Characterizing the early life history of an imperiled freshwater mussel (<i>Ptychobranchus jonesi</i>) with host-fish determination and fecundity estimation

McLeod, John M.; Jelks, Howard L.; Pursifull, Sandra; Johnson, Nathan A.

doi:10.1086/692096

Cited by 8 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…However, this method may result in harm to the adult mussel by damaging the gills or marsupia. McLeod et al () had similar concerns when testing the imperiled species Ptychobranchus , and instead induced release by raising the temperature of the tank slowly. Although ASTM International () recommends flushing the marsupium in this manner, it was extremely difficult to prise open the valves of Velesunio sp.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Acute ammonia toxicity to the larvae (glochidia) of the tropical Australian freshwater mussel Velesunio spp. Using a modified toxicity test protocol

Kleinhenz

Trenfield²,

Mooney³

et al. 2018

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

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Ammonia is recognized as a major pollutant worldwide, originating from natural and anthropogenic sources. Studies have reported that freshwater mussels are among the most sensitive taxa to ammonia, but few data are available on ammonia toxicity for the early life stages of freshwater mussels from tropical regions. We report on the modification of a 24-h acute toxicity test protocol for tropical freshwater mussels and application of the test using ammonia. Velesunio spp. from 3 different sites were used to assess the toxicity of ammonia at a targeted pH of 6.0 and a water temperature of 27.5 °C, which were the average annual values for some slightly to moderately acidic, soft water (3-6 mg/L as CaCO ) creeks of tropical northern Australia. The valve closure responses of mussel glochidia (larvae) to a sodium chloride solution were used to measure the survival endpoint. Acute toxicity estimates indicate that tropical Velesunio spp. were highly sensitive to ammonia, with 24-h exposures to ammonium sulfate generating median lethal concentration estimates ranging from 6.8 to 14.2 mg/L total ammonia nitrogen, which, when adjusted to pH 7 and 20 °C, were among the highest sensitivities yet reported for any freshwater mussel species, and among the highest in sensitivity for any tropical taxon. These toxicity estimates can contribute to the derivation or refinement of ammonia guideline values for freshwater ecosystems globally. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:2175-2187. © 2018 SETAC.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Acute ammonia toxicity to the larvae (glochidia) of the tropical Australian freshwater mussel Velesunio spp. Using a modified toxicity test protocol

Kleinhenz

Trenfield²,

Mooney³

et al. 2018

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

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“…The viability of glochidia within a conglutinate is typically higher than the viability of free glochidia, which suggests that conglutinate membranes may confer protection (Fritts et al, ). For example, conglutinates of Ptychobranchus jonesi maintained >90% viability for 3 days and only dropped below 75% by day 10 (McLeod, Jelks, Pursifull, & Johnson, ). Thus, thermal tolerance testing of free glochidia for species that produce conglutinates may not be entirely accurate, indicating that thermal testing should include both conglutinates and free glochidia, not just one or the other.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating the upper thermal limits of glochidia for selected freshwater mussel species (Bivalvia: Unionidae) in central and east Texas, and the implications for their conservation

Khan

Hart

Dudding

et al. 2019

Aquatic Conservation

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Understanding the temperature tolerances of organisms is critical because the thermal regimes of freshwater ecosystems are changing globally. Native freshwater mussels are sensitive to increasing water temperatures because of their physiology and unique life history. Detailed knowledge on lethal temperatures for mussels has been limited to less than 5% of the species known to occur in North America, and little is known about the thermal tolerances of mussel species from rivers within the south‐western USA. To determine the effects of elevated water temperature on mussels, the upper thermal tolerances of larvae (glochidia) for the following species across four basins in Texas (Neches, Guadalupe, San Antonio, and Colorado) were tested: Amblema plicata, Cyclonaias necki, Fusconaia mitchelli, Lampsilis bracteata, Lampsilis hydiana, Lampsilis satura, Lampsilis teres, and Obovaria arkansasensis. Glochidia were acclimated to 27°C across a range of experimental temperatures (30–39°C) in 24‐h standard acute laboratory tests. The median lethal temperature (LT50) among glochidia averaged 32.4°C and ranged from 26.9 to 36.4°C. Thermal tolerances differed significantly among and within species, and by season. Comparing these results with current water temperatures in central and east Texas indicated that populations of the focal species studied are at risk from rising environmental temperatures and, as a consequence, their long‐term viability will be challenging in future years.

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“…Finally, we multiplied the total number of glochidia by the percentage of viable glochidia to determine the total number of viable glochidia available. The target viable glochidia concentration for infecting potential host fish was 2,000-4,000 viable glochidia/L of water (Dodd et al 2006;Johnson et al 2012;Johnson et al 2016;McLeod et al 2017). We used four narrow pigtoe for host trials in this study: one individual for the 2014 trials, one individual for trials 1 and 2 in 2015, one individual for trial 3 in 2015, and one individual for trial 4 in 2015.…”

Section: Host Identificationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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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Characterizing the early life history of an imperiled freshwater mussel (Ptychobranchus jonesi) with host-fish determination and fecundity estimation

Cited by 8 publications

References 20 publications

Acute ammonia toxicity to the larvae (glochidia) of the tropical Australian freshwater mussel Velesunio spp. Using a modified toxicity test protocol

Acute ammonia toxicity to the larvae (glochidia) of the tropical Australian freshwater mussel Velesunio spp. Using a modified toxicity test protocol

Evaluating the upper thermal limits of glochidia for selected freshwater mussel species (Bivalvia: Unionidae) in central and east Texas, and the implications for their conservation

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

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