Variation in Freshwater Mussel Shell Sculpture and Shape Along a River Gradient

Hornbach, Daniel J.; Kurth, Valerie J.; Hove, Mark C.

doi:10.1674/0003-0031-164.1.22

Cited by 57 publications

(57 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…The differences in the remaining combined indices of basic shell measurements were much smaller (\5%); this indicates that the shells maintain more or less similar proportions in the two rivers. Despite the large differences in water velocity between the rivers, the shell obesity measure, suggested to be a trait reflecting mussels' anchoring ability (e.g., Hornbach et al 2010), was only slightly higher (by ca 2%) in the four times faster San river. The lack of a difference in obesity may be attributable to the high share of mussels sampled from the bank (microhabitat with still water in both rivers), but such a bias should also have been reflected in the basic shell measurements (Table 2), which differed much more than obesity did in the same sample.…”

Section: Basic Shell Measurements and Combined Indicesmentioning

confidence: 84%

“…We also used two indices of shell proportions, following Hornbach et al (2010)-shell obesity (ratio of shell width to shell length) and relative shell height (shell height/length ratio)-as well as two other indices reflecting shell size: (1) square root of length multiplied by height, reflecting shell size as the square root of the approximated shell projection area (sqrt ASPA), and (2) shell width, standardized by sqrt ASPA. All the main shell measurements and shape indices were analyzed as response variables in general linear mixed models.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Special attention has been paid to shell cubature (also called obesity), the ratio of shell width to length, which tends to increase downstream (Roper & Hickey, 1994;Hornbach et al, 2010). Many researchers note that shell size, shape, and sculpture influence burrowing and anchoring (Hornbach et al, 2010), but this is an area needing further work (Levine, 2014).…”

Section: Ecological Factors Influencing Shellsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Haag & Rypel (2011) reported intraspecific differences in growth rates in many North American species and also demonstrated effects of hydrological conditions on growth. The relative height and ''obesity'' of the shell are suggested to reflect the anchorage ability of mussels, influenced by river discharge (Hornbach et al, 2010). In lakes, Amyot & Downing (1991) found water-depth-related differences in shell morphology.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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What can we infer from the shell dimensions of the thick-shelled river mussel Unio crassus?

Zając

Ćmiel

2017

Hydrobiologia

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We studied shell variation in the thickshelled river mussel (Unio crassus Philipson, 1788) sampled from two sites of very different character: (1) a rocky channel (San river) and (2) a fine-sediment channel (Zborowianka river). The analyzed mussels differed significantly between the sampled channels in almost all analyzed phenotypic traits and shape indices. Intersexual variation was so low that it cannot be used effectively for sexing in this species. The growth rate was much higher in the fine-sediment and nutrient-rich channel than in the rocky one, but the asymptotic shell length for the rocky channel was larger than for the fine-sediment channel, suggesting higher survival in the mountainous, unmodified river. Shell size differed significantly within the rocky channel, depending on microhabitat: shell size and dorsal arching were much greater in mussels living in the strong current of the rocky midchannel than in those inhabiting still water at the nearest bank. The results demonstrate that microhabitat conditions significantly determine shell shape.

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Section: Basic Shell Measurements and Combined Indicesmentioning

confidence: 84%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Ecological Factors Influencing Shellsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

What can we infer from the shell dimensions of the thick-shelled river mussel Unio crassus?

Zając

Ćmiel

2017

Hydrobiologia

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“…The pattern of species distribution throughout the system may also be partially a function of hydrological variability. Research has shown that shell morphology, shell thickness, and other species-specific adaptations enable mussels to tolerate varying hydrological and substrate stability conditions (Stanley 1981, Allen and Vaughn 2009, Hornbach et al 2010, and such adaptations may contribute to the observed pattern of species distributions in the Klamath. Anodonta is a soft-substrate genus (Nedeau et al 2009) with a thin shell, meaning that it has little ballast in fast currents and cannot withstand scouring.…”

Section: Landscape-scale Patterns Of Distribution and Abundancementioning

confidence: 99%

Distribution and Abundance of Freshwater Mussels in the mid Klamath Subbasin, California

et al. 2013

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Status of the freshwater mussel (Unionidae) communities of the mainstem of the Leon River, Texas

Randklev

Johnson

Tsakiris

et al. 2013

Aquatic Conservation

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ABSTRACT1. The Leon River drainage, located in the Brazos River basin, has not been extensively surveyed for freshwater mussels (Family Unionidae). This is problematic given that three state-threatened species, Quadrula houstonensis, Quadrula mitchelli, and Truncilla macrodon, have historically occurred in this drainage and two are now candidates for protection under the US Endangered Species Act.2. Mussels were sampled qualitatively at 44 sites in the summer and fall of 2011 to determine whether these species were still extant in the Leon River. The distributions and abundances of species at present considered common were also examined. Shell length data were assessed to determine the overall viability of the mussel fauna within the Leon River drainage.3. In total, 2081 live mussels were collected representing 12 species, including the federal candidate species Quadrula houstonensis, but Lampsilis hydiana, Quadrula mitchelli and Truncilla macrodon were not collected. Overall mussel abundance and species richness was low and community composition was highly fragmented with riverine species largely occurring in the middle portion of the Leon River. There was evidence that population recruitment is occurring, but only for a few species.4. River impoundment, inadequate instream flows, and agricultural practices are probable causes of the changes in mussel species composition. Further studies are needed to evaluate the impacts of reservoir releases on mussel persistence within this basin and in areas where droughts and low stream flow are commonplace. More information is needed on how agricultural practices affect mussel communities; the information that is currently available does little in the way of identifying factors that can be managed at site or reach scales. Studies that address these knowledge gaps will help resource managers to design more effective strategies to protect mussel populations within and outside this basin.

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Variation in Freshwater Mussel Shell Sculpture and Shape Along a River Gradient

Cited by 57 publications

References 41 publications

What can we infer from the shell dimensions of the thick-shelled river mussel Unio crassus?

What can we infer from the shell dimensions of the thick-shelled river mussel Unio crassus?

Distribution and Abundance of Freshwater Mussels in the mid Klamath Subbasin, California

Status of the freshwater mussel (Unionidae) communities of the mainstem of the Leon River, Texas

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