Perspectives on the Controlled Propagation, Augmentation, and Reintroduction of Freshwater Mussels (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Unionoida)

McMurray, Stephen E.; Roe, Kevin J.

doi:10.31931/fmbc.v20i1.2017.1-12

Cited by 43 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 72 publications

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“…This study provides necessary background information for conservation actions that may involve captive propagation and population restoration of L. bracteata . Introduction or reintroduction of threatened species at sites where they are absent is generally considered to be a less risky action than the augmentation of existing populations (McMurray & Roe, ). The differences observed in metamorphosis success in this study suggest that host populations at reintroduction sites should be tested for compatibility with source mussel populations.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reproductive ecology of the threatened and endemic freshwater mussel Lampsilis bracteata

Seagroves

Barnhart

Hardy

et al. 2019

Aquatic Conservation

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The Texas fatmucket, Lampsilis bracteata, is a unionid mussel endemic to the Colorado and upper Guadalupe River basins of Central Texas and a candidate for federal listing under the Endangered Species Act. There is increased interest in propagation and population restoration of threatened mussels in Texas as a potential conservation method, but still little is known about their life histories and how local populations may differ in aspects of their reproductive ecology, e.g. timing of brooding and potential local adaptations to host fish. The purpose of this study was to compare host fish compatibilities and seasonality of reproduction between two populations: (a) by cross‐infesting fish from the San Saba and Llano Rivers in the Colorado River basin with sympatric and allopatric mussel larvae in the laboratory (hatchery‐produced Guadalupe bass and largemouth bass were also infested); and (b) by assessing gamete concentration, brooding period, viability of larvae and sex ratios using monthly sampling events between February 2017 and February 2018. Reproduction varied with season and between populations. The proportion of females brooding tended to be lower in the summer and the autumn, and higher during winter and spring months before peak water temperatures were reached. The sex ratio in both populations did not significantly differ from 1:1. Fecundity and larvae viability were higher in the Llano River population compared with the San Saba population. Trematode flatworms were found in several female gonad samples from the San Saba population and in a few samples from the Llano population. The highest metamorphosis success occurred on wild green sunfish and largemouth bass, and hatchery‐produced largemouth and Guadalupe bass. The average metamorphosis success tended to be higher for some mussel–fish pairings originating from the same tributary, suggesting that mussels may be locally adapted to host fish, which should be considered in conservation efforts.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reproductive ecology of the threatened and endemic freshwater mussel Lampsilis bracteata

Seagroves

Barnhart

Hardy

et al. 2019

Aquatic Conservation

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“…Previous publications have addressed aspects of these issues (e.g., Haag, 2012;Hoftyzer, Ackerman, Morris, & Mackie, 2008;Jones, Hallerman, & Neves, 2006;McMurray & Roe, 2017;Patterson, Mair, et al, 2018), but have focused mostly on technical biological issues (e.g., production methods, genetic concerns). Previous publications have addressed aspects of these issues (e.g., Haag, 2012;Hoftyzer, Ackerman, Morris, & Mackie, 2008;Jones, Hallerman, & Neves, 2006;McMurray & Roe, 2017;Patterson, Mair, et al, 2018), but have focused mostly on technical biological issues (e.g., production methods, genetic concerns).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Essay: Making the most of recent advances in freshwater mussel propagation and restoration

Strayer

Geist

Haag

et al. 2019

Conservat Sci and Prac

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Propagating and releasing freshwater mussels (Unionida) into the wild can contribute substantially to conservation and perhaps ecosystem restoration, but poorly conceived projects can waste money and public good will, and harm mussel populations and ecosystems. Moving from vague, emotional reactions about mussel restoration to more rigorous discussions and analyses can help focus efforts to where they do the most good. We suggest that: (i) projects to restore mussels for conservation goals to sites where known environmental problems have been eliminated or mitigated have good prospects for success; (ii) projects to restore mussels for conservation goals to sites where known environmental problems have not been eliminated or mitigated have poor prospects for success; (iii) projects to restore mussels for conservation goals to sites in the common situation in which the status of environmental problems is unknown have unknown prospects for success, but may be valuable as scientific experiments, if project performance is monitored properly; (iv) the value of population augmentation as a conservation tool is uncertain, and needs better theoretical and empirical analysis; (v) assisted migration of mussels as a conservation tool is controversial, and should be discussed thoroughly before we reach crises in which it is rejected or carried out carelessly; (vi) projects to restore ecosystem services face more stringent criteria for success than conservation projects, and some such projects being discussed seem unlikely to succeed. Monitoring data on how restoration projects perform typically are inadequately collected, reported, disseminated, and used to improve practice. This could be improved by setting up a clearinghouse to collect, hold, and disseminate data; providing training to restorationists; and opening conversations between restorationists and data managers and statisticians.

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“…Consequently, complex strategies to restore formerly extirpated populations, such as reintroduction, supplementation, and assisted migration, are becoming more important and necessary in the future (Strayer and Dudgeon , Cochran‐Biederman et al. , Hayes and Banish , Mcmurray and Roe ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Effects of changes in stream temperature, flow regimes, and modification to meet future human water needs are anticipated because of climate change and human population growth (V€ or€ osmarty et al 2010). Consequently, complex strategies to restore formerly extirpated populations, such as reintroduction, supplementation, and assisted migration, are becoming more important and necessary in the future (Strayer and Dudgeon 2010, Cochran-Biederman et al 2014, Hayes and Banish 2017, Mcmurray and Roe 2017.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Simulating demography, genetics, and spatially explicit processes to inform reintroduction of a threatened char

et al. 2019

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The success of species reintroductions can depend on a combination of environmental, demographic, and genetic factors. Although the importance of these factors in the success of reintroductions is well‐accepted, they are typically evaluated independently, which can miss important interactions. For species that persist in metapopulations, movement through and interaction with the landscape is predicted to be a vital component of persistence. Simulation‐based approaches are a promising technique for evaluating the independent and combined effects of these factors on the outcome of various reintroduction and associated management actions. We report results from a simulation study of bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) reintroduction to three watersheds of the Pend Oreille River system in northeastern Washington State, USA. We used an individual‐based, spatially explicit simulation model to evaluate how reintroduction strategies, life history variation, and riverscape structure (e.g., network topology) interact to influence the demographic and genetic characteristics of reintroduced bull trout populations in three watersheds. Simulation scenarios included a range of initial genetic stocks (informed by empirical bull trout genetic data), variation in migratory tendency and life history, and two landscape connectivity alternatives representing a connected network (isolation‐by‐distance) and a fragmented network (isolation‐by‐barrier, using the known existing barriers). A novel feature of these simulations was the ability to consider the interaction of both demographic and genetic (i.e., demogenetic) factors in riverscapes with implicit asymmetric movement probabilities across the barriers. We found that connectivity (presence or absence of barriers) had the largest effect on demographic and genetic outcomes over 200 yr, with a greater effect than both initial genetic diversity and life history variation. We also identified regions of the study system in which bull trout populations persisted across a wide range of demographic, life history, and environmental connectivity parameters. Finally, we found no evidence that initial neutral genetic diversity influenced genetic diversity and structure after 200 yr; instead, genetic drift due to stray rate and population isolation dominated and erased any initial differences in genetic diversity. Our results highlight the utility of spatially explicit demogenetic approaches in exploring and understanding population dynamics—and their implications for management strategies—in fresh waters.

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Perspectives on the Controlled Propagation, Augmentation, and Reintroduction of Freshwater Mussels (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Unionoida)

Abstract: BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access titles in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses.

Cited by 43 publications

References 72 publications

Reproductive ecology of the threatened and endemic freshwater mussel Lampsilis bracteata

Reproductive ecology of the threatened and endemic freshwater mussel Lampsilis bracteata

Essay: Making the most of recent advances in freshwater mussel propagation and restoration

Simulating demography, genetics, and spatially explicit processes to inform reintroduction of a threatened char

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