Increase of Unionid Mussel Populations in the Verdigris River, Kansas, from 1991 to 2003

Periodic quantitative surveys to monitor populations of freshwater mussels (Unionidae) were conducted at eight sites in the Verdigris River, KS during 1991, 1997, and 2003. Twenty-two species were collected including several on the Kansas rare-species list. Overall mussel abundance increased from 19...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Southeastern naturalist (Steuben, Me.) Me.), 2006-09, Vol.5 (3), p.383-392
Main Authors: Miller, Edwin J., Lynott, Sean T.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bedrock
Cyprogenia aberti
Fresh water
Freshwater fishes
Fusconaia flava
Gravel
Lampsilis teres
Lasmigona complanata
Mussels
Natural reservoirs
Pleurobema sintoxia
Population growth
Ptychobranchus occidentalis
Quadrula
Quadrula metanevra
Quadrula nodulata
Quadrula pustulosa
Riverine habitats
Tritogonia verrucosa
Truncilla donaciformis
Unionidae
Wildlife conservation
Wildlife management
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Summary:Periodic quantitative surveys to monitor populations of freshwater mussels (Unionidae) were conducted at eight sites in the Verdigris River, KS during 1991, 1997, and 2003. Twenty-two species were collected including several on the Kansas rare-species list. Overall mussel abundance increased from 1991–2003. Abundance of 10 species (Cyprogenia aberti, Fusconaia flava, Lasmigona complanata, Pleurobema sintoxia, Ptychobranchus occidentalis, Quadrula metanevra, Quadrula nodulata, Quadrula pustulosa, Tritogonia verrucosa, and Truncilla donaciformis) increased significantly while only Lampsilis teres decreased. This positive trend in unionid abundance could be due to various factors that have improved habitat quality of this reach of river.
ISSN:1528-7092
1938-5412
DOI:10.1656/1528-7092(2006)5[383:IOUMPI]2.0.CO;2