| |
Presented at the NABS Annual meeting, Athens, Georgia, 2003
in Unionid Ecology
Distribution and diversity of native freshwater mussels in the Sleepy and Opequon Creek Watersheds in the Eastern Panhandle, West Virginia
P. Vila1, R. Villella2, and L. Bailey1. 1Institute of Environmental Studies, Shepherd College, Shepherdstown, WV 25443, 2U.S. Geological Survey, BRD, Leetown Science Center, 1700 Leetown Road, Kearneysville, WV 25430
A survey of the distribution, diversity, density, and abundance of native freshwater mussels was made in the Sleepy Creek watershed and tributaries and Opequon Creek, West Virginia. Fifty sites were surveyed utilizing a combination of a timed four and a half hour qualitative search and an in-depth quantitative search if mussel populations were found. The qualitative survey included snorkeling, a habitat description, and evaluation of water quality parameters. The quantitative survey documented surface and within substrate mussel population density and abundance utilizing a systematic placement of quadrats along the 100 meter reach. Seven species of mussel shells were found, however, only several live specimens of Elliptio complanata, Elliptio fisheriana, and Strophitus undulates were found. Preliminary analysis indicates that water quality parameters at the time of sampling fell within a suitable range for freshwater mussels. Numerous shells indicated previously extant populations along the studied streams. A combination of factors such as habitat modification and loss of fish hosts have most likely contributed to the loss of the native mussel populations in these streams
|
|
