Host-Fish Identifications for Two Gulf Coast-Drainage Freshwater Mussels,<i>Lampsilis straminea</i>(Southern Fatmucket) and<i>Quadrula succissa</i>(Purple Pigtoe)

Harriger, Kathryn M.; Knight, John R.; Wegener, Matthew G.

doi:10.1656/058.014.0204

Cited by 2 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…We monitored gravidity of narrow pigtoe at three locations on the Escambia River in Escambia County, Florida: the Molino boat ramp (30843 0 25.14 00 N, 87818 0 20.73 00 W), a location about 1 km upstream of the Molino boat ramp (30843 0 49.52 00 N, 87818 0 38.33 00 W), and the Mystic Springs boat ramp (30851 0 14.79 00 N, 87818 0 40.913 00 W). We took gravid mussels to the laboratory and held them in aerated containers of well water at room temperature (approximately 218C) until the mussel naturally released conglutinates (packages of glochidia; Haag and Warren 2003;Harriger et al 2015).…”

Section: Host Identificationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We infected 18 fish species with glochidia over the course of the study using methods similar to those of Harriger et al (2015). The focal fish species in this study were Cyprinella spp.…”

Section: Host Identificationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We counted the total numbers of glochidia, viable juvenile mussels, and nonviable juvenile mussels for each fish. We identified viable juveniles by the presence of a foot and movement, and considered any juvenile that showed no movement to be nonviable (Haag and Warren 1997;Harriger et al 2015). We considered any fish that produced viable juvenile mussels to be a host.…”

Section: Host Identificationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We determined the suitability of each fish species as a host by evaluating three criteria: percentage of metamorphosis, number of viable juvenile mussels produced, and percentage of a fish species that produced viable juvenile mussels (O'Brien and Brim Box 1999;Harriger et al 2015). We calculated percentage of metamorphosis success (%M) as %M ¼ (viable juveniles/[viable juveniles þ nonviable juveniles þ glochidia]) 3 100 for each fish in the study (Dodd et al 2006;Johnson et al 2012;Harriger et al 2015). Considering these three criteria helps determine the importance of a host relative to the other hosts identified in the study (O'Brien and Brim Box 1999;Harriger et al 2015).…”

Section: Host Identificationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We calculated percentage of metamorphosis success (%M) as %M ¼ (viable juveniles/[viable juveniles þ nonviable juveniles þ glochidia]) 3 100 for each fish in the study (Dodd et al 2006;Johnson et al 2012;Harriger et al 2015). Considering these three criteria helps determine the importance of a host relative to the other hosts identified in the study (O'Brien and Brim Box 1999;Harriger et al 2015).…”

Section: Host Identificationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Distribution, Period of Gravidity, and Host Identification for the Narrow Pigtoe Mussel

Holcomb

Pursifull

et al. 2020

Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management

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The narrow pigtoe Fusconaia escambia is a freshwater mussel found only in the Escambia and Yellow river basins in northwest Florida and southern Alabama. It is listed as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Like other freshwater mussels (Unionidae), its life cycle involves a larval stage (i.e., glochidial) in which most species are obligate parasites on the gills or fins of fishes. Knowledge of life history, population demographics, population genetics, and threats for the narrow pigtoe is lacking throughout its range, which impedes conservation of this species. Therefore, our objectives were to 1) compare historical and current distribution data using a conservation status assessment map, 2) determine period of gravidity, and 3) identify fish hosts. We used a conservation status assessment map to examine spatial and temporal changes in narrow pigtoe distribution and the possibility that the species has been extirpated from a subbasin (i.e., Hydrologic Unit Code level 10 watershed boundary; U.S. Geological Survey National Hydrography Dataset). Period of gravidity for the narrow pigtoe was determined by examining the gills of mussels in the field, and peak gravidity was considered to be the month in which the greatest number of gravid females was encountered. Fish hosts were determined by infecting individuals of 18 fish species with glochidia in a laboratory setting. Overall, the narrow pigtoe appears to be maintaining stable populations in Florida, but too few surveys have been conducted in Alabama subbasins for us to fully assess its status throughout its range. Peak months of gravidity were May-July, with the greatest percent of gravid females observed in May, although they were observed as early as 9 March and as late as 25 October. Nine fish species from five genera were identified as hosts for narrow pigtoe, with Blacktail Shiner Cyprinella venusta and Weed Shiner Notropis texanus consistently producing the greatest number of viable juvenile mussels. Host and gravidity findings from this study will be useful if propagation efforts become necessary for conservation of the narrow pigtoe.

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Section: Host Identificationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We infected 18 fish species with glochidia over the course of the study using methods similar to those of Harriger et al (2015). The focal fish species in this study were Cyprinella spp.…”

Section: Host Identificationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Host Identificationmentioning

confidence: 99%