Freshwater Mussels in Massachusetts: Ecology and ...
Transcript of Freshwater Mussels in Massachusetts: Ecology and ...
Freshwater Mussels in Massachusetts: Ecology and Conservation of an Imperiled Fauna
Jason R. Carmignani, Ph.D.Aquatic Ecologist
MA Natural Heritage & Endangered Species [email protected]
Who am I?• Graduate work all in Massachusetts
– Bridle Shiner (MESA-listed)
– Winter water level drawdowns in MA lakes
• Joined NHESP – MassWildlife Nov. 2019
• Monitor state-listed and uncommon mussels (6), dragonflies/damselflies (22), snails (5), crustaceans (7), fish (10)
WHAT IS A FRESHWATER MUSSEL?
What is a Freshwater Mussel?
• Phylum – Mollusca
• Class – Bivalvia
• Order Unionoida
– Margaritiferidae
– Unionidae
• Is it a Mussel or a Clam?
What is a Freshwater Mussel?Zebra Mussel - Invasive
Asian Clam - Invasive
Fingernail Clam - Native
Other Freshwater bivalves in North America are in the order Veneroida
More closely related to marine clams
HOW MANY SPECIES ARE THERE?
Mussel Diversity in North America
~ 300-320 Species
Mussel Diversity in Massachusetts
12 Species (~ 3.5 %)
Mussel Diversity in Massachusetts
Archambault et al. 2018 Biodiversity Research
Freshwater Mussels in MA
• 12 species
• 6 listed under MESA
• 10 species in MA State Wildlife Action Plan
• 1 Federally Endangered – Dwarf Wedgemussel
Eastern Pearlshell
Dwarf Wedgemussel
Eastern PondmusselTidewater Mucket Brook Floater
Eastern Lampmussel Yellow Lampmussel Eastern Floater
Eastern Elliptio
Glochidialarvae
Adultmussel
Fish host
Juvenilemussels
FW Mussel Life Cycle
Metamorphosis
A. Fritts
Fish-host Attraction Strategies
• Large Mantle Lures - Carnivorous Fish
• External Lures – Carnivorous Fish
• Diminutive Lures – Insectivorous Fish
• Broadcasters – Host Generalists
• Trappers – Few species – all use Darters
• Maternal Sacrifice – one known species – FW Drum as host
Used by Mussels in Massachusetts
M. C .Barnhart
Mantle Lures
M. C .Barnhart
Mantle Lures
Mantle Lures
Broadcasters
Creeper
Broadcasters
Eastern Floater
M.C. BarnhartM.C. Barnhart
Important Conservation Targets
• Susceptible faunal group– North America: >70%
imperilment rate
– In MA: 10/12 species that require conservation action
• Important role in ecosystem– Improve water quality
– Nutrient cycling and energy transfer
– Create habitat for inverts and fish
• Habitat loss and degradation – Flow and sediment alteration
– Population isolation via physical barriers
• Invasive species – zebra mussels, Asian clams
• Contaminants
• Climate change
• Species biology: long-lived, sedentary.
→Populations less resilient to future changes
Threats to Mussels
Conservation and Restoration Actions
• Ecological research
• Population monitoring
• Watershed land protection
• Improved habitat connectivity
• Translocation
• Propagation
• Reintroduction
Benefits
• Increase stream connectivity
• Restore natural hydrology/geomorphology
• Supportive of native fish communities
Challenges
Mussels susceptible to:
– Dewatering
– Burial by sediments
– Changes in food availability
Dam Removal & Mussels
• Millie Turner Dam Removal – completed• Sucker Brook Dam Removal – 2021
Can we overcome challenges of dam removal?
• Alter dam removal process
• Manage mussels through translocation efforts
• Do long-term benefits outweigh costs?
– Increased host-fish?
– Habitat improvement?
• Pepperrell, MA
• Nissitissit River, Nashua River Watershed
• Removed in Fall 2015
• Most of land upstream owned by MassWildlife
• Important Mussel Community
– 2 MESA listed
– 2 State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) list species
– 1 Common species
Alex Hackman, MA DER
Millie Turner Dam
Peter D. Hazelton
Brook Floater: A High Priority Species
Brook Floater – State Endangered• Petitioned for Federal
Listing
• 4 populations in Massachusetts
• Threats:
– Habitat fragmentation
– Small population sizes
Other Species Involved
Creeper – Special Concern Triangle Floater - SWAP
Other Species Involved
Eastern Pearlshell - SWAP Eastern Elliptio - Common
Turner Dam
Millie Turner Dam Removal
• Habitat surveys – June-August 2015
– Up & downstream of dam
• Translocation– Started July 2015
– Moved out of dam influenced habitat
– ALL MUSSELS TAGGED
• Final translocations– During dam removal
• Headcut of river impeded by an old dam
Higher Abundances
Sparse
Long-Term Monitoring
• Documented habitat change post-dam removal
• Identified species-habitat relationships
• Monitoring population status (2018-2020)
– Growth, population size, mortality
• Analysis and results to come!
What was accomplished?
• > 200 Target mussels translocated– 50% were State Listed
Species
• > 25 Volunteers– >150 volunteer hours
• Baseline habitat and population data – Management plan
development– Inform decisions on future
dam removals
Sucker Brook Dam Removal
• Proposed for late summer/fall 2021
• Smaller-scale than Millie Turner
Sucker Brook Dam Removal
• Will translocate 2 state-listed and 1 SWAP species
• Measure impact of small dam removals Eastern Pearlshell, Eastern Elliptio
Future dam removals
• Squannacook River?– Creeper (SC), Triangle Floater, Alewife Floater,
Eastern Elliptio, Eastern Pearlshell
• Rare and sensitive taxa a priority
• Similar level of effort as Millie Turner Dam?– Mussel species abundance and composition
– Impact of dam removal on geomorphic habitat
Watershed Land Protection
• Protected land (in MA):
– Nissitissit Watershed
• 12.8% of total watershed area
• 40.1% is DFG wildlife management area
– Squannacook/Willard Watershed
• 17.8% of total watershed area
• 35.8% is DFG wildlife management area
Protection of In-stream Habitat
• Large wood = geomorphic/habitat complexity
• Management of beaver dams
• Mussel habitat restoration?
Propagation & Reintroduction
• Partners with researchers at USGS Coop Unit at UMass, USFWS - Cronin Aquatic Resource Center, North Attleborough National Fish Hatchery
• Brook Floater and Yellow Lampmussel
• Identify suitable habitat
• Establish new populations to increase resiliency in Massachusetts
Research and Restoration Needs
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• Increased knowledge of distribution and abundance– NHESP surveys
• Identification of threats to most sensitive populations
• Identification of restoration potential– Available habitat– Propagation and restoration
feasibility
Creeper – Special Concern
Brook Floater - Endangered
Where to Learn More
Websites• Unio Gallery – Dr. Chris Barnhart
– unionid.missouristate.edu
• Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society – FMCS– Molluskconservation.org
• MassWildlife Factsheets – (10/12 species)
– Found in the State Wildlife Action Plan
Where to Learn MoreFreshwater Mussels and the Connecticut River – Ethan Nedeau & Conn. River Conservancy
Immersion: the Science and Mystery of Freshwater Mussels – Abbie Gascho Landis
Questions?