Relocated Unionid Survival, 15 years later, Wolf River, Wisconsin · 2015. 7. 14. · High Quality...
Transcript of Relocated Unionid Survival, 15 years later, Wolf River, Wisconsin · 2015. 7. 14. · High Quality...
Relocated Unionid Survival,
15 years later,
Wolf River, Wisconsin
Heidi Dunn, Ecological Specialists, Inc.
Lisie Kitchel, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Few Long-Term Monitoring Studies
following Relocation
• Where do they go?
• How long do they survive?
• Is the native community affected?
• Do impact areas recolonize?
Wolf River, Wisconsin
• 219 miles long
– 3700 sq miles
– 11 counties
– Menominee Indian Res.
– Forested wetland/ag land
– North Hills/Plains
– Northern Lakes/Forests
• Headwaters-Forest Co.
– Trout stream
– Series of Dells
– White water rafting
• 2 Dams up of Shawano
• South of Shawano
– Free flowing
– 93 miles to Lake Poygan
– Fox River/Lake Winnebago
– Lake Sturgeon spawning
– One of two populations of E.triquetra
Shawano
• Shawano County
– 29 Species
• 2 Wisconsin Endangered
– Epioblasma triquetra
– Lampsilis teres
• 3 Wisconsin Threatened
– Alasmidonta viridis
– Simpsonaias ambigua
– Tritogonia verrucosa
• 5 Wisconsin Special Concern
– Alasmidonta marginata
– Elliptio complanata
– Pleurobema sintoxia
– Quadrula quadrula
– Truncilla donaciformis
– High density areas (20+/m2)
– Dominant Species• A. ligamentina and T. truncata
High Quality Unionid Communities
2010 Wolf River Relocation/Monitoring
• 1995 STH 29 Relocation
– 26,377 unionids removed
– 21 species
– About 8/m2
– 23,111 General Relocation Area
– 290 E. triquetra, A. marginata, and
T. verrucosa in Grids
– 1996 and 1997 monitoring
• 2010 STH 22 Relocation
– 550m Upstream of STH 29
– 50m Upstream of Rel. Area
1995 STH 29 Relocation
– General Relocation Area
• Added 7.7/m2
• Resident 12.2/m2 (±2.4)
• 63% increase
– Grids
• Grid A
– Added 120 unionids (2/m2)
– 15.6/m2 residents
– 13% increase
• Grid B
– Added 170 unionids (2/m2)
– 10.0/m2 residents
– 20% increase
1996/97 STH 29 Monitoring
Year Relocated Native Total
1995 10.4 ± 3.1A 12.2 ± 2.4A 22.2 ± 4.1A
1996 6.0 ± 1.7A 15.2 ± 3.3A 21.2 ± 4.2A
1997 6.8 ± 1.6A 10.8 ± 2.0A 17.5 ± 2.8A
General Relocation Area Density Similar 1995-1997
Sample size= 45, 0.25m2 samples
Different letters within a column indicate a significant difference (ANOVA, p<0.05)
T&E Species Recovery/Survival
1995 1996 1997
A. marginata 7 2 1
E. triquetra 110 40 (1) 56
T. verrucosa 2 2 1
Total live 119 44 58
Total shells 0 1 0
No. samples 60 37 30
No./m2 2 1.3 ± 0.3 0.7 ± 0.4
% Recovery 78% 50%
% Survival 98% 100%
Grid A Recovery/Survival
No. live (no. shells)
1995 1996 1997
A. marginata 17 6 8
E. triquetra 152 50 (3) 94 (3)
T. verrucosa 2 0 1
Total live 171 56 103
Total shells 0 3 3
No. samples 86 52 36
No./m2 2 1.1 ± 0.2 0.9 ± 0.4
% Recovery 69% 62%
% Survival 95% 97%
Grid B Recovery/Survival
No. live (no. shells)
2010, monitoring 15 year later
• STH 29 bridge
– Habitat
– Recolonization
• Density in General Relocation Area
• Movement out of General Relocation Area
• Survival/Movement in T&E Grids
Upstream Migration
• STH 22 collection
– 9472 unionids, 20 species
– Recaptured 14 live and 1 shell
• A. ligamentina: 8 live; 1 shell
• E. dilatata: 1 live
• L. cardium: 2 live
• L. recta: 1 live
• P. alatus: 2 live
• Moved 50 to 250m upstream!
Growth Since 1995
Growth Since 1995
STH 29 Relocation Area
• 2010
– 20 0.25m2 Quadrats
– 5 live A. ligamentina
– 1 live L. costata
– 1 live P. alatus
– 5 marked shells
– Density 1.4/m2 ± 0.9
– 4200 (±2700) still alive
– 18% of 23,111
– Many likely died of old age
• 1995
– Average age 12.5 years
– 5% less than 5 years old
2010 STH 29 Monitoring
Year Relocated Native Total
1995 10.4 ± 3.1A 12.2 ± 2.4AB 22.2 ± 4.1A
1996 6.0 ± 1.7A 15.2 ± 3.3A 21.2 ± 4.2A
1997 6.8 ± 1.6A 10.8 ± 2.0AB 17.5 ± 2.8A
2010 1.4 ± 0.9B 7.0 ± 3.0B 8.4 ± 3.1B
Native density not affected; A few relocated unionids alive
Sample size 1995, 1996, 1997 = 45, 0.25m2 samples; 2010= 20, 0.25m2 samples
Different letters within a column indicate a significant difference (ANOVA, p<0.05)
T&E Species Grids Still In Place
T&E Species Grid A 1997-2010
T&E Species Grid B 1997-2010
Epioblasma triquetra 1995-2010
Length (mm)
Sex Status ID Age 1995 1995 2010 Diff
M L 633 17 53 59 6
M L 760 11 46 61 15
M L 795 10 47 57 10
M L 789 12 54 63 9
M L 772 10 48 57 9
M L 731 15 53 56 3
M WD 685 13 50 55 5
STH 29 Bridge Unionids 2010
• Shallow run
– Aquatic vegetation
– Mostly stable substrate
– Scour holes near piers
– Depositional areas
• Unionids
– 20 0.25m2 Quadrats
– No marked unionids
– 10 species (no E. triquetra)
– 24% ≤5 years old
– 5.0/m2 (±2.8) vs 8/m2 in 1995
• Right 0
• Middle 4.4/m2
• Left 11.2/m2
What Did We Learn?
• Relocation Methods
– Found relocation areas
– Grids/Markers still in place
– Recovered animals
– Track growth
– Track movement
• Survival after 15 years
• No permanent increase in density
• Considerable upstream movement
• Habitat not permanently lost due to construction
• Epioblasma triquetra live over 30 years!
Acknowledgements
Funding provided by Wisconsin Department of Transportation
Field Assistance:
ESI staff-Eric Rahm, Nathan Badgett, Kendall Cranney,
Jeff Garner, Dan Scoggin, Heidi Dunn
WisDOT-Roseanne Meer, Janet Smith and staff
WisDNR-Allan Stranz, Randy Piette, Lisie Kitchel and staff