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Effects of handling and aerial exposure on the survival of unionid mussels

Journal of Freshwater Ecology
By: , , , and 
https://doi.org/10.1080/02705060.1995.9663439

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Abstract

We conducted a relocation study of unionid mussels in Navigation Pool 7 of the upper Mississippi River (river mile 713.2) to evaluate survival after handling and aerial exposure. Two separate studies were conducted to compare seasonal differences in mussel survival; the first was initiated in June and the second in October. Amblema plicata plicata (subfamily Ambleminae) and Obliquaria reflexa (subfamily Lampsilinae) were studied. Mussels were marked, held out of water for either 0, 1, 4, or 8 h, and then placed into a 3 × 3 m grid (divided into nine 1-m2 units). The mussels were re-examined after four-five months to measure mortality in the control and treatment groups. Mussels of both species had >90% survival after aerial exposure up to 4 h in both studies. However, survival (number recaptured live/number recaptured live and dead) of mussels showed a decreasing trend with duration of exposure in the first study, but not in the second study. The overall recovery of marked mussels (number recaptured/number marked) was 91% in the first study and 87% in the second study. However, only 37% of O. reflexa mussels in the 8-h treatment were recovered in the first study; the adjusted survival (number live recaptured/number marked) of this treatment group was significantly (p < 0.05) lower (35%) than all other treatments.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Effects of handling and aerial exposure on the survival of unionid mussels
Series title Journal of Freshwater Ecology
DOI 10.1080/02705060.1995.9663439
Volume 10
Issue 3
Year Published 1995
Language English
Publisher Taylor and Francis
Contributing office(s) Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center
Description 10 p.
First page 199
Last page 208
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