Host Identification and Glochidia Morphology of Freshwater Mussels from the Altamaha River Basin
2012
Johnson, Jennifer A. | Wisniewski, Jason M. | Fritts, Andrea K. | Bringolf, Robert B.
Recovery of imperiled freshwater mussels requires knowledge of suitable host fishes and other early life-history traits. We provide quantitative host information for 6 mussel species from the Altamaha River Basin, GA, 3 of which previously had no host information. Glochidia of Alasmidonta arcula (Altamaha Arcmussel) metamorphosed on 2 species of suckers (Moxostoma spp.); Elliptio hopetonensis (Altamaha Slabshell) on Lepomis macrochirus (Bluegill), Pimephales promelas (Fathead Minnow), and Micropterus salmoides (Largemouth Bass); E. shepardiana (Altamaha Lance) on 2 species of Bullheads (Ameiurus spp.) and L. macrochirus; Lampsilis dolabraeformis (Altamaha Pocketbook) on Bluegill and Largemouth Bass; and L. splendida (Rayed Pink Fatmucket) and Villosa delumbis (Eastern Creekshell) on Largemouth Bass. We also provide descriptions of glochidia morphology for the above mussel species and E. spinosa (Altamaha Spinymussel). Glochidia were correctly identified to species in 88.7% of cases by discriminant function analysis of 3 shell dimensions. Glochidia morphology may be useful for identification of glochidia attached to wild fish, thereby providing additional host information.
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