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https://hdl.handle.net/11681/25526| Title: | Physical effects of increased commercial navigation traffic on freshwater mussels in the Upper Mississippi River : Phase 1 studies |
| Authors: | Miller, Andrew C. Payne, Barry S. Hornbach, Daniel J. Ragland, Daniel V. |
| Keywords: | Inland navigation--Environmental aspects Freshwater mussels--Mississippi River--Ecology Locks (Hydraulic engineering)--Environmental aspects Mississippi River--Effect of dams on |
| Publisher: | Environmental Laboratory (U.S.) U.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station. |
| Series/Report no.: | Technical Report;EL-90-3 |
| Abstract: | Baseline data on freshwater mussels (Mollusca:Unionidae) were collected at productive mussel beds in the upper Mississippi River from 1987 to 1989. This study, funded by the US Army Engineer District, St. Louis, was initiiated to determine if increased commercial navigation traffic resulting from completion of the Melvin Price Locks and Dam near Alton, IL, would affect freshwater mussels. In 1987-88, a total of 667 incremental qualitative samples were obtained between river mile (RM) 233 and 708, and 10 to 30 quantitative (0.25-m²) samples were obtained at RM 299.6, 389.5, 409.5, 433.3, 450.4, 504.7, and 635.0. Subsequent intensive sampling (1989-94) will be conducted at a minimum of four beds to determine the effects of commercial navigation traffic on density, relative species abundance, species richness, size demography of dominant species, physical condition, and presence of uncommon or endangered species (especially Lampsilis higginsi). Cumulative species was related to the logarithm of cumulative individuals; there were no substantial differences in this relationship with respect to RM or sampling technique (qualitative versus quantitative). There were significant differences in total biomass and substantial differences in relative species abundance between nearshore (characterized by comparatively finer sediments, shallower depths, and reduced water velocity) and offshore sites. Total density was higher at four nearshore sites (44.0 ±11.2 to 333.2 ±215.8 standard deviations (±SD) individuals/m²) than at four offshore sites (23.6 ±12.7 to 137.2 ±50.6 individuals/m², F - 14.24, P - 0.0001). No specific trends in shell rnorphometrics (shell mass versus shell length and tissue dry mass versus shell length) were apparent with respect to RM, although interpool differences were found. |
| URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/11681/25526 |
| Appears in Collections: | Technical Report |
Files in This Item:
| File | Description | Size | Format | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TR EL-90-3.pdf | 5.74 MB | Adobe PDF |  View/Open |