Movement of logperch—the obligate host fish for endangered snuffbox mussels: implications for mussel dispersal

Abstract

Unionid mussels are highly imperiled and the survival of their local populations is linked to the availability and dispersal potential of their host fish. We examined the displacement distance of logperch (Percina caprodes), which are obligate host fish for endangered snuffbox mussels (Epioblasma triquetra), to determine the dispersal potential by fish. Logperch in the Sydenham River, Ontario, Canada, were electrofished and marked with visible implant elastomer on five sampling dates during the gravid period of E. triquetra. The majority of all recaptures (82%) of P. caprodes occurred within 30 m of their original capture location, with a mean displacement distance of 13 ± 3 m (mean ± standard error, n = 28). These results were consistent with a review of movement studies of small benthic host fish (i.e., darters and sculpins), which revealed average fish displacement distances of 37 ± 19 m (n = 14 species; range: 4-275 m). However, significantly greater movement distances were also found and the maximum displacement distance increased significantly with the spatial extent of the study and with the duration of the study. These results indicate that many P. caprodes remain in a small area, which could restrict the dispersal and (re)colonization potential of E. triquetra. Further studies are needed to determine the dispersal potential of mussels via host fish, which may be important for maintaining the connectivity among unionid populations.

Dispersal of larvae ofMargaritifera laevisby its host fish

“…Similarly low short-term dispersal of host fishes has been reported for other lotic mussel species (McLain and Ross 2005). For example, the logperch, Percina caprodes, host for the snuffbox, Epioblasma triquetra, moved <75 m with no directional bias (Schwalb et al 2011), and many other small, benthic fishes that are important mussel hosts have similarly restricted movement (Petty and Grossman 2004). High site fidelity of mussel hosts would result in recruitment of most glochidia to their natal subpopulations, and the co-occurrence of juvenile and adult margaritiferids may reflect this local recruitment process (Hastie et al 2000, Arvidsson et al 2012.…”

A “parasite-tag” approach reveals long-distance dispersal of the riverine mussel Margaritifera laevis by its host fish

“…Long-distance dispersal has been assumed to occur mainly during the larval stage via movements of host fishes because mussels are sedentary as adults and often form discrete, dense aggregations called mussel beds (Strayer, 2008;Schwalb et al, 2011a). However, despite that a growing body of evidence suggests extensive dispersal of fish species (Radinger & Wolter, 2014), contradictory results have been observed in natural mussel populations-potential host fishes rarely disperse more than a few hundred meters (McLain & Ross, 2005;Schwalb et al, 2011b;Terui et al, 2014a). Recent genetic studies using microsatellites also revealed limited gene flow among local populations of some mussel species (Geist & Kuehn, 2005;Kelly & Rhymer, 2005).…”

Evaluation of the short term 12 hour toxicity of 3‐trifluoromethyl‐4‐nitrophenol (TFM) to multiple life stages of Venustaconcha ellipsiformis and Epioblasma triquetra and its host fish (Percina caprodes)

“…All rights reserved and females are long-term brooders [12]. The life cycle of the snuffbox, like most mussels, begins when males release sperm into the water column and females take up the sperm with incoming water.…”