Freshwater Mussels of the SOSMART Area.ppt · Lilliput Habitat: • Low gradient streams/rivers,...
Transcript of Freshwater Mussels of the SOSMART Area.ppt · Lilliput Habitat: • Low gradient streams/rivers,...
Freshwater Mussels of the SOSMART Area
Todd J. Morris1 and Scott Reid2
1GLLFAS, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Burlington, ON2ARDS, OMNR, Peterborough, ON
Overview
• Biology/Ecology• Distribution• Species at Risk• Sampling and Monitoring
Mussel Ecology
Unionids cycle nutrients, transfer energy within ecosystems, provide habitat and clarify water bodies (Dillon 2001, Vaughn et al. 2008)
Algae
Detritus
Bacteria
Haag and Rypel 2010
Long Life-spans
Rep
rodu
ctio
n
©M. C. Barnhart
http://www.nature.ca/rideau/j/images/img0065.jpg
K. McNichols University of Guelph
Complex Life Cycle
Reproductive TacticsBroadcast Release
Lures pre-glochidial releasepost-glochidial release
Host Capture
many glochidia, low cost,low success, host generalists
few glochidia, high cost,high success, specialists
Mussel Lures
• 842 recognized species world-wide (Order: Unionoida)
• 302 in North America (2 Families)
• 55 in Canada (2 families)
• 41 in Ontario (1 Family)
Global Diversity
Graf and Cummings 2009
Mussel Hot-SpotsD
istri
butio
n
Mussel Hot-SpotsD
istri
butio
n
Species at Risk
Nationally at Risk
65% of Canadian mussel species are in need of conservation
Source: Wild Species 2000; National General Status Assessment for Freshwater Mussels (2004)
Spe
cies
at R
isk
Nationally at Risk
• 55 species in Canada• 18 COSEWIC listed species
• 1 Extirpated • 13 Endangered • 1 Threatened• 3 Special Concern
• 15 Candidate species awaiting assessment
Spe
cies
at R
isk
SAR Distribution within SOSMART
Rainbow Habitat• Small to medium-sized rivers
and inland lakes• Historically: shallow nearshore
areas of the lower Great Lakes• In or near riffles• emergent vegetation moderate
to strong current• cobble, gravel, sand • clean, well-oxygenated• Depths < 1 mRainbow – END (SARA)
TH (ESA)
D. McGoldrick, NWRI
Rainbow
http:// www.conservation.state.mo.us /conmag/2003/08/10.htm
D. Mc Goldrick, NWRI, ECRainbow
Eastern Pondmussel• Habitat
– Sheltered areas of lakes, slack-water areas of rivers and canals
– Prefer fine substrates and mud
– Depths (03-4.5m)– L. St. Clair >95% sand– Lower reaches of rivers
Eastern Pondmussel – END
S Staton (NWRI)
Eastern Pondmussel
MapleleafHabitat:• medium to large rivers • firmly packed coarse gravel
and sand to a substrate of firmly packed clay/mud (broad range)
• historically from larger lakes, but recent data indicate it has largely been lost from these habitats Mapleleaf – THR
Mapleleaf
LilliputHabitat:• Low gradient streams/rivers,
coastal wetlands • Soft substrates – mud and silt• Highly turbid systems• Previously thought restricted to
L. Erie watershed but no known from L. Ontario.
Lilliput – COSEWIC Candidate
Sampling/Monitoring
Sampling Methods• Wadable/accessible sites
– Inventory– Life history
• Non-wadable/accessible sites
Timed-searches
Ideal for first time surveysRiver bottom visually searched for a set amount of time – 4.5 person-hours
Data:
Species presence/absenceRelative abundance (CPUE)Distribution patterns (within watershed)Size class distributionsSex ratios
Wadable - Inventory
Advantages:• Cheap and requires little planning• Easy to execute in the field
Limitations:• Easily biased• Small species & juveniles often
overlooked• Not great at estimating population
size• No statistical rigor
# species found related to effort!
Wadable - Inventory
Systematic sampling with excavation
Ideal for determining population size and trend through time
Can easily be adapted for a wide range of applicationsData:
DensityDistribution patterns (within site)Micro-habitat preferencesSize class distributionsSex ratios
Wadable – Life History
Upstream
Acr
oss
Wadable – Life History
Advantages:• Gives precise estimates for
patchily distributed populations• Spreads sampling effort throughout
the survey site• Can calculate variance for
statistical analyses
Limitations:• Labour intensive• Requires a minimum of 3 people
(4 ideal)
Wadable – Life History
Non-wadable, high visibility
65 m2
Data:
Species presence/absenceDensitySize class distributionsSex ratios
Snorkelling/Diving
Non-wadable, low visibility
Non-wadable, low visibility
Non-wadable, low visibility
Non-wadable, low visibility
Additional InformationOntario Freshwater Mussel Recovery Team