Assessment of growth, survival, and organ tissues of caged mussels (Bivalvia: Unionidae) in a river-scape influenced by coal mining in the southeastern USA

Rogers, Jennifer J.; Henley, William F.; Weberg, Amanda G.; Jones, Jess W.; Cope, W. Gregory

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.07.142

Cited by 14 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 68 publications

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“…In contrast, growth varied widely and was extremely low at some sites, which could indicate chronic effects of water quality degradation (Haag et al., 2019; Rogers et al., 2018). However, we found little evidence of water pollution, and water chemistry was relatively uninformative for explaining variation in growth.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Abundance of an invasive bivalve, Corbicula fluminea, is negatively related to growth of freshwater mussels in the wild

et al. 2020

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Causes of worldwide freshwater mussel declines are poorly understood, and the potential role of the invasive Asian Clam, Corbicula fluminea, has received little attention. We measured survival and growth of captively‐reared juveniles of four native mussel species during 84‐day in situ exposures at 17 sites in the Rockcastle River system, Kentucky, U.S.A., where mussel declines are attributed to coal mining. We measured water temperature, a comprehensive array of water chemistry variables, and Corbicula abundance at each site during mussel exposures. Mussel survival was high (mean = 85.4%), did not differ among species, and was not related to any measured factor. In contrast, growth varied among sites by an order of magnitude, but growth responses were nearly identical for all four species. We found little evidence of water pollution from coal mining or other sources, and pollution did not explain variation in mussel growth. Growth was best explained by a model including only temperature (positive effect) and Corbicula abundance (negative effect) without interaction. Our model predicts 46% lower mass gain over 84 days for every 10‐fold increase in Corbicula abundance regardless of temperature, but growth may be reduced to unsustainably low levels in cooler streams. Previous ideas about water pollution as a cause of low growth and mussel declines were not supported by our data. Instead, the predicted strong effects of Corbicula, combined with similar responses of four mussel species, suggest that Corbicula may be an important, but overlooked, factor in widespread mussel declines.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Enigmatic mussel declines can be accompanied by sharply reduced juvenile growth, possibly indicating chronic effects of water pollution (Haag et al., 2019; Rogers et al., 2018). However, reduced growth is not consistently associated with any single anthropogenic water quality factor.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Abundance of an invasive bivalve, Corbicula fluminea, is negatively related to growth of freshwater mussels in the wild

et al. 2020

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“…Indeed, several recent laboratory studies have demonstrated that early life stages of mussels have a high sensitivity to some chemicals related to coal mining and natural gas extraction sites (Wang et al, 2007;Wang et al, 2011;Wang et al, 2013;Archambault et al, 2017). In field-based studies, inferring specific causes of mussel declines is often difficult because of potential confounding factors and the unique life history of mussels, which makes them especially susceptible to environmental stressors at several distinct life stages; nonetheless, chronic, low-level stressors are presumed as important influences (Strayer et al, 2004;Cope et al, 2008;Rogers et al, 2018). Native mussels perform a host of important ecosystem functions, including bioturbation (i.e., sediment mixing) and nutrient cycling (Vaughn and Hakenkamp, 2001;Vaughn et al, 2004: Vaughn et al, 2008.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite the global biological significance of the Clinch River as a biodiversity hotspot, mussel populations are declining in some segments, both in species richness and abundance, such that an 88-km reach of the river has been characterized as a mussel "zone of decline" (ZOD; Fig. 1; Jones et al, 2014;Archambault et al, 2017;Rogers et al, 2018). In this river reach from the confluence of the Clinch River with Dumps Creek near the town of Carbo, Virginia (river km 431) to Clinchport, Virginia (river km 343), mussel densities have decreased more than 70% from 1979 to 2004 (Jones et al, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Instead, major ions and water and sediment contaminants from mining and natural gas extraction were presumed as the primary concerns for mussels, as the authors hypothesized that the most likely explanation for mussel declines was the sustained chronic exposure to non-point source pollution and potentially mixtures of toxic chemicals (Jones et al, 2014;Zipper et al, 2014). A recent study by Rogers et al (2018) supports that hypothesis, demonstrating that juvenile mussels deployed in cages in the river for nearly a year fared significantly worse in the ZOD, as measured by survival, growth, and tissue histology metrics than at sites with stable mussel populations. An important implication of the recent research (Rogers et al, 2018) is that population declines are not simply latent effects of past pollution, but that active issues persist.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Understanding the influence of multiple pollutant stressors on the decline of freshwater mussels in a biodiversity hotspot

Cope

Bergeron

Archambault

et al. 2021

Science of The Total Environment

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Experimental quantification of multiple point‐source pollution effects on juvenile freshwater mussels in a stream exposure gradient

Barák

Jahelková

Simon

et al. 2022

Aquatic Conservation

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1. Population declines in freshwater mussels (Unionida) resulting from failed recruitment, together with episodic water pollution potentially leading to juvenile mussel mortality, are often suspected (but rarely well documented), even in the most strictly protected aquatic areas.2. The aim of this study was to test a robust design for an in situ investigation of the water pollution effects on juvenile freshwater pearl mussel (FPM, Margaritifera margaritifera) in the protected Malše River (Czech Republic), which acts as a model system. A 30-km river reach was delineated to include a section with previously recorded episodic multiple point-source pollution events, as well as downstream and upstream control sections. Juvenile FPMs in open water mesh cages were exposed to river water at 15 sites in 42 exposure units (342 juveniles in individual chambers), and their survival and shell growth were assessed after a 33-day period of low-flow and high-temperature conditions. The main physicochemical indicators related to municipal water pollution were measured weekly.3. The study results confirmed significantly impaired water quality indicated by episodic changes in total ammonia nitrogen (up to 1.037 mg L À1 ), total phosphorus (up to 0.516 mg L À1 ) and oxygen saturation (down to 75.0%) in the impaired section. While the growth of FPM (corrected for temperature effects) was significantly increased (shell length increment: 32.7 ± 9.7%impaired, 26.4 ± 10.0%control sections; mean ± SD), the survival (mean ± SD) of juveniles was significantly decreased in the impaired section (86.4 ± 12.5%) compared with the control sections (97.4 ± 5.7%).4. This study has demonstrated the capacity of applying a caged bivalve model at a fine spatial scale within a longitudinal river profile to document the impacts of water pollution. The methodology applied here may provide a useful tool for assessing and improving the level of water quality management and is applicable in FPM action plans and stream biotope conservation in general.

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Assessment of growth, survival, and organ tissues of caged mussels (Bivalvia: Unionidae) in a river-scape influenced by coal mining in the southeastern USA

Cited by 14 publications

References 68 publications

Abundance of an invasive bivalve, Corbicula fluminea, is negatively related to growth of freshwater mussels in the wild

Abundance of an invasive bivalve, Corbicula fluminea, is negatively related to growth of freshwater mussels in the wild

Understanding the influence of multiple pollutant stressors on the decline of freshwater mussels in a biodiversity hotspot

Experimental quantification of multiple point‐source pollution effects on juvenile freshwater mussels in a stream exposure gradient

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