Effects of Increased Commercial Navigation Traffic on Freshwater Mussels in the Upper Mississippi River: 1989 Studies
Abstract
In 1988, the US Army Engineer District, St. Louis (CELMS) initiated a program to analyze the effects of commercial navigation traffic on freshwater mussels (Mollusca: Unionidae), especially the endangered Lampsilis higginsi in the upper Mississippi River (UMR). In 1989 mussels were collected using qualitative and quantitative methods (0.25 - sq - m total substrate samples) at dense and diverse beds in pool 24 (river mile (RM) 299), pool 14 (RM 505), and pool 10 (RM 635) of the UMR. Water velocity and suspended solids concentrations were measured immediately following vessel passage at beds in pools 10 and 14. An assessment of commercial navigation traffic effects will be based on a comparison of baseline data (1988 - 94) with information collected with less intensive sampling from 1994 to 2040. The UMR mussel fauna was dominated by Amblema plicata, which comprised 27.7 percent of the qualitative collection, and was found in 87.1 percent of the samples. Total numbers of the endangered L. higginsi were variable; this species comprised slightly less than 0.5 percent of the bivalve assemblage and ranked 22nd out of 26 species collected using qualitative methods. Total bivalve density ranged from 31.2 + or - 25.7 + or - SD) individuals/ sq m to 184.8 + or- 33.3 individuals/sq m at 24 sites on three mussel beds.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1991
- Accession Number
- ADA234557
Entities
People
- Andrew C. Miller
- Barry S. Payne