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Communication at the NABS Annual meeting, Keystone, 2000
(515) STATUS OF UNIONID MUSSELS (BIVALVIA: UNIONIDAE) IN THE UPHAPEE CREEK DRAINAGE, ALABAMA.
M.M. Gangloff and J.W. Feminella. Department of Biological Sciences, Funchess Hall, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849
Uphapee Creek, a Piedmont/Coastal Plain tributary of the Tallapoosa River, drains 863 km2 of primarily agricultural and residential land, with some intact forests. Streams in the Tallapoosa drainage typically show low diversity and density of unionid mussels, however the Uphapee system supports a moderately diverse assemblage in several sub-basins. Additionally, the Uphapee system was believed to have been involved in a historical faunal exchange with Uchee Creek, a tributary of the Chattahootchee River, which may partially explain its higher mussel diversity. In 1999 we surveyed unionids in 3 major Uphapee tributaries (Chewacla, Choctafaula and Opintlocco Creeks). Twenty species of unionids were reported from the Uphapee basin in 1973. Our surveys yielded 17 species (14 live) including the threatened Lampsilis altilis and the endangered Pleurobema decisum. Quantitative sampling of mussels in Chewacla Creek, a large Uphapee tributary, revealed densities from 0 to 0.31 individuals/m2 and a diversity ranging from 1 to 11 species per site. Unionids are distributed widely throughout the Uphapee basin and populations (including sensitive species) appear stable. We are currently examining basic zoogeographic patterns of Uphapee and Uchee assemblages, and are using classification analysis and multiple regression to test for the likelihood of faunal change between these basins.
Presented at 1:00 PM on Wednesday, May 31, 2000 in Conservation Biology
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