The use of mussels as indicators of pollution in fresh- and seawater was reviewed and the ability of the freshwater mussel 'Anodonta anatina' to absorb Cadmium-115m and zinc-65 from its environment was studied. The uptake was studied when the metals were available in solution only and in the algal food supply. A higher accumulation occurred in the tissues when the metals were available in the food and they were concentrated up to 2x10[sup]3 times for zinc-65 and 1x10[sup]3 times for cadmium-115m above the levels found in the water. Those tissues with large surface areas in contact with the water (i.e. the gills and the mantle) and those involved with processing food (i.e. the digestive gland and kidney) were found to take up the tracers most rapidly. The muscular tissues took up the least amount of tracers. The uptake into the tissues from each source was compared and the metabolic consequences discussed. Depuration of the metals from the tissues was studied when the mussels were placed in uncontaminated water. Although the total body burdens of the tracers declined, a loss was not recorded for all the tissues. For some tissues, notably the digestive gland and the adductor muscles with cadmium-155m and the gonad and kidney with zinc-65, a continued uptake was recorded. It was concluded that permanent binding sites for the metals might exist in some tissues. The fate of cadmium in the tissues was studied. Cadmium was found to be located in the cytosol and associated with low molecular weight proteins. These proteins were found to have low aromatic amino acid and high cysteine content as indicated by their absorption characteristics at 280 and 250 nm respectively. These properties together with the demonstrated heat stability indicated that the cadmium-binding proteins in 'Andonta' are similar to metallothioneins indentified in other species.

Storvuxna musslor i sötvatten (stormusslor) kan ha drabbats av en allvarlig tillbakagång i såväl Sverige som hela världen. Tidigare undersökningar i Sverige och andra delar av världen visar på en kraftig tillbakagång och brist på en fungerande föryngring hos arterna flodpärlmussla (Margaritifera margaritifera) och tjockskalig målarmussla (Unio crassus). I tidigare undersökningar i Sverige har fokus främst varit att försöka kartera arternas förekomst och utbredning, men inte dess föryngring. Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka föryngringen av samtliga arter stormusslor i vattensystemen Tidan, Lidan och Mariedalsån i Västra Götalands län. Sju lokaler valdes selektivt ut för att representera några av de bästa i de tre vattensystemen. Inventeringen utfördes främst med vattenkikare men även med luther- räfsa. Sedimentprov utfördes i lokalerna för undersökning av juvenila musslor. Musslorna räknades, artbestämdes, mättes och åldersbestämdes utifrån räknade vinterringar på skalen. Resultatet i studien pekar på att föryngringen är mycket dålig i flertalet lokaler även hos vanligt förekommande arter i landet som allmän dammussla (Anodonta anatina) och spetsig målarmussla (Unio tumidus). Förekomsten av arter stormusslor i lokalerna är dålig och tyder på relativt artfattiga vatten i Tidan, Lidan och Mariedalsån. Då de inventerade lokalerna ska representera några av de bästa i de tre vattensystemen är resultaten på föryngringen i vattendragen mycket oroväckande. Fortsatta studier bör göras på föryngringen i vattendragen för samtliga arter stormusslor i Västra Götalands län, nationellt och internationellt. / Freshwater mussels (Unionoida) may have been substantially reduced in Sweden as well as the whole world. Earlier studies show that the species Margaritifera margaritifera and Unio crassus has been substantially reduced and there are several localities with no reproduction in Sweden and in several other parts of the world. Other species of freshwater mussels in Sweden have not been studied very much and the focus of studies in Sweden has been on the species existence, not their reproduction. The purpose with this study is to examine the existence of reproduction of different kind of freshwater mussels in the water systems Tidan, Lidan and Mariedalsån in Sweden. Seven localities were choosing selective for the study to represent some of the best localities in the water systems. The freshwater mussels were studied on the bottom and in the sediment. The lengths of mussels were measured and the winter rings were counted to estimate the age of the mussels. The result of this study point on a very bad reproduction in several localities even with the most common species in Sweden and the diversity of species are low in the water systems Tidan, Lidan and Mariedalsån. These localities were supposed to represent some of the best localities in the water systems and because of that the result of the bad reproduction is very concerning. More studies of the reproduction of freshwater mussels even the more common species is recommended in Sweden and other countries of the world.

<p>Storvuxna musslor i sötvatten (stormusslor) kan ha drabbats av en allvarlig tillbakagång i såväl Sverige som hela världen. Tidigare undersökningar i Sverige och andra delar av världen visar på en kraftig tillbakagång och brist på en fungerande föryngring hos arterna flodpärlmussla (Margaritifera margaritifera) och tjockskalig målarmussla (Unio crassus). I tidigare undersökningar i Sverige har fokus främst varit att försöka kartera arternas förekomst och utbredning, men inte dess föryngring. Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka föryngringen av samtliga arter stormusslor i vattensystemen Tidan, Lidan och Mariedalsån i Västra Götalands län. Sju lokaler valdes selektivt ut för att representera några av de bästa i de tre vattensystemen. Inventeringen utfördes främst med vattenkikare men även med luther- räfsa. Sedimentprov utfördes i lokalerna för undersökning av juvenila musslor. Musslorna räknades, artbestämdes, mättes och åldersbestämdes utifrån räknade vinterringar på skalen. Resultatet i studien pekar på att föryngringen är mycket dålig i flertalet lokaler även hos vanligt förekommande arter i landet som allmän dammussla (Anodonta anatina) och spetsig målarmussla (Unio tumidus). Förekomsten av arter stormusslor i lokalerna är dålig och tyder på relativt artfattiga vatten i Tidan, Lidan och Mariedalsån. Då de inventerade lokalerna ska representera några av de bästa i de tre vattensystemen är resultaten på föryngringen i vattendragen mycket oroväckande. Fortsatta studier bör göras på föryngringen i vattendragen för samtliga arter stormusslor i Västra Götalands län, nationellt och internationellt.</p> / <p>Freshwater mussels (Unionoida) may have been substantially reduced in Sweden as well as the whole world. Earlier studies show that the species Margaritifera margaritifera and Unio crassus has been substantially reduced and there are several localities with no reproduction in Sweden and in several other parts of the world. Other species of freshwater mussels in Sweden have not been studied very much and the focus of studies in Sweden has been on the species existence, not their reproduction. The purpose with this study is to examine the existence of reproduction of different kind of freshwater mussels in the water systems Tidan, Lidan and Mariedalsån in Sweden. Seven localities were choosing selective for the study to represent some of the best localities in the water systems. The freshwater mussels were studied on the bottom and in the sediment. The lengths of mussels were measured and the winter rings were counted to estimate the age of the mussels. The result of this study point on a very bad reproduction in several localities even with the most common species in Sweden and the diversity of species are low in the water systems Tidan, Lidan and Mariedalsån. These localities were supposed to represent some of the best localities in the water systems and because of that the result of the bad reproduction is very concerning. More studies of the reproduction of freshwater mussels even the more common species is recommended in Sweden and other countries of the world.</p>

Lake Rotokakahi is a mesotrophic lake located within the Rotorua Lakes District, North Island, New Zealand. Under the legal guardianship of the Tuhourangi and Ngati Tumatawera tribes of Te Arawa it has remained closed to the public since 1948. Lake Rotokakahi was last monitored regularly in 1996 under the Environment Bay of Plenty (EBOP) water quality monitoring programme with only the lake outlet (Te Wairoa Stream) being monitored since that time. Water quality data collected up to 1996 suggests that there may be degradation of water quality in the lake, as indicated by declining levels of dissolved oxygen in the bottom waters. Lake Rotokakahi steeped in historical significance, as well as having major cultural and recreational values was well known for its abundant resources and as the name suggests, particularly for its massive supply of the freshwater mussel or kakahi (Hyridella menziesi). Freshwater mussel species worldwide are in decline however little is known on factors controlling kakahi abundance and distribution. The overarching objective of this thesis is update water quality data last monitored in Lake Rotokakahi in 1996 while also identifying key environmental variables thought to influence kakahi populations. This objective is underpinned by a number of aims that include: Establishment of a 12-13 month water quality programme within Lake Rotokakahi so that data is obtained for comparisons with previous water quality data (pre-1997) to allow assessment of whether there have been water quality changes in the lake. Conduct a population survey of the resident kakahi population examining possible environmental factors influencing their populations. Present an oral history of Lake Rotokakahi focusing on its historical significance, water quality, and collection of kairoto (food collected form lakes). from the 18 September 2006 to 14 September 2007 monthly water sampling was carried out at a mid lake station, the lake outflow and inflow for measures of nutrients, phytoplankton, zooplankton and chlorophyll a. Vertical profiles of temperature dissolved oxygen and chlorophyll fluorescence were also taken on various part of Lake Rotokakahi. A lengthened period of anoxia in the bottom waters during thermal stratification was recorded with increased levels of chlorophyll a in winter and reduced secchi disk depth indicating an increase in phytoplankton biomass. Nutrient concentrations remain moderate relative to historical data. On going water quality monitoring on Lake Rotokakahi is recommended to further evaluate the extent of which water quality change is occurring. This will provide a better understanding of how Lake Rotokakahi can be best managed to further preserve the lake. On 1 March and 20 April kakahi were sampled at five sites. Large kakahi densities were distributed predominantly in depths above the hypolimnion. Chlorophyll a fluorescence and dissolved oxygen were found to be the best correlates for kakahi density and biomass respectively. Low dissolved oxygen concentrations in the hypolimnion are thought to restrict kakahi distributions to above the thermocline in periods of hypolimnetic anoxia.

Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 2003. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on Dec. 9, 2005). Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Laboratory bioassays results suggest that early life stages of freshwater mussels are sensitivity to toxicants. However, toxicological databases for unionids are rather limited because standard test methods are yet developed, and no published studies report endpoints for chronic test that are > 9 days. The primary goals of my thesis research were to assess acute and chronic toxicities of chlorine and mercury to early life stages. Inter- and intra-specific species variability in the tolerances of glochidia was observed during acute laboratory bioassays as endpoints were between 8 - 43 ppb for Hg tests, 1.0 - 2.5 ppm for NaCl tests, and 70 - 260 ppb for chlorine (TRC) tests. Glochidia of several species had equal or greater sensitivities to Hg and NaCl than test organisms commonly used to assess environmental risk (i.e.Ceridaphnia dubia, Daphnia magna, Pimephales promelas), whereas they were far more tolerant to TRC than many species. Twenty-one day chronic test endpoints for juveniles were substantially lower than those calculated during acute bioassays with glochidia. Villosa iris 3-mo old juveniles were found to be quite sensitive to Hg as growth was significantly impaired at 8 ppb Hg. Chronic bioassays with TRC revealed a distinct decrease in susceptibility with increased aged for V. iris (relative sensitivities 3-mo > 6-mo > 12-mo), and that 2-mo old Epioblasma capsaeformis were more sensitive than comparable age classes of V. iris. However, both species were tolerant compared to other aquatic organisms, as the lowest endpoint was 20 ppb TRC. / Master of Science

A flow-through pond at White Sulphur Springs National Fish Hatchery was evaluated as culture environment for juvenile freshwater mussels of Villosa iris and Lampsilis fasciola. Survival did not differ significantly (p = 0.1910) over 93 d for V. iris cultured with silt (mean 49.8% ± SD 14.5) and without (mean 32.9% ± SD 11.7). Survival differed significantly (p <0.0001) between juveniles of V. iris (mean 49.8% ± SD 14.5 at age 93 d) and L. fasciola (mean 6.3% ± SD 4.5 at age 86 d). This may indicate that the pond failed to meet requirements of L. fasciola, or may have resulted from microhabitat variables. Growth did not differ significantly between species (p = 0.1315). Villosa iris reached a mean length of 1.81 mm ± SD 0.67, and L. fasciola 1.78 mm ± SD 0.78. Water quality parameters remained within suitable ranges, and planktonic algal densities were between 2850 - 6892 cells/mL. Survival of V. iris and growth of both species compares favorably to previous culture attempts. Juveniles of V. iris and L. fasciola were exposed to ammonium chloride solutions for 96 h in static renewal conditions at 12°C and 20°C. Calculating LC50 values with the Trimmed Spearman-Karber method, juveniles of L. fasciola (mean 96 h LC50 of 0.26 mg/L NH3-N) were significantly more tolerant of unionized ammonia than juveniles of V. iris (mean 96 h LC50 of 0.11 mg/L NH3-N). The only organisms with reported LC50 values lower than those seen for V. iris juveniles were Ceriodaphnia dubia and Hyella azteca. / Master of Science

Studies were conducted to determine the macrohabitat factors structuring high quality mussel habitat in the Clinch and Little rivers. In the first habitat study, 4 substratum variables, 7 channel morphology variables, and 3 stream and valley variables were compared between high and low mussel density aggregations from 6 study reaches. Wilcoxon rank-sum tests were conducted separately for all transects, unbraided (without islands) transects, and braided (anastomosing river channels with islands) transects. Stepwise discriminant analysis (SDA) was used in the first habitat study to identify variables which best differentiated high and low mussel density transect groups. Percent bedrock (PBR) (p>F=0.002), d50 particle size (p>F=0.03), and mean depth (MDEP) (p>F=0.11) were the most useful predictors (cumulative average squared canonical correlation (ASCC) = 0.30) when SDA was performed on all transects (n = 66). The ASCC values improved substantially when unbraided and braided transects were analyzed separately. PBR (p>F=0.0001), d84 particle size (p>F=0.05), MDEP (p>F=0.03), and direction of streamflow (DIR) (p>F=0.05) were selected by SDA (cumulative ASCC = 0.52) for unbraided transects (n = 43), and proximity to floodplain (PROX) (p>F=0.0008) and PBR (p>F=0.005) were selected by SDA (cumulative ASCC = 0.61) for braided transects (n = 23). In the second habitat study, 14 habitat variables were compared between high and low quality mussel sites documented in a TVA survey (1986). The variables PBR (p>F=0.0001), d84 (p>F=0.0001), DIR (p>F=0.09), and valley floor width (VFW) (p>F=0.05) were selected by SDA (cumulative ASCC = 0.69) when all sites were included in the analysis; and PBR (p>F=0.0095), d84 (p>F=0.004), d50 (p>F=0.15), and DIR (p>F=0.07) were selected (cumulative ASCC = 0.62) when only unbraided sites were included in the analysis. Mussels were associated with areas of smaller mean particle size with low exposed bedrock in the channel cross-section. Site location patterns for the entire TVA data set (n = 141 sites) were examined for patterns relative to streamflow direction. The greatest frequency of high quality unbraided sites occurred where the river flows in the direction of geologic dip. High quality braided sites occurred where the river flows along the line of geologic strike. The orientation of bedrock ledges relative to direction of streamflow seemingly determines the long-term stability of mussel habitat in unbraided reaches by retaining streambed alluvium during high discharge events. / Ph. D.

No description available.

River-floodplain connectivity is the degree of water-driven transport of matter, energy, and organisms between rivers and their floodplains. Recent advancement of high-resolution lidar data and numerical modeling is helpful to explore river-floodplain connectivity precisely to improve our predictions of sediment transport and deposition on floodplains. In the present work, we studied floodplain sediment transport and deposition, and juvenile mussel settling in three river systems in the US. A two-dimensional hydrodynamic model was developed and simulated model results were coupled with field measurements to study river-floodplain systems of the East Fork White River in Indiana, South River in Virginia, and Dan River in North Carolina. Results show that the East Fork White River in Indiana is capable of supplying sand to the channels on the floodplain and these floodplain channels can transport sand in suspension and gravel as bedload. These floodplain channels are supply limited under the current hydrologic regime and identified as net erosional. On the South River floodplain in Virginia, incorporating hydrologic flowpaths as an explicit measure of river-floodplain connectivity can improve predictions of floodplain sediment deposition. Three regression models were developed incorporating flow pathways and the best model was applied to hydrodynamic model results to create a spatial map of floodplain sedimentation rate. The deposition map highlights how floodplain topography and river-floodplain connectivity affect sedimentation rates and can help inform the development of floodplain sediment budgets. Lastly, streamflow conditions were investigated in the Dan River, North Carolina as they affect juvenile freshwater mussel settling. Two uplooking velocity sensors on the river bed were deployed and hydraulic parameters were measured for a 7-mo period in May-November 2019 to estimate the juvenile mussel settling. Results show that juvenile freshwater mussels as large as 280-508 µm could always be suspended during our study period and not be able to settle onto the river bed at the location of our velocity sensors. Therefore, the flow and shear velocity during our study period was high enough to prohibit the recruitment of juvenile freshwater mussels from settling out of suspension at the sensor locations. Modest flow obstructions such as large boulders, downed trees, or large wood that create downstream wakes may be important features that provide suitable conditions for the settling of juvenile freshwater mussels onto the river bed. Furthermore, low flows have been increasing since the year 2000 which may be exacerbating the decline in freshwater mussel populations. / Doctor of Philosophy / Human civilization has developed near rivers due to the wide range of benefits provided by rivers. Rivers provide food, water, and energy to more than 2.7 billion people around the world. However, the health of the rivers is degrading rapidly to meet the increasing demand of the growing population. We studied water, sediment, and mussel transport in the three rivers in the US: East Fork White River in Indiana, South River in Virginia, and Dan River in North Carolina. These rivers play an important role in agriculture, water supply, sediment, and nutrient transport of the surrounding environment. Our research work on East Fork White River in Indiana, USA shows that the area directly adjacent to the river is eroding, which is important information for river managers and policymakers. As part of that work, we identified the potential of various sizes of sediment to move over this area at different flows and developed a method to predict the largest sediment size that could be moved in water and hopping along the ground. This method is also applicable to other areas along rivers and the coast. We estimated the sediment deposition rate, deposition volume, and prepared a spatial map of the sediment deposition pattern for the South River floodplain in Virginia. From this map, deposition hot spots could be identified. We estimated that 66% of the sediment deposited adjacent to the South River was located in 32% of the area. This information will be helpful for understanding how sediment and sediment-associated pollutants deposit around rivers. Our work on the Dan River in North Carolina was focused on freshwater mussels. Our results showed that juvenile freshwater mussels could not have settled onto the river bed at the location of our measurements. Historical data reveal that freshwater mussels are declining at an alarming rate in that river, posing a threat to the river environment. We identified that streamflow has been increasing over the last two decades, which could be a potential cause of declining freshwater mussels.