Associations between substrate and hydraulic variables and the distributions of a sculptured and an unsculptured unionid mussel

Goodding, Daniel D.; Williams, Marsha G.; Ford, David F.; Williams, Lance R.; Ford, Neil B.

doi:10.1086/704795

Cited by 13 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…In addition, T. verrucosa and A. plicata have medial sculptured shells, which are thought to enhance anchoring ability compared to other shell sculptures types (e.g. C. petrina ) and unsculptured species (typical central Texas form of C. pustulosa ; Watters, 1994; Allen & Vaughn, 2009; Hornbach et al., 2010; Howells, 2014; Goodding et al., 2019), although the influence of shell morphology on dislodgment resistance needs further assessment (Levine et al., 2014). Thus, targeted investigation into the relationship between peak flood discharge in different sized rivers, habitats, substrate types, and among mussel species is warranted.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…An estimated 50,000 mussels, representing 4–8% of the total population, were displaced and stranded, and then died. In other studies, the ability of freshwater mussels to resist floods depends on substrate stability and related hydraulic variables such as shear stress (Allen & Vaughn, 2010; Gangloff & Feminella, 2007; Morales et al., 2006; Randklev et al., 2019; Strayer, 1999; Zigler et al., 2008), habitat type (Meador et al., 2011), channel geomorphology (Gangloff & Feminella, 2007), as well as shell morphology, behaviour, and life‐history strategies (Allen & Vaughn, 2009; Goodding et al., 2019; Randklev et al., 2019). To date, empirical studies that directly assess effects of floods on mussel population dynamics in rivers are lacking, particularly in relation to large floods (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Short‐term responses of freshwater mussels to floods in a southwestern U.S.A. river estimated using mark–recapture sampling

Sotola

Sullivan²,

Littrell³

et al. 2020

Freshwater Biology

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Floods can directly affect riverine organisms by displacing them, and population‐level responses to floods can vary depending on flood magnitude and organism mobility. Benthic organisms can resist displacement until substrates become unstable, whereas mobile organisms are generally more resilient. Freshwater mussels are benthic organisms with low mobility, and there is limited research on their population‐level responses to floods. This study provides novel insights to population‐level responses of mussels to large floods (>500 m3/s). Population dynamics (i.e. abundance, survival, and site fidelity) and sampling efficiency (i.e. detection probability) were estimated in a robust design framework for four freshwater mussel species (Cyclonaias petrina, Cyclonaias pustulosa, Amblema plicata, and Tritogonia verrucosa) from 2017 to 2019 at two sites (upper and lower sites) within riffle habitats in the Colorado River, Texas, U.S.A. Individuals of each species were affixed with shellfish tags, with C. petrina and C. pustulosa individuals also being affixed with passive integrated transponder tags. Changes in population dynamics related to the flood event at each site were directly tested. During sampling, a major flood occurred at each of the two study sites; the floods differed in magnitude but were in the 99th percentile of historical flows at their respective gages. There were site‐ and species‐specific differences in estimated abundances, survival, and site fidelity during periods with the floods. Estimated abundances of C. petrina, C. pustulosa, and T. verrucosa were reduced 40–78% by the lesser flood magnitude (1,283 m3/s) at the upper site. Estimated abundances of C. petrina, C. pustulosa, and A. plicata were reduced 93–95% by the greater flood magnitude (4,332 m3/s) at the lower site. There was a reduction in survival of C. petrina at the upper site, while initially high survival at the lower site was reduced during the interval with the flood for all species. Finally, there was a reduction in site fidelity of C. pustulosa at the lower site. Floods reduced the abundance of all species within riffle habitats at the two sites. Large floods, therefore, affect population dynamics of mussels, but the fate of the displaced mussels is unknown, and with limited inference, reach‐scale effects are unknown. This study adds to the growing body of knowledge about responses of aquatic organisms to large floods, although quantification of recolonisation and fate of displaced mussels are needed to fully understand long‐term effects of large floods on mussel communities.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Short‐term responses of freshwater mussels to floods in a southwestern U.S.A. river estimated using mark–recapture sampling

Sotola

Sullivan²,

Littrell³

et al. 2020

Freshwater Biology

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“…In addition to the limitations placed on mussels by shear stress at high flows, Reynolds number is also important. Most studies have used simple linear analyses to relate Reynolds number to responses in mussel community parameters, and have found mixed results (Goodding et al., 2019; Hardison & Layzer, 2001; Layzer & Madison, 1995; Steuer et al., 2008). However, studies that used limiting factor analyses, such as quantile regression, found that Reynolds number tended to be positively related to mussel abundance and species richness at low flows, but less limiting as flows increased (Allen & Vaughn, 2010; Randklev et al., 2019).…”

Section: Use Of Hydrodynamic Variables To Characterise Mussel Habitat and Communitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, studies that used limiting factor analyses, such as quantile regression, found that Reynolds number tended to be positively related to mussel abundance and species richness at low flows, but less limiting as flows increased (Allen & Vaughn, 2010; Randklev et al., 2019). Studies that evaluated Reynolds number at the boundary layer, where flow is slowest and least turbulent, detected the strongest relationships (Goodding et al., 2019; Hardison & Layzer, 2001; Hornbach et al., 2010; Parasiewicz et al., 2012; Steuer et al., 2008). This is probably a result of increased exchange of materials created by higher levels of turbulence—indicated by higher Reynolds number—between the overlying water and the boundary layer where mussels exist.…”

Section: Use Of Hydrodynamic Variables To Characterise Mussel Habitat and Communitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Even the few studies that reported specific velocities for both high and low flows failed to find clear relationships (Holland- Bartels, 1990;Morales et al, 2006;Zigler et al, 2008). Similarly, observations of channel depth held limited predictive power (Baldigo et al, 2004;Galbraith et al, 2010;Gangloff & Feminella, 2007;Goodding et al, 2019;Hardison & Layzer, 2001;Hastie et al, 2000;Hornbach et al, 2010;Johnson & Brown, 2000;Klos et al, 2015;Maloney et al, 2012;Negishi et al, 2012;Nishio et al, 2016;Parasiewicz et al, 2012;Sanz-Ronda et al, 2014;Steuer et al, 2008;Strayer, 1999;Wegscheider et al, 2019;Westberg, 2020;Zigler et al, 2008). However, Daraio et al (2010) modelled the rates at which juvenile mussels settled out from suspension in the water column at high and low flows and found that high-flow water depth was positively related to settling and low-flow water depth was negatively related to settling.…”

Section: Simple Hydraulic Variablesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A review and evaluation of the effects of hydrodynamic variables on freshwater mussel communities

Lopez

Vaughn

2021

Freshwater Biology

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Riverine species are governed by the physical (i.e. hydrodynamic) forces generated by flowing water. Freshwater species are also disproportionately imperilled compared to terrestrial and marine species in large part due to widespread anthropogenic alteration of the natural flow regimes to which organisms are adapted. Sedentary species such as freshwater mussels (Bivalvia: Unionoida) are especially vulnerable because they are unable to move quickly in response to novel flow patterns created by impoundments and water withdrawals. We evaluated the effects of hydrodynamic variables on mussel communities. We reviewed the literature to synthesise the relationships between three categories of hydrodynamic variables (hydrologic, simple hydraulic, and complex hydraulic) and mussel community parameters. We evaluated which variables are most useful in predicting mussel presence, abundance, and species richness, provided recommendations to help standardise their use in characterising mussel habitat and reviewed the reciprocal influence of mussels on hydraulic forces at the sediment–water interface. Hydrologic variables such as stream size and anthropogenic flow alteration were useful in predicting basin‐ and landscape‐scale changes in mussel communities. At finer scales, complex hydraulic variables—mainly shear stress and Reynolds number—were more useful at predicting mussel community responses. Simple hydraulic variables (flow velocity, depth, discharge) had mixed success as predictors of mussel community parameters and are likely to be indirectly correlated to mussel responses because they are used to calculate more complex variables. More emphasis should be placed on species‐ and basin‐specific responses of freshwater mussels when considering the effects of the hydrologic regime on mussels, with an eye towards sustainable water management (e.g. flow restoration, environmental flows). Simple hydraulic variables should be assessed across the range of discharge at a site, in combination with channel and substrate characteristics. This allows the calculation of complex hydraulic variables that may be more directly limiting to mussel communities. Mussels also alter near‐bed hydraulic characteristics, resulting in feedbacks between mussel community parameters and local hydraulic variable s. Researchers should consider that mussel beds have a reciprocal influence on near‐bed flow characteristics and should continue to explore the effects of such ecological engineering for possible interspecific facilitation benefits between mussel species.

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Novel insights into habitat suitability for Amazonian freshwater mussels linked with hydraulic and landscape drivers

Simeone

Tagliaro

Beasley

2021

Ecology and Evolution

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Novel insights into habitat suitability for two Unionida freshwater mussels, Castalia ambigua Lamarck, 1819 (Hyriidae) and Anodontites elongatus (Swainson, 1823) (Mycetopodidae), are presented on the basis of hydraulic variables linked with the riverbed in six 500‐m reaches in an eastern Amazonian river basin. Within the reaches, there was strong habitat heterogeneity in hydrodynamics and substrate composition. In addition, we investigated stressors based on landscape modification that are associated with declines in mussel density. We measured hydraulic variables for each 500‐m reach, and landscape stressors at two spatial scales (subcatchment and riparian buffer forest). We used the Random Forest algorithm, a tree‐based model, to predict the hydraulic variables linked with habitat suitability for mussels, and to predict which landscape stressors were most associated with mussel density declines. Both mussel species were linked with low substrate heterogeneity and greater riverbed stability (low Froude and Reynolds numbers), especially at high flow (low stream power). Different sediment grain size preferences were observed between mussel species: Castalia ambigua was associated with medium sand and Anodontites elongatus with medium and fine sand. Declines in mussel density were associated with modifications linked to urbanization at small scales (riparian buffer forest), especially with percent of and distance from rural settlements, distance to the nearest street, and road density. In summary, the high variance explained in both hydraulic and landscape models indicated high predictive power, suggesting that our findings may be extrapolated and used as a baseline to test hypotheses of habitat suitability in other Amazonian rivers for Castalia ambigua and Anodontites elongatus and also for other freshwater mussel species. Our results highlight the urgent need for aquatic habitat conservation to maintain sheltered habitats during high flow as well as mitigate the effects of landscape modifications at the riparian buffer scale, both of which are important for maintaining dense mussel populations and habitat quality.

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Associations between substrate and hydraulic variables and the distributions of a sculptured and an unsculptured unionid mussel

Cited by 13 publications

References 56 publications

Short‐term responses of freshwater mussels to floods in a southwestern U.S.A. river estimated using mark–recapture sampling

Short‐term responses of freshwater mussels to floods in a southwestern U.S.A. river estimated using mark–recapture sampling

A review and evaluation of the effects of hydrodynamic variables on freshwater mussel communities

Novel insights into habitat suitability for Amazonian freshwater mussels linked with hydraulic and landscape drivers

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