A Study of the Mussels (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Unionidae) of Symmes Creek and Tributaries in Jackson, Gallia and Lawrence Counties, Ohio.
2007; Ohio State University Libraries; Volume: 107; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês
ISSN
2471-9390
AutoresMichael A. Hoggarth, David A. Kimberly, Benjamin G. Van Allen,
Tópico(s)Water Quality and Resources Studies
ResumoFreshwater mussels (family Unionidae) are among the most threatened of Ohio’s aquatic fauna. Interest in their biogeography has increased as their distribution and abundance has declined. is study was performed to assess the status of the mussels of Symmes Creek and it major tributaries in southern Ohio. Of the 24 species of mussels known to have inhabited this watershed, 16 were found alive in the system in 2004 and 2005 and two others were found as freshly dead shells. ese species are thought to represent the extant mussel fauna in the system today. Of the remaining six species collected prior to the current study, three were found alive as single specimens and three were found as very old dead shells and so probably never represented viable populations in the system. During this study, four species were found that had never been reported from Symmes Creek before. ese species are Simpsonaias ambigua (Ohio species of special concern), Quadrula pustulosa, Obliquaria re exa (Ohio threatened species), and Ligumia recta (Ohio threatened species). e Ohio endangered mussel, Villosa lienosa, had been reported from the upper reaches of Symmes Creek previously and was collected alive during the current study, but in much fewer numbers than had previously been reported. e mussel community in the lower mainstem of Symmes Creek has remained healthy while the communities in the headwaters of Symmes Creek and its smaller tributaries have become severely reduced. OHIO J SCI 107 (4): 57-62, 2007 Creek, Black Fork Symmes Creek, Bu alo Creek, and Long Creek during the summers of 2004 and 2005. e streams were accessed at bridge crossings or adjacent to roads that paralleled the creeks. Particular attention was made to collect from the same reaches as Watters (1988), although additional sites were sampled as well. Generally a reach of at least 200 meters was searched at each site. All living mussels found were taken from the substrate identi ed to species and returned. Dead shells were retained to voucher the collections. Dead shells were determined to be freshly dead (dead less than one year), weathered dead (dead longer than ve years but less than 20 years), or subfossil (dead longer than 20 years). Only living and freshly dead shells were used to determine the presence of an extant population. RESULTS e Symmes Creek watershed has been shown to support populations of 24 species of mussels (Table 1). is total includes one Ohio endangered species (V. lienosa), two Ohio threatened species (O. re exa and L. recta), and two Ohio species of concern (L. compressa and S. ambigua). Prior to this study, 17 species had been found alive in the system, two others were found as freshly dead shells and one additional species was found as a subfossil shell. During the current study 16 living species were found, two additional species were represented by freshly dead shells alone, and one species was represented by weathered shells. Not found during the current study were L. costata (previously found as a single subfossil specimen), Actinonaias ligamentina, Toxolasma parvus, and Villosa iris. e last three species were each previously found as a single living specimen in the system. Discovered for this system for the rst time were S. ambigua, Q. pustulosa, O. re exa and L. recta. Quadrula pustulosa was found alive in su cient numbers to indicate a viable population in Symmes Creek. Simpsonaias ambigua was found in a limited reach of Symmes Creek mostly under at boulders where numerous mud puppies (Necturus maculosus) also were found. e fact that so many mud puppies were found in this reach indicates that the potential for a viable population of the salamander mussel also occurs in this creek. Obliquaria re exa and Ligumia recta were found as single specimens and should not be INTRODUCTION Watters et al. (in press) have reviewed the status of the mussels of Ohio. Relying on numerous studies of the mussels within speci c watersheds by Hoggarth (1986, 1990a, 1990b, 1991, 1992, 1995-1996, 2000), Hoggarth et al. (1995, 2000), and Watters (1988, 1990,1992, 1998a, 1998b) they concluded that existing mussel community structure within Ohio streams falls into one of three di erent categories: 1) the mussel community has not been diminished, 2) the mussel community has become greatly reduced from what it was prior to European settlement, or 3) the mussel community had been reduced but has recovered and is approaching similar diversity to pre-European settlement, but with a di erent suite of species. Watters (1988) concluded that Symmes Creek fell into the rst category. He found an abundant fauna both in terms of species richness and number of individuals and concluded that the creek had retained its important ecosystem functions, such as biodiversity. e intent of the current study was to determine the extent the mussel fauna in this watershed had changed since Watters’ (1988) initial study. Prior to Watters’ study, ve collections had been made in the system (all from Symmes and Bu alo creeks). ese studies yielded 12 species of mussels. Watters (1988) collected 20 species from the watershed. Ohio listed species of mussels reported by Watters were Villosa lienosa (lined lampmussel) an Ohio endangered species and Lasmigona compressa (creek heelsplitter) an Ohio species of concern. MATERIALS AND METHODS Mussels were collected by hand in the shallow waters of Symmes 1Address correspondence to Michael A. Hoggarth, Department of Earth and Life Sciences, Otterbein College, Westerville, OH 43081. Email: mhoggarth@ otterbein.edu. 2Current address: David A. Kimberly, Department of Biology, University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX 75701 3Current address: Benjamin G. Van Allen, Department of Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284 58 VOL. 107 SYMMES CREEK MUSSELS OHIO JOURNAL OF SCIENCE 59 M. A. HOGGARTH AND OTHERS
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