TY - JOUR
T1 - Geographic variation in host fish use and larval metamorphosis for the endangered dwarf wedgemussel
AU - St. John White, Barbara
AU - Paola Ferreri, C.
AU - Lellis, William A.
AU - Wicklow, Barry J.
AU - Cole, Jeffrey C.
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors thank Nancy Ostiguy for her assistance in statistical analysis, and Andy Cole and Jay Stauffer for their advice and guidance related to many aspects of this study. Connie Johnson dedicated many hours to caring for fish and mussels in the laboratory. Susi von Oettingen, Ethan Nedeau, and Dick Neves provided important assistance in reviewing our research proposal and carrying out field collections. David Strayer provided gravid mussels from the Neversink River. The authors thank the National Park Service for providing funding for this study (Funding No. 4870‐0502‐NYS), and in particular Don Hamilton and staff of the NPS Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River who offered extensive support and assistance in the field. All animals used in this study were treated humanely, and animal care generally followed the guidelines established by the American Fisheries Society UFR Committee (Nickum et al., 2004). Wild fish and mussels were captured and held in the laboratory according to stipulations set out in scientific research and collecting permits obtained from the US Fish and Wildlife Service, as well as the states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and New Hampshire, and the National Park Service. Research was conducted under the following permits: US Fish and Wildlife Service Endangered/Threatened Species permit # 697823, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Scientific Collecting permit #262, Type I, New York Endangered/Threatened Species licence # 21, New York Collect or Possess Licence #463, New Jersey DEP Division of Fish and Wildlife Scientific Collecting Permit #SC 27017, Exotic and Nongame Wildlife Species Possession: Endangered Species Permit #ES 27049, and Exotic and Nongame Wildlife Species Possession Permit: Scientific Holding #SH 27097, New Hampshire Department of Fish and Game Scientific Collection/Possession Permit #217, National Park Service Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Scientific Research and Collecting Permit #DEWA‐2005‐SCI‐0013, and National Park Service Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River Scientific Research and Collecting Permit #UPDE‐2005‐SCI‐0002. Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the US Government.
Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
PY - 2017/10
Y1 - 2017/10
N2 - Host fishes play a crucial role in survival and dispersal of freshwater mussels (Unionoida), particularly rare unionids at conservation risk. Intraspecific variation in host use is not well understood for many mussels, including the endangered dwarf wedgemussel (Alasmidonta heterodon) in the USA. Host suitability of 33 fish species for dwarf wedgemussel glochidia (larvae) from the Delaware and Connecticut river basins was tested in laboratory experiments over 9 years. Relative suitability of three different populations of a single host fish, the tessellated darter (Etheostoma olmstedi), from locations in the Connecticut, Delaware, and Susquehanna river basins, was also tested. Connecticut River basin A. heterodon metamorphosed into juvenile mussels on tessellated darter, slimy sculpin (Cottus cognatus), and Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) parr. Delaware River basin mussels metamorphosed using these three species, as well as brown trout (Salmo trutta), banded killifish (Fundulus diaphanus), mottled sculpin (Cottus bairdii), striped bass (Morone saxatilis), and shield darter (Percina peltata). Atlantic salmon, striped bass, and sculpins were highly effective hosts, frequently generating 5+ juveniles per fish (JPF) and metamorphosis success (MS; proportion of attaching larvae that successfully metamorphose) ≥ 0.4, and producing juveniles in repeated trials. In experiments on tessellated darters, mean JPF and MS values decreased as isolation between the mussel source (Connecticut River) and each fish source increased; mean JPF = 10.45, 6.85, 4.14, and mean MS = 0.50, 0.41, and 0.34 in Connecticut, Delaware, and Susquehanna river darters, respectively. Host suitability of individual darters was highly variable (JPF = 2–11; MS = 0.20–1.0). The results show that mussel–host fish compatibility in A. heterodon differs among Atlantic coastal rivers, and suggest that hosts including anadromous Atlantic salmon and striped bass may help sustain A. heterodon in parts of its range. Continued examination of host use variation, migratory host roles, and mussel–fish interactions in the wild is critical in conservation of A. heterodon and other vulnerable mussel species.
AB - Host fishes play a crucial role in survival and dispersal of freshwater mussels (Unionoida), particularly rare unionids at conservation risk. Intraspecific variation in host use is not well understood for many mussels, including the endangered dwarf wedgemussel (Alasmidonta heterodon) in the USA. Host suitability of 33 fish species for dwarf wedgemussel glochidia (larvae) from the Delaware and Connecticut river basins was tested in laboratory experiments over 9 years. Relative suitability of three different populations of a single host fish, the tessellated darter (Etheostoma olmstedi), from locations in the Connecticut, Delaware, and Susquehanna river basins, was also tested. Connecticut River basin A. heterodon metamorphosed into juvenile mussels on tessellated darter, slimy sculpin (Cottus cognatus), and Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) parr. Delaware River basin mussels metamorphosed using these three species, as well as brown trout (Salmo trutta), banded killifish (Fundulus diaphanus), mottled sculpin (Cottus bairdii), striped bass (Morone saxatilis), and shield darter (Percina peltata). Atlantic salmon, striped bass, and sculpins were highly effective hosts, frequently generating 5+ juveniles per fish (JPF) and metamorphosis success (MS; proportion of attaching larvae that successfully metamorphose) ≥ 0.4, and producing juveniles in repeated trials. In experiments on tessellated darters, mean JPF and MS values decreased as isolation between the mussel source (Connecticut River) and each fish source increased; mean JPF = 10.45, 6.85, 4.14, and mean MS = 0.50, 0.41, and 0.34 in Connecticut, Delaware, and Susquehanna river darters, respectively. Host suitability of individual darters was highly variable (JPF = 2–11; MS = 0.20–1.0). The results show that mussel–host fish compatibility in A. heterodon differs among Atlantic coastal rivers, and suggest that hosts including anadromous Atlantic salmon and striped bass may help sustain A. heterodon in parts of its range. Continued examination of host use variation, migratory host roles, and mussel–fish interactions in the wild is critical in conservation of A. heterodon and other vulnerable mussel species.
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U2 - 10.1002/aqc.2782
DO - 10.1002/aqc.2782
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85032879655
SN - 1052-7613
VL - 27
SP - 909
EP - 918
JO - Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems
JF - Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems
IS - 5
ER -