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Diversity
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Freshwater Mollusk Conservation
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Freshwater Mollusk Conservation

A special issue of Diversity (ISSN 1424-2818). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Diversity".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 February 2021) | Viewed by 26991

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Russell Minton

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Gannon University, Erie, PA, USA
Interests: molecular ecology; freshwater gastropods; conservation; phylogenetics; taxonomy

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Freshwater ecosystems are among the most threatened on the planet. Anthropogenic activities, including habitat modification, pollution, introduction of invasive species, and exploitation of natural resources, have led to a major biodiversity crisis. Freshwater mollusks represent a diverse, ubiquitous fauna facing these conservation challenges. The IUCN Red List (February 2020) includes nearly 500 species of freshwater gastropods and over 120 species of freshwater bivalves whose statuses are extinct, critically endangered, or endangered. Effective conservation efforts rely on data-driven approaches to understanding and managing these taxa, as well as disseminating the results of such studies. This Special Issue will provide an outlet for highlighting new research and advances in mollusk conservation, with an eye toward protecting and preserving freshwater environments. Submissions dealing with all aspects of freshwater mollusk conservation at any scale are invited. Of special interest are manuscripts that combine morphological and molecular approaches to place imperiled species in modern systematic and taxonomic frameworks; fill data gaps regarding species’ life history, diversity, and distribution in under-sampled geographical areas; and improve communications between researchers and those charged with undertaking conservation efforts.

Dr. Russell Minton
Guest Editor

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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16 pages, 1239 KiB  
Article
Long-Term Monitoring Reveals Differential Responses of Mussel and Host Fish Communities in a Biodiversity Hotspot
by Irene Sanchez Gonzalez, Garrett W. Hopper, Jamie Bucholz and Carla L. Atkinson
Diversity 2021, 13(3), 122; https://doi.org/10.3390/d13030122 - 12 Mar 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3767
Abstract
Biodiversity hotspots can serve as protected areas that aid in species conservation. Long-term monitoring of multiple taxonomic groups within biodiversity hotspots can offer insight into factors influencing their dynamics. Mussels (Bivalvia: Unionidae) and fish are highly diverse and imperiled groups of organisms with [...] Read more.
Biodiversity hotspots can serve as protected areas that aid in species conservation. Long-term monitoring of multiple taxonomic groups within biodiversity hotspots can offer insight into factors influencing their dynamics. Mussels (Bivalvia: Unionidae) and fish are highly diverse and imperiled groups of organisms with contrasting life histories that should influence their response to ecological factors associated with local and global change. Here we use historical and contemporary fish and mussel survey data to assess fish and mussel community changes over a 33 year period (1986–2019) and relationships between mussel abundance and their host fish abundance in Bogue Chitto Creek, a tributary of the Alabama River and a biodiversity hotspot. Mussel abundance declined by ~80% and community composition shifted, with eight species previously recorded not found in 2019, and a single individual of the endangered Pleurobema decisum. Fish abundances increased and life history strategies in the community appeared stable and there was no apparent relationship between mussel declines and abundance of host fish. Temporal variation in the proportion of life history traits composing mussel assemblages was also indicative of the disturbances specifically affecting the mussel community. However, changes and declines in mussel assemblages in Bogue Chitto Creek cannot be firmly attributed to any specific factor or events because of gaps in historical environmental and biological data. We believe that mobility differences contributed to differential responses of fish and mussel communities to stressors including habitat degradation, recent droughts and invasive species. Overall, our work indicates that monitoring biodiversity hotspots using hydrological measurements, standardized survey methods and monitoring invasive species abundance would better identify the effects of multiple and interactive stressors that impact disparate taxonomic groups in freshwater ecosystems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Freshwater Mollusk Conservation)
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21 pages, 2436 KiB  
Article
Variation in Assemblages of Freshwater Mussels Downstream of Dams and Dam Removals in the Lake Michigan Basin, Michigan, USA
by Shaughn E. Barnett and Daelyn A. Woolnough
Diversity 2021, 13(3), 119; https://doi.org/10.3390/d13030119 - 12 Mar 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3391
Abstract
Impacts of barriers, including dam removals, on aquatic diversity are poorly understood. We assessed freshwater mussel assemblages and microhabitat downstream of uncontrolled and controlled low-head dams and low-head dam removals in Michigan, USA. The objectives of this study were to quantify whether downstream [...] Read more.
Impacts of barriers, including dam removals, on aquatic diversity are poorly understood. We assessed freshwater mussel assemblages and microhabitat downstream of uncontrolled and controlled low-head dams and low-head dam removals in Michigan, USA. The objectives of this study were to quantify whether downstream mussel assemblages and microhabitat parameters differ by anthropogenic barrier and along a downstream gradient, and to determine parameters that were predictors of mussel diversity and density. Sampling consisted of standardized timed-searches and quadrat excavations. Results suggest that areas downstream of dams had higher mussel diversity than dam removals, and mussel assemblages differed along a downstream gradient for uncontrolled and controlled dams. Indicator Species Analyses determined mussel species representative of downstream river reaches from uncontrolled low-head dams and removals. Predictor variables for mussel assemblages included substrate classes and total suspended solids. Controlled dams contained the least fine substrates (%) and highest coarse substrates (%) in downstream reaches. This study suggests that rivers with uncontrolled low-head dams and removals provide downstream habitat that support viable mussel assemblages. Results from this study also suggest that evidence of mussel assemblage recovery following dam removal may take many years. Quantification of barrier-related impacts, as shown in this study, are imperative to guide conservation of aquatic fauna. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Freshwater Mollusk Conservation)
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11 pages, 1080 KiB  
Article
Inventory and Assemblage Classification of the Freshwater Mussels (Mollusca: Unionidae) of the Strawberry River, Arkansas, USA, with Implications for Conservation Planning
by Alan D. Christian, Sean T. McCanty, Sujata Poudel, Steve W.A. Chordas and John L. Harris
Diversity 2021, 13(2), 86; https://doi.org/10.3390/d13020086 - 18 Feb 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2313
Abstract
Spatial hierarchical approaches to classify freshwater systems can add to our understanding of biogeographical patterns and can be used for biodiversity conservation planning. The Strawberry River is located primarily in the Ozark Highlands Central Plateau of north central Arkansas, USA, with a small [...] Read more.
Spatial hierarchical approaches to classify freshwater systems can add to our understanding of biogeographical patterns and can be used for biodiversity conservation planning. The Strawberry River is located primarily in the Ozark Highlands Central Plateau of north central Arkansas, USA, with a small downstream portion in the Mississippi Alluvial Plain and has been designated an Extraordinary Resource Water, an Ecologically Sensitive Water Body, and a Natural Scenic Waterway. The goals of this study were to document Strawberry River, Arkansas freshwater mussels to aid in conservation planning. Our first objective was to inventory freshwater mussel species in the Strawberry River. Our second objective was to use this stream-wide dataset to classify the freshwater mussel assemblages. We used unpublished survey data of 59 sites distributed from the headwaters to the mouth to inventory species occurrence and abundance, classified mussel assemblages using non-metric multi-dimensional scaling (NMS), and conducted indicator species analysis on resulting assemblages. We observed 39 taxa across the 59 survey sites including two S1, five S2, 16 S3, 11 S4, four S5, and one state non-ranked conservation rank species. Furthermore, our assemblage NMS revealed two distinct freshwater mussel assemblages roughly organized by an upstream (Sites 1–31) to downstream (Sites 32–59) gradient. There were five upstream indicator species and 13 downstream indicator species. This study provides a case study on using existing datasets with NMS and indicator species analyses to classify mussel assemblages and adds to our understanding of freshwater mussel fauna classification at smaller spatial scales. Both NMS and indicator species outcomes can aid in conservation planning for freshwater mussels. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Freshwater Mollusk Conservation)
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30 pages, 4515 KiB  
Article
Phylogenetic Assessment of Freshwater Mussels Castalia ambigua and C. inflata at an Ecotone in the Paraguay River Basin, Brazil Shows That Inflated and Compressed Shell Morphotypes Are the Same Species
by Miluska Olivera-Hyde, Eric Hallerman, Rogério Santos, Jess Jones, Brianne Varnerin, Guilherme da Cruz Santos Neto, Maria Cristina Mansur, Priscilla Moraleco and Claudia Callil
Diversity 2020, 12(12), 481; https://doi.org/10.3390/d12120481 - 16 Dec 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3225
Abstract
The phylogeny and taxonomy of freshwater mussels of the genus Castalia in South America is complicated by issues of morphological plasticity and limited molecular genetic data. We present field data on the distributions of the nominal Castalia ambigua and C. inflata in the [...] Read more.
The phylogeny and taxonomy of freshwater mussels of the genus Castalia in South America is complicated by issues of morphological plasticity and limited molecular genetic data. We present field data on the distributions of the nominal Castalia ambigua and C. inflata in the upper Paraguay River basin in Brazil based on original occurrence data at 23 sample sites and on historical records. The upper basin has distinct highland and lowland regions, the latter including the Pantanal wetland, where “C. ambigua” occurs in the highlands and “C. inflata” occurs in both regions. At Baixo Stream in the highlands, we observed individuals with shell morphologies of either C. ambigua or C. inflata, and also individuals with intermediate shell morphology. DNA sequence variation in the upland Baixo Stream and two representative lowland populations were screened. Two mitochondrial and three nuclear genes were sequenced to test hypotheses regarding the number of species-level phylogenetic lineages present. Reported individual DNA sequences from Amazon-basin C. ambigua and other Castalia and outgroup species were included in the analysis as outgroups. Individuals from the Paraguay River basin exhibited 17 haplotypes at the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene and nine at mitochondrial 16S rRNA. Analysis of haplotype networks and phylogenetic trees of combined COI + 16S rRNA sequences among individuals with the respective shell morphologies supported the hypothesis that C. ambigua and C. inflata from the Paraguay River basin belong to the same species and one phylogenetic lineage. No variation was observed at the nuclear 18S rRNA internal transcribed spacer, 28S rRNA, or H3NR histone genes among individuals used in this study. Across all markers, less variation was observed among Paraguay basin populations than between Paraguay and Amazon basin populations. Our results collectively suggest that: (1) “C. ambigua”, “C. inflata”, and morphologically intermediate individuals within the upper Paraguay drainage represent one phylogenetic lineage, (2) a phylogeographic divide exists between Castalia populations occurring in the Paraguay and Amazon River basins, and (3) the evolutionary and taxonomic uncertainties that we have identified among Castalia species should be thoroughly assessed across their distribution using both morphological and molecular characters. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Freshwater Mollusk Conservation)
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12 pages, 1777 KiB  
Article
Morphometric Analyses Distinguish Wabash Pigtoe (Fusconaia flava) and Round Pigtoe (Pleurobema sintoxia) Mussels
by Julia A. Willsie, Todd J. Morris and David T. Zanatta
Diversity 2020, 12(9), 337; https://doi.org/10.3390/d12090337 - 3 Sep 2020
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3737
Abstract
Wabash Pigtoe, Fusconaia flava, and the related Round Pigtoe, Pleurobema sintoxia, are freshwater mussels (Bivalvia: Unionidae: Pleurobemini) native to the Great Lakes region of North America. Fusconaia flava is considered widespread and relatively common while P. sintoxia is considered an imperiled [...] Read more.
Wabash Pigtoe, Fusconaia flava, and the related Round Pigtoe, Pleurobema sintoxia, are freshwater mussels (Bivalvia: Unionidae: Pleurobemini) native to the Great Lakes region of North America. Fusconaia flava is considered widespread and relatively common while P. sintoxia is considered an imperiled species. These species are similar in shell shape and coloration and have confounded many freshwater malacologists, resulting in frequent misidentifications. We sought to determine if morphometric analyses could be used to reliably distinguish between these species. Two hundred and forty-six specimens were collected from rivers in Michigan and Ontario. For each specimen, a preliminary identification was made, shell measurements and foot color (orange or white) were documented, and photos of the left shell valve were taken. A genetic sample was taken from 133 specimens for cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) barcoding. COI sequences were used for species identification by comparing to sequences on GenBank. Twenty-one digitized landmarks along the outline of the left valve were analyzed and compared to the results of the DNA barcoding. Landmark data correctly assigned 99.2% of specimens to their DNA-confirmed species identity, compared to 82.0% accuracy of field identifications and 77.0% accuracy for foot color. The creation of a DNA-confirmed morphometric database will aid freshwater malacologists across the Great Lakes region in differentiating between these species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Freshwater Mollusk Conservation)
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21 pages, 1308 KiB  
Article
A Comparative Phylogeographic Approach to Facilitate Recovery of an Imperiled Freshwater Mussel (Bivalvia: Unionida: Potamilus inflatus)
by Chase H. Smith and Nathan A. Johnson
Diversity 2020, 12(7), 281; https://doi.org/10.3390/d12070281 - 17 Jul 2020
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4023
Abstract
North American freshwaters are among the world’s most threatened ecosystems, and freshwater mussels are among the most imperiled inhabiting these systems. A critical aspect of conservation biology is delineating patterns of genetic diversity, which can be difficult when a taxon has been extirpated [...] Read more.
North American freshwaters are among the world’s most threatened ecosystems, and freshwater mussels are among the most imperiled inhabiting these systems. A critical aspect of conservation biology is delineating patterns of genetic diversity, which can be difficult when a taxon has been extirpated from a significant portion of its historical range. In such cases, evaluating conservation and recovery options may benefit by using surrogate species as proxies when assessing overall patterns of genetic diversity. Here, we integrate the premise of surrogate species into a comparative phylogeographic framework to hypothesize genetic relationships between extant and extirpated populations of Potamilus inflatus by characterizing genetic structure in co-distributed congeners with similar life histories and dispersal capabilities. Our mitochondrial and nuclear sequence data exhibited variable patterns of genetic divergence between Potamilus spp. native to the Mobile and Pascagoula + Pearl + Pontchartrain (PPP) provinces. However, hierarchical Approximate Bayesian Computation indicated that the diversification between Mobile and PPP clades was synchronous and represents a genetic signature of a common history of vicariance. Recent fluctuations in sea-level appear to have caused Potamilus spp. in the PPP to form a single genetic cluster, providing justification for using individuals from the Amite River as a source of brood stock to re-establish extirpated populations of P. inflatus. Future studies utilizing eDNA and genome-wide molecular data are essential to better understand the distribution of P. inflatus and establish robust recovery plans. Given the imperilment status of freshwater mussels globally, our study represents a useful methodology for predicting relationships among extant and extirpated populations of imperiled species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Freshwater Mollusk Conservation)
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12 pages, 6991 KiB  
Perspective
Taxonomy, Conservation, and the Future of Native Aquatic Snails in the Hawaiian Islands
by Carl C. Christensen, Kenneth A. Hayes and Norine W. Yeung
Diversity 2021, 13(5), 215; https://doi.org/10.3390/d13050215 - 18 May 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 4722
Abstract
Freshwater systems are among the most threatened habitats in the world and the biodiversity inhabiting them is disappearing quickly. The Hawaiian Archipelago has a small but highly endemic and threatened group of freshwater snails, with eight species in three families (Neritidae, Lymnaeidae, and [...] Read more.
Freshwater systems are among the most threatened habitats in the world and the biodiversity inhabiting them is disappearing quickly. The Hawaiian Archipelago has a small but highly endemic and threatened group of freshwater snails, with eight species in three families (Neritidae, Lymnaeidae, and Cochliopidae). Anthropogenically mediated habitat modifications (i.e., changes in land and water use) and invasive species (e.g., Euglandina spp., non-native sciomyzids) are among the biggest threats to freshwater snails in Hawaii. Currently, only three species are protected either federally (U.S. Endangered Species Act; Erinna newcombi) or by Hawaii State legislation (Neritona granosa, and Neripteron vespertinum). Here, we review the taxonomic and conservation status of Hawaii’s freshwater snails and describe historical and contemporary impacts to their habitats. We conclude by recommending some basic actions that are needed immediately to conserve these species. Without a full understanding of these species’ identities, distributions, habitat requirements, and threats, many will not survive the next decade, and we will have irretrievably lost more of the unique books from the evolutionary library of life on Earth. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Freshwater Mollusk Conservation)
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