Determining Optimum Temperature for Growth and Survival of Laboratory‐Propagated Juvenile Freshwater Mussels

Abstract

The effects of temperature on growth and survival of laboratory‐propagated juvenile freshwater mussels of two federally endangered species, the Cumberlandian combshell Epioblasma brevidens and oyster mussel E. capsaeformis, and one nonlisted species, the wavy‐rayed lampmussel Lampsilis fasciola, were investigated to determine optimum rearing temperatures for these species in small water‐recirculating aquaculture systems. Juveniles 4–5 months old were held in downweller buckets at five temperatures. Growth and survival of juveniles were evaluated at 2‐week intervals for 10 sampling events. At the end of the 20‐week experiment, mean growth at 20, 22, 24, 26, and 28°C was, respectively, 0.75, 2.22, 3.27, 4.23, and 4.08 mm for Cumberlandian combshell; 1.35, 3.73, 3.81, 4.90, and 4.70 mm for oyster mussel; and 2.09, 3.96, 4.99, 5.13, and 4.87 mm for wavy‐rayed lampmussel juveniles. Generally, temperature was positively correlated with growth of juveniles. Final mean maximum growth occurred at 26°C for all three species, although no significant differences in growth were detected between 26°C and 28°C. The relationship between temperature and survival of juveniles was less clear. Final survival was 82.5, 89.0, 91.0, 89.5, and 93.5% for Cumberlandian combshell; 73.0, 83.5, 78.0, 78.0, and 68.1% for oyster mussel; and 75.0, 89.5, 87.0, 86.5, and 89.5% for wavy‐rayed lampmussel juveniles at the five temperature treatments, respectively. Based on the species used in this study, results indicate that 26°C is the optimum temperature to maximize growth of juvenile mussels in downweller bucket systems. The ability to grow endangered juveniles to larger sizes will improve survival in captivity and upon release into the wild and will reduce time spent in hatcheries. As a result, hatcheries can increase their overall production and enhance the likelihood of success of mussel population recovery efforts by federal and state agencies, and other partners.

Effects of environmentally relevant mixtures of major ions on a freshwater mussel

“…Juvenile mussel production Juvenile mussels were produced at the Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Center (FMCC), Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA following standard propagation procedures (Carey et al, 2013;Zale and Neves, 1982). Gravid female rainbow mussels (Villosa iris) were collected from Copper Creek, Scott County, VA on 14 May 2014.…”

A global review of freshwater crayfish temperature tolerance, preference, and optimal growth

“…Coutant (1977) compiled a table containing temperature preference data for 111 species of marine and freshwater North American fish, and Beitinger et al (2000) summarized temperature tolerance data for 116 species (*15 %) of North American freshwater fish. Aspects of thermal ecology for freshwater mussels have been investigated (Pandolfo et al 2010;Galbraith et al 2012;Carey et al 2013), but no taxon-wide summaries exist. Similarly, the thermal ecology of select marine and estuarine crustaceans was investigated (see for Rev Fish Biol Fisheries instance Dove et al 2005;González et al 2010), but not summarized across taxa.…”

“…Most early efforts to investigate crayfish thermal ecology focused on cultured species and methods for maximizing growth and production (Frost 1975;Espina et al 1993). An expanded and comprehensive understanding of crayfish thermal ecology could also assist in conservation efforts and apply to threatened species that could benefit from captive breeding and reintroduction programs (Souty-Grosset and Reynolds 2010;Carey et al 2013). Compilation of existing knowledge of crayfish thermal ecology Rev Fish Biol Fisheries facilitates understanding, application, and advancement of crayfish conservation and ecosystem management.…”

Effect of temperature on behavior, glycogen content, and mortality in Limnoperna fortunei (Dunker, 1857) (Bivalvia: Mytilidae)

“…The metabolic activities of mussels usually increase with higher temperatures, and oxygen and food resources can become scarce with increasing water temperature (Carey et al, 2013). Thus, as a consequence of environmental fluctuations and other stressors, marine and freshwater mussels have developed a physiological and behavioral strategy (i.e., valve closing) necessary for survival in several waterbodies (Kittner and Riisgård, 2005;Palais et al, 2011;Dowd and Somero, 2013).…”

“…Species distribution models frequently include temperature, and Accepted Article www.jlimnol.it temperature is usually one of the variables that most contributes to the predictions (Bradie and Leung, 2017). Temperature affects bivalve development, growth, and survival rates in captivity and in the wild due to its influence on physiological processes (Gabbot and Bayne, 1973;Oliveira et al, 2011;Carey et al, 2013;Boltovskoy et al, 2015). Water temperature plays a key role in the reproductive cycle of golden mussels and was considered to be an important variable associated with the invasion capability of macrofouling bivalves (Oliveira et al, 2010(Oliveira et al, , 2011.…”