William A. LellisLeetown Science CenterNorthern Appalachian Research LabWellsboro, PA

Freshwater Mussels & Eels: A Missing Link in the West Branch?

U.S. Department of the InteriorU.S. Geological Survey

Freshwater Mussels of North America 300 Species

From: Parmalee and Bogan, 1998

0-5 16-75

10-18

60-200

Freshwater Mussels of Pennsylvania 65 Species

Susquehanna12

Lake Erie 24

Ohio53

Potomac 6

Delaware14

Genesee 2

From: Davis and Bogan, 1990

Freshwater Mussel InterestButtons

Cultured Pearls

Ecological Services: Food, Filtration

Freshwater Mussel Life Cycle

LarvaeJuvenile

Sperm

Adult FemaleAdult Male

Fish Host

Mussel Larvae on Fish Gills

(M.C. Barnhart)

Larval Dispersal - Broadcast

Larvae released free or in mucus strands.

Larval Dispersal - Conglutinates

Gelatinous packages designed to mimic food items.

(M.C. Barnhart)

Larval Dispersal - Lures

Mantle flaps designed to mimic food item or competitor.

(M.C. Barnhart)

Larval Dispersal - Capture

Mussel captures fish and directly infects gills. (M.C. Barnhart)

Rainbow - Crayfish Lure

Chris Barnhart, Southern Missouri State UniversityChris Barnhart, Southern Missouri State University

Broken-Rays Mussel - Fish Lure

Chris Barnhart, Southern Missouri State UniversityChris Barnhart, Southern Missouri State University

Orange-Nacre Mussel - Superconglutinate

Chris Barnhart, Southern Missouri State UniversityChris Barnhart, Southern Missouri State University

Northern Riffleshell - Host Capture

Chris Barnhart, Southern Missouri State UniversityChris Barnhart, Southern Missouri State University

Delaware River Survey 2000-2002

Delaware River Survey Results (n=307,378)

Elliptio complanata (Eastern elliptio) 98.30

Anodonta implicata (Alewife floater) 1.47

Strophitus undulata (Creeper) 0.11

Pyganodon cataracta (Eastern floater) 0.07

Alasmidonta undulata (Triangle floater) 0.03

Alasmidonta varicosa (Brook floater) 0.01

Lampsilis cariosa (Yellow lampmussel) 0.01

Alasmidonta heterodon (Dwarf wedgemussel) 0.01

Margaritifera margaritifera (Eastern pearlshell) 0.001

%

Elliptio complanata Eastern elliptio

WATER GAP

PORT JERVIS

NARROWSBURG

CALLICOON

HANCOCK

BUSHKILL

• 281 million mussels(2 million mussels/mile)

• Filter 4 billion gallons per day(36 million gallons/mile/day)

• Remove 100 tons sediment per day(2 tons/mile/day)

Population Surveys of Elliptio complanata

Delaware River Pine Creek (WB Susquehanna)

Size/Frequency Distribution of Elliptio complanata

0

10

20

30

40

50

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110

Total Length (mm)

Perc

ent o

f Pop

ulat

ion

Pine (n=454) Delaware (n=679)

Fish Hosts for Strophitus undulatus Susquehanna River Mussels

Group AAttachmentTransformation

Atlantic sturgeonBlacknose daceBrook troutCentral stonerollerCommon shinerLargemouth bassLongnose daceRainbow troutRed-spotted newtRiver chubRock bassSlimy sculpin Tessellated darter Yellow bullheadYellow perch

Group BAttachmentNo transformation

American toad tadpole Atlantic salmon Banded darter Bluntnose minnow Cutlips minnowMargined madtomWhite sucker

Group CNo attachmentNo transformation

Fish Hosts for Elliptio complanata Susquehanna River Mussels

Group AAttachmentTransformation

American eelLake troutBrook troutMottled sculpin

Group BAttachmentNo transformation

American toad tadpoleAtlantic salmonCentral stonerollerCommon shinerCutlips minnowFallfishMargined madtomRainbow troutRock bassSmallmouth bassWhite suckerYellow perch

Group CNo attachmentNo transformation

Atlantic sturgeonBanded darterBlacknose daceBluntnose minnowLargemouth bassLongnose daceRed-spotted newtRiver chubShield darterSlimy sculpinSpottail darterTessellated darterYellow bullhead

American Eel Life Cycle

Susquehanna Rivers Dams

Eel - Mussel Link in Susquehanna River?

Elliptio complanata Filtration Capacity

(J. Alderman)50 Minute Trial