is about 80% complete. The species
was found live in the Muskingham River in 2005 where it was believed to
have been extirpated. Snuffbox is the most wide ranging species we have
done to data being known from about 200 streams and lakes. Few populations
are in very good shape – Clinch, French Creek, Sydenham, and two Wisconsin
populations--Wolf and St Croix--which are declining. Only about 8% of the
~75 streams where the species is found are considered in good shape. Bob
will try to get the status review out this spring. The other species
needing status review in the future are P. rubrum and Obovaria
subrotunda which is pretty much gone from IL, 1 big population in the
Shade River, a direct tributary of the Ohio in Ohio, and an occasional
individual in the mainstem. Has a similar range distribution as E.
triquetra. O. subrotunda is doing well in WV. In PA it is seen
only in the Shenango River, not in French Creek, and a shell was found on
the Allegheny.
Propagation
facility updates
Columbus Zoo
The facility is
holding about 1000 specimens and 50 species, including Q. cylindrica
and E. triquetra. They received a Section 6 grant to propagate both
riffleshell and clubshell for population augmentation. Research was
completed on identifying fish host for V. fabalis, which is the
greenside darter, and for P. cyphyus which was found to be the
central stoneroller. Keeping juveniles alive past a certain stage is a
problem.
White Sulphur
Springs
They have produced
small batches of L. cardium, L. fasciola, and northern
riffleshell but are having problems keeping juveniles alive. They are
using a recirculating system – some predator problems and will start
testing the Barnhart system. Plan to start propagating A. ligamentina
this fall to test the system. The Allegheny animals brought into the
facility in 2004 seeing a continual decline of body condition over time -
70% survival of muckets and spike after 1 year. Animals were collected the
first week in October. Have a fair amount of handling stress – feeding
studies increase handling of animals. So far have 100% survival of animals
collected in August 2005. Have increased flow rates and adding some wild
water component from a pond. Other research: Amy Bush is working on a
master's thesis on feeding physiology and diet for 3 species. Both a PhD
and master thesis study on the ecological role of mussels in the Clinch –
students will work with Dr. Benfield. A master's student is studying
effects of dietary protein on juvenile growth and adult condition. Lost
about 20% of V. fabalis transporting to the facility. [NOTE:
see addendum at end of the minutes for an updated version of the WSSNFH
summary of accomplishments]
Mammoth Cave/TN
Tech
They will propagate
species for population augmentation in the park in the Green River. The
Green River outside park boundaries is being covered by the state of
Kentucky. They currently have V. fabalis from the Allegheny
collected from the East Brady bridge site. All endangered species went to
White Sulphur, 700 V. fabalis collected so far with 200 going to
White Sulphur, 250 went to TN and 30-40 went to Tom and some went to
Monte. This coming summer they hope to complete salvage of the direct
impact area. The animals from the Allegheny will be placed in the Duck
River where the species no longer exists. Some genetics show it may not be
a Villosa but the phylogeography has not been done for this
species. The Clinch, Tennessee, the upper Ohio drainage and Sydenham
Rivers and a few sites in Michigan are the remaining populations.
Kentucky Dept of
Fish & Wildlife Resources facility
There are over 60
species in the facility, including fanshell, clubshell, ring pink, rough
pigtoe, and orangefoot pimpleback. They have also held Pegias fabula
and E. f. walkeri but did not have much luck keeping walkeri
alive and Pegias have been returned. A few E. triquetra are
being held but they are hard to come by, but having good success keeping
adults alive. Monte feels it is important to have a minimum oxygen
saturation of 85%. Olmstead funding from the Corps will be used to start a
new expanded facility at the current location. There are 3 biologists
working with Monte and 2 techs, and he is working with students at eastern
Kentucky on mussels in Horse Lick, as well as working with KY State on
algae and a Louisville student working on artificial medium. They have an
agreement with Mammoth Cave NHP for Monte to work with their facility on
getting a flow through system using water from the Green River.
Alabama Dept of
Fisheries
At the Tennessee
Aquarium facility in Cohutta, Georgia they have produced 29,000 animals of
which 5 were federally listed, and they have propogated 7 listed or
candidate snails and released 23,000. They are finding previously released
animals and seeing reproduction in a few rivers in the Mobile basin. Paul
is now with the Alabama Dept of Wildlife & Fisheries and he updated the
group on the new facility on the Cahaba River. It is a large facility that
has been sitting idle for 10 years and it will take some time to get the
infrastructure in working condition. They will focus mainly on the Mobile
Basin fauna and other southern drainages of the Gulf coast, drainages
south of the Cumberland-Tennessee drainage but will work with some rare
Cumberlandian fauna. Paul recommended that coordination among facilities
be under the pervue of FMCS.
Virginia Tech
They are working on
the genetics of Cyrpogenic stegaria and P. plenum
populations and some Q. cylindrica populations from the Clinch,
Duck, Green Rivers and a few populations on the other side of the
Mississippi River, looking at smooth versus rough forms. The lab work is
complete on C. stegaria with 10 microsatellite markers and not a
lot of differentiation among populations. Not much difference among
populations between Clinch River compared to Ohio River tributaries –
opens up options to management. L. abrupta and P. clava
genetics is being done at Leetown. Region 3 is piggybacking on the
P.clava study and hopefully will get some animals from the Tippiecanoe
River and St Joe River of the Maumee system. Hope to have results by
January so by next year can determine where clubshell broodstock can come
from. Tech has recently had success getting juveniles to the 2-4 mm size
range which increases their viability. In the next few years should have
better information on releasing these larger juveniles. Do know that
releasing newly metamorphosed juveniles has not been effective. Have
successfully found in subsequent years larger juveniles that were
previously released at Horton Ford where the habitat and water quality was
known to be adequate for juvenile survival.
They released 120,000
endangered juveniles in TN and 70,000 in VA, and released about 30,000
juveniles in the Big South Fork. Produced juveniles for toxicity tests at
the Columbia lab where they are testing ammonia and copper toxicity levels
between adults, glochidia and juveniles and comparing results with
standard test animals. Based on results they have petitioned EPA to
include juvenile mussels as standard bioassay animals, especially for
ammonia where the data shows that 80-90% of the juveniles fell below the
water quality criteria for ammonia. They are using this data to petition
EPA to change the ammonia water quality criteria for rivers but this
likely won't happen for several years. They also produced juveniles for
the North Fork of the Holston River to test for mercury. At the facility
they are propagating endangered and rare species but also animals for
bioassay work to evaluate current criteria. V. iris is the most
common species used. Chris Barnhart has also provided some rare and common
species because we need to determine sensitivity among species. Chris
Ingersoll has the lead at the Columbia lab. Ammonia papers have been
published.
Translocating
adults to establish new populations
Large populations of
Epioblasma capsaeformis, E. t. rangiana, and P. clava
are being considered for cropping adult animals to reestablish populations
in historic occurrence. The Region has recommended developing a white
paper addressing this program and to establish coordination among regions
and states. The state of TN sees no problem putting extirpated species
back where there are federally listed species currently present. Bob asked
for volunteers to help draft a white paper. Jess Jones is working with
population dynamic data to model how many individuals can be harvested
without harming the parent populations. The model shows they can likely
move several hundred individuals from several populations each year. One
stochastic event, especially for P. clava, would wipe out the
opportunity to establish new populations. Northern riffleshell is believed
extirpated from R4 and R3, possibly a few individuals in the Big Darby.
The Sydenham and Allegheny Rivers are basically it for this species. It
was emphasized the group needs to make the case to the state of PA that
the conditions exist in these other rivers for adults cropped from the
Allegheny River to survive and reproduce. MN DNR has had success infesting
fish in cages to successfully propagate Q. fragosa and L.
higginsii – a 100 year old technique. Will use a similar design to
monitor success for clubshell and northern riffleshell, but modified for
the more flashy Darby system. A SSP project was funded for Leetown to
determine genetically if new animals are from newly propagated animals or
from animals that may have been present. They developed 24 microsatellites
for clubshell. This is an opportunity to use some large populations to
address some of these important research questions.
Committee:
Jess Jones (lead), Leroy Koch, Bob Anderson, Janet Clayton, Bob Butler,
Leslie Tewinkle, Monte McGregor. Committee plans to begin drafting the
white paper mid-November.
ORVE Gastropod
status
Ryan Evans updated the
group on surveys in streams across the state of PA to put together a
species list. They found a lot of specimens that Ortmann had collected.
They will spend 2 more years working in lakes, reservoirs and wetlands.
With this survey that also collect EPA RBP habitat measures at these sites
to correlate with snail patterns. Watch list species – don’t have a lot of
the species on the watch list in PA. Have dense populations of Ohio pebble
snail. PA hadn’t previously had this species listed. In a survey of the
Clarion River which historically had bad water quality they found
Strophitus undulatus coming back in and found 5 pulmonate snail
species and an enormous population of limpets. Lethasia ovata is in
PA and found the shiny rock snail, 2 individuals in the Shenango, doing
well in mainstem Allegheny and 1 individual in Dunkard Creek in the
Monongahela system. Found several other species on the watch list. Shell
pebble snail has been found and hadn’t been found in 80 years. New Zealand
mud snail had turned up in Lake Ontario and has the potential to displace
native hydrobiids. Ryan is going to run the past 3 years of data through
models to determine trends of snails in PA. Western PA list is up to 54
species from the state. The Chinese mystery snail is established around
Harrisburg and York in the Susquehanna drainage. The hydrobiid
Cincinnattia integra was found this year.
Paul Johnson reported
20 species in ORVE are conservation candidates. Several are believed
extinct – Divers in the mainstem Ohio River please collect any Leptoxis
dilatata if found. He would like to try to do an initial checklist for
AFS but there are not a lot of snail collectors out there. Draft
assessment of N. American snails has been completed with goal of
publishing a paper in Fisheries, hopefully will spur new research interest
in snails. 673 species historically, 60 are believed extinct, 34% G1, 16%
G2 so well over half the fauna imperiled. However there are huge data gaps
so information contingent on new survey data becoming available, as well
as systematic issues. Anticipate lot of comments on the draft. Paul
presented the paper at AFS in Alaska this year. Paul and Jay Cordeiro
have been the lead and will set up a committee. AL has highest number with
179, 79 from TN and from the Ohio drainage, 65 KY, 66 IL, 59 OH and IN, 22
WV, 63 PA, 63 for NY and 63 VA.
New Projects in the
ORVE
White Catspaw
project
Steve Ahlstedt is
leading a survey under the preventing extinction program for the catspaw
in Killbuck Creek and the white catspaw in the Ohio portion of Fish Creek
(Maumee River/Lake Erie basin). Animals will be collected and divided
among the Ohio State and Kentucky facilities. They are developing a
propagation plan and Leroy has been coordinating with folks offering to
help with the surveys. This species is our highest priority. Look for
purple catspaw also – only 1 population known. If they find enough the
animals will be split between facilities. There have been mixed results
holding Epioblasma in captivity long-term, though some luck with
brevidens.
Leslie reported that
Region 3 put together a mollusk group and Susan Rogers Oetker is leading
the group. Status assessments will be a priority for this group.
New funding for
mollusk projects
Leroy has a little
funding through the flex funds program for Jim Sickel to survey the lower
Tennessee River for federally listed species. The mussel population is
still tremendous. They are working with the navigation industry to
convince them this fauna is worth protecting and list species are likely
present. A lot of projects are coming up for new fleeting areas. The
question is what depth of water can you put barges and not impact mussels.
Met with Corps and TVA and TVA will fund John Jenkinson to come up with a
monitoring plan to help answer this question.
Ohio Division of
Wildlife
The division plans
land acquisition for conservation easements along Pymatuming Creek. They
devoted $50K last year and have over $250k this year as well as willing
sellers. Clubshell is present but not reproducing. Ryan didn’t find
clubshell in the PA portion of this stream. Section 6 funding is available
for conservation planning and easements but need to get states on board.
Angie Zimmerman will send out material on the program to the mailing
list. Ohio is also funding fish host propagation work, especially darters
for facilities to use as hosts instead of using field collected animals.
Review of 2005
action items
Ohio River protocol
Leroy has the lead.
The protocol will continue to be evaluated and modified. Leroy will post
the following to the list serv for comment and review: change from sample
dates to temperature guidelines for sampling, and an additional trigger to
designate significant mussel concentration.
Subcommittee on
white paper on adult translocation
Jess Jones has the
lead and will begin working with the committee in mid-November to draft a
white paper.
Subviridis status
review
Janet Clayton and
Craig Stihler will send out letters this year to try to compile species
information for a status review.
ORVE mussel list
serv
Bob Butler will
forward mailing list to Leslie Tewinkle.
Section 6 funding
for conservation planning and easements
Angie Zimmerman will
send out material on the program to the mailing list.
Dredging Issue in
the lower Allegheny River
Ryan Evans is the lead
to compile information on gravel dredging activities and its impact on the
mussel fauna of the lower Allegheny and forward to FMCS environmental
affairs committee.
Meeting Next Year
November 14-16, 2006
in Pittsburgh, PA
Addendum
WSSNFH has conducted two
host-fish trials testing the juvenile culture systems patterned after
Buller Fish Hatchery in Virginia. WSSNFH conducted one host-fish
infestation trial using L. recta, L. fasciola, and L. cardium.
WSSNFH conducted a second trial using some Epioblasma torulosa rangiana
and Villosa fabalis that happened to be displaying when salvaged
from the Allegheny River in June. We suspect that juveniles were preyed
upon by invertebrate larvae (zooplankton and annelid) in the first trial,
or the substrate used was too fine and clay-like making pedal-feeding
difficult. Our primary water source are springs, which run underground for
quite some time and go through extensive pumps and plumbing. The water
filtration system was upgraded at the mussel hatchery to remove all
particles over 20um. We are about to begin another trial with
Actinonaias ligamentina, Ligumia recta, and Villosa iris
testing the Barnhart method of rearing juveniles without substrate in
down-wellers.
Over 600 common mussels were
collected along with endangered and candidate species of mussels residing
under a bridge slated to be demolished at East Brady, PA, in the Allegheny
River, beginning in October 2004. An additional 300 common mussels were
relocated to the hatchery in August, 2005 to participate in a diet quality
study. Thus far, three collections to salvage mussels have occurred. A
total of 9 Pleurobema clava, 55 E. t. rangiana, and 396
V. fabalis have were relocated to WSSNFH, of which 308 V. fabalis
sent to Monte McGregor in Kentucky, Tom Watters at Ohio State, and Jim
Layzer at Tennessee Tech. Preliminary results of WSSNFH long-term captive
care trials to develop suitable protocols for providing refugia to adult
mussels follow. First, I would like to comment on concerns over mortality
and transportation.
Matt mispoke when he said we
lost ca. 20% of these animals in transportation. We believe we lost ca.
12% in transportation in August 2005; we have 86% survival of the V.
fabalis brought into refugia at WSS in August, 2005. WSSNFH has 83%
survival of the V. fabalis collected in June 2005. Interestingly,
we had no transportation mortality with V. fabalis relocated to
refugia at WSSNFH in October 2004 (only 31 mussels were salvaged). We
relocated 700 V. fabilis in August, 2005 to WSSNFH. Matt was
trying to highlight the potential for elevated mortality rates during
transportation if mussels are collected at the wrong time of year with
respect to either reproductive condition or reproductive status, such as
extremely gravid females. All of the V. fabalis collected this
past August were displaying, and fully gravid – hmm, strange time of year
to be displaying for fish if you intend to make use of summer growing
season. Regardless, if mussels are that gravid and displaying they are
most likely very sensitive to stress. We need to be mindful of the
animals reproductive status and physiological condition, and recognize
that if we deem it necessary to collect at a certain time of year - due
to water levels, personnel constraints - then we need to accept a certain
amount of mortality or take due to transportation and relocation. The
methodology for salvage, propagation, and refugia design efforts needs
further study. I would like to see more people conduct small studies on
the effects of holding, relocation, and transportation on condition to
help us all perform our conservation efforts with greater confidence and
success. Matt wanted the group to hear this point as there was some
discussion about relocating large numbers of V. fabalis to
Tennessee and Kentucky.
Thus, far we show on average
75% survival of mussels held one year in captivity, with 100% survival of
P. clava. Overall the mussels showed a loss in condition in
February, we have no wild data for February. Mussel had lower condition
compared to their wild counterparts in June 2005. However, in September
2005, condition was not significantly different than wild mussels. Mussels
collected from the Allegheny River in October 2004 were unusually low in
condition for that time of year. These mussels were experiencing some
stress likely due to high water conditions and high suspended bed loads in
the Allegheny River in summer 2004. This could cause mussels to shut down
feeding behavior while waiting out the flood and high concentrations of
suspended particles, thus becoming low in overall body condition. Thus,
animals into that are already low in condition will present an extra
challenge to maintain and elevate condition. Previous data from wild
mussels in the Allegheny River in 2001 also indicate that the mussels are
lower in condition in Fall than summer. However, condition of mussels in
2001 was not as low as condition in 2004; thus, we can expect mussels to
be more or less challenged by environmental conditions from year to year.
Wherever possible, we might want to consider collecting and/or relocating
animals in midsummer, when the data we have on physiological condition
indicates that the species, E dilatata, L. costata, and A ligamentina
are highest in body condition (end of July or early August); while being
mindful at the same time of the mussels gravidity period and potential for
stress in relocating gravid mussels. I would like to hear from others on
success in relocating gravid females, success in holding mussels long-term
and what time of year mussels are collected, how they are fed, etc. The
above is our only experience. Learning that mussels collected in October
2004 were losing condition informed us to improve our food delivery system
by increasing pump sizes and flow rates through the bivalve bunk beds, we
increased number of daily feeds, and have added wild pond water which we
know was suitable for holding mussels long-term for two years from
2002-2004. We hope that mussels collected in August 2005 will show better
condition as a result of changes in feeding regime and culture systems
that we have made.
We would like to recommend
that others holding mussels collect condition data on common species of
mussels brought into captivity along with the targeted rare and endangered
species. These common individuals can act as surrogates of how rare
species are doing in captivity. We have little information on how mussels
thrive once they are brought into captivity, besides the usual "mortality"
measure. Mortality data falls short of identifying the problem and
usually can’t help us to prevent the problem. Condition data can inform
the hatchery manager sooner than mortality that there is a problem, giving
us a chance to try to fix the problem. It isn’t the silver bullet, but
it’s a start to gaining a better understanding of the animal’s overall
health while in captivity. It isn't difficult to measure condition
following the oyster industry model of total body fatness. All you need
is a drying oven and a muffle furnace. Most of our hatcheries are
co-located or very near a university and have access to these
instruments. If folks didn't want or couldn't work with a local
university, they could ship us mussels freshly shucked, snipped up into
little pieces inside a 250mL nalgene bottle, and then frozen, we could
measure the fatness of the animals. . . . it's a thought.
Lastly, some notes on
“remaining salvage effort in the Allegheny River” appeared under notes on
TN Tech and Mammoth Cave. The salvage effort is a contract with PDOT and
ORINWR and WSSNFH.
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