Propagation of Juvenile Freshwater Mussels (Bivalvia: Unionidae) and Assessment of Habitat Suitability for Restoration of Mussels in the Clinch River, Virginia

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorZimmerman, Lora Leighen
dc.contributor.committeechairNeves, Richard J.en
dc.contributor.committeememberAngermeier, Paul L.en
dc.contributor.committeememberNewcomb, Tammy J.en
dc.contributor.departmentFisheries and Wildlife Sciencesen
dc.date.accessioned2011-08-06T16:02:46Zen
dc.date.adate2003-04-07en
dc.date.available2011-08-06T16:02:46Zen
dc.date.issued2004-06-28en
dc.date.rdate2004-04-07en
dc.date.sdate2003-04-03en
dc.description.abstractFreshwater mussel propagation techniques were tested at the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Aquatic Wildlife Conservation Center through a series of three experiments. Experiment 1 tested the suitability of a pond and raceway for rearing juvenile oystermussels (Epioblasma capsaeformis) and wavyrayed lampmussel (Lampsilis fasciola). This experiment was prematurely terminated due to predation on mussels by fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas). Experiment 2 evaluated growth and survival of juvenile rainbow mussels in outdoor troughs and indoor aquaria. There was no significant difference in survival or growth between the two systems. Experiment 3 used troughs similar to those in Experiment 2 to rear E. capsaeformis and L. fasciola under two silt regimes. Survival for Experiment 3 was significantly greater for L. fasciola. The comparison between silt regimes indicated that individuals in the high-silt treatment had better survival than those in the low-silt treatment. The difference between these 2 treatments may be a reflection of increased escapement in the low-silt treatment, which may have resulted from more frequent disturbance during sampling. Growth of L. fasciola was significantly greater than E. capsaeformis, and was greater in the low-silt treatment. A habitat survey of the Clinch River, Virginia was conducted from Blackford, Clinch River Kilometer (CRK) 478 to the Tennessee border, CRK 325. Physical characteristics identified in the survey were combined with water quality and impact source data to develop a habitat suitability index for freshwater mussels within this study reach. Model parameters were indexed and weighted to give a final suitability ranking. Habitat units having the highest overall ranking included: Nash Ford (CRK 449), Artrip (CRK 442), several riffles and runs below Carterton (CRK 417), upstream of Mill Island (CRK 389.5), and Pendleton Island (CRK 365), and Speers Ferry (CRK 333-325). Potential locations for habitat restoration projects and additional monitoring were also identified.en
dc.description.degreeMaster of Scienceen
dc.format.mediumETDen
dc.identifier.otheretd-04032003-102740en
dc.identifier.sourceurlhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-04032003-102740en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/10055en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.relation.haspartthesis-etd3.pdfen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectrainbow musselen
dc.subjectClinch Riveren
dc.subjectoystermusselen
dc.subjectMusselen
dc.subjectEcological risk assessmenten
dc.subjectPropagationen
dc.subjectUnionidaeen
dc.subjectwavyrayed lampmusselen
dc.titlePropagation of Juvenile Freshwater Mussels (Bivalvia: Unionidae) and Assessment of Habitat Suitability for Restoration of Mussels in the Clinch River, Virginiaen
dc.typeThesisen
thesis.degree.disciplineFisheries and Wildlife Sciencesen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Scienceen

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
thesis-etd3.pdf
Size:
6.22 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Download

Collections

Masters Theses