the dwarf wedgemussel , scientific name alasmidonta heterodon , is an endangered species of freshwater mussel , an aquatic bivalve mollusk in the family unionidae , the river mussels .

dwarf wedgemussel

avoid the use of pesticides and fertilizers within 500 feet of dwarf wedgemussel populations .
maximum age for the dwarf wedgemussel is around twelve years . the species is a
dwarf wedgemussel - new jersey field office - u . s . fish & wildlife service
avoid locating surface or groundwater withdrawls upstream or up - gradient of dwarf wedgemussel populations .
avoid in - water work within 1 , 000 feet of dwarf wedgemussel populations . initiate early coordination with the service for in - water work anywhere upstream of dwarf wedgemussel populations .
do not locate fill or buildings within the 100 - year floodplain of dwarf wedgemussel streams .
avoid permanent or temporary changes to the hydrology of dwarf wedgemussel streams . maintain the natural predevelopment hydrograph .
massachusetts natural heritage and endangered species program . 2009 . dwarf wedgemussel ( alasmidonta heterodon ) . westborough , ma .
using only native plant species and weed - free mulches and soils for landscaping within 500 feet of dwarf wedgemussel streams .
avoid new road and underground utility crossings within 1 , 000 feet downstream and 1 mile upstream of dwarf wedgemussel populations . initiate early coordination with the service if existing road or utility crossings must be replaced near or upstream of dwarf wedgemussel populations .
u . s . fish and wildlife service . 1993 . dwarf wedgemussel recovery plan . hadley , ma . 48 pp .
do not store or mix pesticides , fertilizers or other potential pollutants within 500 feet of streams upstream of dwarf wedgemussel populations .
provide at least 150 - foot upland buffers of native , woody vegetation > 1 mile upstream of dwarf wedgemussel populations , including tributaries .
initiate early coordination with the service for any new or modified sewage or waste water treatment projects up - gradient of dwarf wedgemussel populations .
dwarf wedgemussel .
beacham ' s guide to the endangered species of north america . . retrieved july 09 , 2018 from urltoken urltoken
dwarf mussel , dwarf wedgemussels , northern woodlands , the outside story , wellborn ecology fund of the new hampshire charitable foundation .
avoid stormwater or waste water discharges - including to groundwater - that are likely to cause any measurable degradation of water quality in dwarf wedgemussel streams .
avoid the use of broad - spectrum pesticides within 1 mile upstream of dwarf wedgemussel populations , within 1 , 000 feet from top of bank .
initiate early coordination with the service if existing road or utility crossings must be maintained , repaired or upgraded near or upstream of dwarf wedgemussel populations .
is bluish - white , appearing whiter in the thickened anterior end . the most distinctive shell character of the dwarf wedgemussel is the arrangement of the
avoid direct stream modifications upstream or downstream of dwarf wedgemussel populations ( e . g . , channelizing , diverting , stabilizing , impounding , dredging ) .
u . s . fish and wildlife service . 2007 . dwarf wedgemussel alasmidonta heterodon 5 year review : summary and evaluation . concord , new hampshire .
new hampshire fish and game . 2006 . new hampshire wildlife action plan : appendix a : species profiles – invertebrates . dwarf wedgemussel . concord , nh .
in new jersey , the dwarf wedgemussel historically inhabited areas of the delaware , hackensack , and passaic rivers . these populations , however , are thought to be
once known from about 70 atlantic slope river systems , the dwarf wedgemussel is now known from only 12 sites . two of these populations have recently been discovered
) described the dwarf wedgemussel . the name is appropriate as shells rarely exceed 45 mm in length . clean young shells are usually greenish - brown with green
distribution in new jersey : the dwarf wedgemussel occurs in sussex and warren counties . the species formerly occurred in morris , essex , bergen , and mercer counties .
dwarf wedgemussel .
beacham ' s guide to the endangered species of north america . . encyclopedia . com . ( july 9 , 2018 ) . urltoken
the glochidia of the species are parasitic on its fish host . once an adult , the dwarf wedgemussel is a filter feeder , feeding on phytoplankton and detritous .
threats to the dwarf wedgemussel include direct habitat destruction from damming and channelizing of rivers , and indirect degradation of habitat due to pollution , sedimentation , invasion by exotic species , and fluctuations in water level or temperature . freshwater mussels , including the dwarf wedgemussel , are sensitive to potassium , zinc , copper , cadmium , and other elements associated with industrial pollution . industrial , agricultural , and domestic pollution are largely responsible for the disappearance of the dwarf wedgemussel from much of the species’ historic range .
do not locate any new sewer lines within the 100 - year floodplain of dwarf wedgemussel streams , or within 50 feet of wetlands associated with the 100 - year floodplain .
the dwarf wedgemussel inhabits creek and river areas with a slow to moderate current and a sand , gravel , or muddy bottom . these areas must be nearly silt free .
windsor , b . 2012 .
dwarf wedgemussel
( on - line ) . u . s . fish & wildlife service . accessed july 06 , 2012 at urltoken .
find out more about the dwarf wedgemussel and be aware of human - induced threats . get involved with the habitat stewardship program for species at risk ( hsp ) or another conservation organization .
when the clayton bypass was under consideration for construction in the early 2000s , the dwarf wedgemussel was also a concern for the connection between interstate 40 and u . s . 70 business in johnston county .
canada department of fisheries and oceans . 2007 . recovery strategy for the dwarf wedgemussel ( alasmidonta heterodon ) in canada . species at risk act recovery strategy series . department of fisheries and oceans , ottawa .
n . c . natural heritage program . 2001 . guide to federally listed endangered and threatened species of north carolina : dwarf wedgemussel . nc department of environment and natural resources , raleigh , nc . page 61 .
fun fact : dwarf wedgemussels spend their larval stages attached to the gills of a fish host .
“one of the things we ought to be concerned about , because the dwarf wedgemussel is so sensitive to changes in water quality , we have to remember that it is the same water people are drinking , ” jordan said . “so if dwarf wedgemussels are dying from pollutants , those are the same pollutants people are drinking . ”
a century ago the dwarf wedgemussel lived in at least 70 locations in 15 major watersheds along the atlantic , from new brunswick to north carolina . now this small mussel is extirpated from canada and found in only nine american watersheds .
the dwarf wedgemussel occurs on muddy sand , sand , and gravel bottoms in creeks and rivers of various sizes . in parts of the range , dwarf wedgemussels also occur in clay banks and small riffle areas . this species requires areas with a slow to moderate current , little silt deposition , and well - oxygenated , unpolluted water .
use secondary containment structures around chemical / fuel storage tanks and buildings within watersheds that support dwarf wedgemussels .
short life spans , low fecundity , high degree of host specificity , limited dispersal ability of its primary host , low population densities , coupled with the threats facing the species , likely all contribute to the endangered status of the dwarf wedgemussel .
since the dwarf wedgemussel was first discovered in swift creek in 1991 , biologists have noticed their decline . biologists often conduct surveys every few years by looking underwater through buckets , or scuba dive and feel for them on the bottom of streams .
young dwarf wedgemussels are often consumed by birds , such as ducks and herons . young mussels are also eaten by fish . mature dwarf wedgemussels can be consumed by some mammals , such as raccoons and muskrats .
of the dwarf wedgemussel ranges from muddy sand to sand and gravel / pebble bottoms in rivers and creeks with slow to moderate current . favoring clean and relatively shallow water with little silt deposition , this species is known to co - occur with other freshwater mussels such as the eastern elliptio , triangle floater , creeper , eastern floater , and eastern lampmussel . host fish species identified as suitable hosts for the dwarf wedgemussel that occur in new jersey include the tessellated darter , mottled sculpin and slimy sculpin .
always adhere to pesticide label restrictions for use near aquatic habitat , especially in watersheds that support dwarf wedgemussels .
the dwarf wedgemussel resembles an oyster with its shell , but they are smaller in size and live in freshwater habitats . their shells are between 25 to 38 millimeters . its numbers are low and continue to decrease , a reason it is considered federally endangered .
due in part to habitat destruction and interruption of fish hosts , the dwarf wedgemussel has suffered population losses throughout the northeast and mid - atlantic region in the last century . its small size and coincidental association with trout streams make this species subject to trampling .
michaelson , d . l . and neves , r . j . 1995 . life history and habitat of the endangered dwarf wedgemussel alasmidonta heterodon ( bivalvia : unionidae ) . journal of the north american benthological society 14 ( 2 ) : 324 - 340 .
species range : the dwarf wedgemussel is found in ten states from new hampshire to north carolina . the species is currently known to occur in 15 major drainages , comprising approximately 70 sites . ( a site can have multiple occurrences within a stretch of river . )
div . of wildlife , nj dept . of env . protection , 2004 .
dwarf wedgemussel - august species of the month
( on - line ) . new jersey department of environmental protection , division of wildlife . accessed july 06 , 2012 at urltoken .
one of the many reasons the “red route” was developed was because it is in an area that would not impact the dwarf wedgemussel , a federally protected species , which lives in the swift creek watershed , eric midkiff , a n . c . dot project manager said .
dwarf wedgemussels are usually found in waters with slow to moderate current that have muddy sand to sand and gravel substrate .
minimize pesticide and fertilizer use , and implement the highest standards for controlling agricultural runoff , within watersheds that support dwarf wedgemussels .
the dwarf wedgemussel could once be found from new brunswick , canada in the north to north carolina in the south . today however , this species is only found at 30 small sites in new hampshire , vermont , maryland , north carolina , new york , connecticut , virginia , and new jersey .
u . s . fish and wildlife service . 1993 . dwarf wedge mussel ( alasmidonta heterodon ) recovery plan . hadley , massachusetts .
freshwater mussels have proved extremely susceptible to human - caused disturbance , especially damming of rivers and channelling streams . in canada , a kilometer long causeway road likely led to the dwarf wedgemussel’s demise by impeding the fish passage of its fish host . without a fish host , the mussels were unable to complete their lifecycle .
implement the most strict standards for storage , transport , and handling of hazardous materials and other potential pollutants within watersheds that support dwarf wedgemussels .
maloney , k . o . , w . a . lellis , r . m . bennett , and t . j . waddle . 2012 . habitat persistence for sedentary organisms in managed rivers : the case for the federally endangered dwarf wedgemussel ( alasmidonta heterodon ) in the delaware river . freshwater biology 57 : 1315 - 1327 .
“mussels ,
i replied . my nephew’s eyebrows scrunched in mild displeasure ( sort of like yours are now ) because the joke was borderline funny , barely punny and the opposite of true . regardless , i had an opening to use some new - found knowledge about the dwarf wedgemussel , alasmidonta heterodon , so i forged ahead .
the creek drains into lake benson . the dwarf wedgemussels live downstream just southeast of lake benson and just south of n . c . 50 .
the dwarf wedgemussel ' s shell rarely exceeds 1 . 5 in ( 3 . 7 cm ) in length . it is also the only north american freshwater mussel that has two lateral teeth on the right valve , but only one on the left . the female ' s shell is inflated in the back where the marsupial gills are located .
the dwarf wedgemussel is a small , freshwater mussel that rarely exceeds 1 . 5 inches in length . it is the only atlantic slope freshwater bivalve ( two - shelled ) mussel in north america that has two lateral teeth on the right valve , but only one tooth on the left . the outer shell is dark brown or yellowish brown and often exhibits greenish rays in young mussels . the inner shell is bluish or silvery white . dwarf wedgemussels feed by filtering small particles from the water .
, was list as federally endangered on march 14 , 1990 . the dwarf wedgemussel was added to the federally endangered list primarily because of human impacts on its habitat and water quality . some factors include : agriculture , construction , pollution , silt deposits , low oxygen levels , water level fluctuation , temperature fluctuations , flooding , erosion , and siltation .
dwarf wedgemussels continue to live in small freshwater streams and medium - sized rivers in the eastern united states . they prefer bodies of water that have slow to moderate currents , with underlying sand , fine sediment or gravel substrates and streamside vegetation . waters clouded with suspended silt are inhabitable for dwarf wedgemussels .
it’s possible that further development and further pollution could wipe out the dwarf wedge mussel species entirely , without measures to protect the stream and the species .
mcknight , jonathan . may 1989 .
the dwarf wedge mussel .
bulletin of the maryland natural heritage program ( department of natural resources ) .
contact the service early in planning for any project or activity that may affect the dwarf wedgemussel or its habitat . see new jersey field office procedures for consultation and technical assistance for instructions . through the technical assistance or consultation processes of the endangered species act , the service will provide project - specific recommendations to avoid or minimize adverse effects to listed species .
siting recovery plan , u . s . fish and wildlife service . 1993 . dwarf wedge mussel , alasmidonta heterodon , hadley , massachusetts . 52 pp .
growth of the mussel is most rapid while it is young . the average age at which freshwater mussels become sexually mature is six years . once a freshwater mussel reaches maturity , its chances for survival increase dramatically . some species may live as long as 100 years or more . like most small mussels , however , the dwarf wedgemussel is rather short - lived ( approximately 15 years ) .
a typical dwarf wedgemussel is less than 5 . 5 centimetres long . like all mussels , it has two hinged shells enclosing a soft inside . its brown shell is oblong circular and may include yellowish - brown hues . the inside of its shell ranges from bluish to silvery - white , with an iridescent sheen in the back section . it is easy to overlook , as it tends to be half - buried in the river - bottom .
freshwater mussels are one of the most endangered groups of species on earth . of the 297 native freshwater mussel species in north america , 12 per cent went extinct in the last 100 years and almost 75 per cent are now in danger . the dwarf wedgemussel used to live in abundance in the petitcodiac river of new brunswick . but scientists believe the mussel disappeared from canada , sometime after a causeway road was built dissecting this estuary river in 1968 .
since 1968 , no dwarf wedgemussels have been found in canada , despite several attempts to locate them . in may 2000 , their canadian status was confirmed as extirpated ( extinct in canada ) .
the dwarf wedge mussel is found at 17 sites in seven atlantic coast drainages . these are located in new hampshire , vermont , connecticut , new york , maryland , virginia and north carolina .
acts , federal and state clean water acts , flood hazard area control act rules ( stream encroachment ) , and environmental reviews of proposed development projects . dwarf wedgemussels were listed as state endangered in late 2002 .
u . s . fish and wildlife service . 14 march 1990 .
de - termination of endangered status for the dwarf wedge mussel .
federal register , 55 ( 50 ) : 9447 - 9450 .
, has a discontinuous range on the atlantic coast of the united states . twenty - four populations of dwarf wedgemussels are found within 12 states from maine to north carolina . this species may have occurred in canada but is likely extirpated .
provide adequate upland buffers on stream segments supporting dwarf wedgemussels and within 1 mile upstream , including tributaries . preserve and restore at least 300 - foot native hardwood or mixed forest riparian buffers . a site - specific buffer design is often necessary .
dwarf wedgemussel females carry eggs in their gills and receive sperm ( released from males ) through the gills . after eggs have been fertilized , they develop into parasitic bivalved larvae called glochidia . the time needed to develop from fertilized eggs to glochia is unknown . the newly formed glochidia are released from the female and into the water where they need to attach to a host fish to survive . the glochidia develop into juveniles while attached to a host . after metamorphosis , a juvenile mussel will be sloughed from its host , where it further develops on the stream / river bottom .
minimize impervious surface , maximize stormwater infiltration , and implement other low impact design techniques from the new jersey stormwater best management practices manual in watersheds supporting dwarf wedgemussels . work with the service in the design and location of any unavoidable point discharges of stormwater .
design and implement emergency management procedures for the containment and clean up of any leaks or spills of waste water or pollutants within watersheds that support dwarf wedgemussels . report leaks or spills to the new jersey department of environmental protection and to the service immediately .
the dwarf wedgemussel is a long term brooder that spawns in late summer and then becomes gravid in the fall and releases the glochidia anywhere from late march to early june . starting around august , the males release their sperm into the water which is then carried towards the females . the females take the sperm in through their gills and they fertilize the eggs . once fertilized , the eggs are held in the marsupia of the female which becomes swollen and dark when occupied . the eggs are held in the marsupia and recieve parental care through the winter until they are ready to be released as glochida anywhere from march to june .
dwarf wedgemussels are protected under the federal species at risk act ( sara ) and the federal fisheries act which prohibits destruction of fish habitat . however , the species is extirpated in canada and given the current petitcodiac river conditions , recovery is likely not feasible at this time .
many mussels have lifespans that range upwards of 20 , 30 or even 100 years . the dwarf wedge mussel is considerably different in this regard , though , as it appears to only live about 10 years . adults must therefore be constantly replaced to maintain a viable population .
michaleson , d . l . 1993 . life history of the endangered dwarf wedge mussel , alasmidonta heterodon ( lea , 1829 ) ( pelecypoda : unionidae ) , in the tar river , north carolina and aquia creek , virginia . m . s . thesis , virginia tech . univ . 122 pp .
eaton , l . e . , s . l . von oettingen and k . c . carr . 1991 . contaminant analysis of dwarf wedge mussel ( alasmidonta heterodon ) habitat in new england . u . s . f . w . s . , new england field office , concord , new hampshire . 50 pp .
the dwarf wedge mussel is a small freshwater mussel that rarely exceeds 1 . 5 inches ( 38 mm ) in length . it is brown or yellowish - brown in color . adult mussels are filter - feeders , feeding on algae and other small suspended particles . they spend most of their time buried almost completely in the bottom of streams and rivers .
this mussel was once found at 70 locations in 15 major atlantic coast drainages . its numbers have declined drastically ; most populations that remain number in the 100 ' s . the two exceptions are the lower neversink river in orange county , where there appears to be at least ten thousand if not tens of thousands of dwarf wedge mussels , and the tar river in north carolina .
typical habitat for this mussel includes running waters of all sizes , from small brooks to large rivers . bottom substrates include silt , sand and gravel , which may be distributed in relatively small patches behind larger cobbles and boulders . the river velocity is usually slow to moderate . dwarf wedge mussels appear to select or are at least tolerant of relatively low levels of calcium in the water .
studies by the institute of ecosystem studies at millbrook , new york and the nature conservancy are presently underway to better understand the habitat requirements of the dwarf wedge mussel . it is still largely unknown what determines the location of mussel beds on the river bottom . more detailed population surveys in the neversink river will be done to determine the age structure , distribution and size of the new york population . research will focus on potential threats to the mussels such as the effects of dams and agricultural practices .
individual dwarf wedgemussels are found in large rivers and small streams , often burrowed into clay banks among the root systems of trees . they may also be found associated with mixed substrates of cobble , gravel , and sand . occasionally they may be found in very soft silt substrates . stream banks are stable with extensive root system holding soils in place . the associated landscape is largely wooded , especially near streams . trees near the stream are relatively mature and tend to form a closed canopy over smaller streams , creeks , and headwater river habitats . water quality is good to excellent .
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it is possible that genetic analyses will split this species into more than one taxon ( bogan 2000 ) . based on the analysis of the gene sequences , bogan et al . ( 2008 ) have placed alasmidonta heterodon in a clade separate from the type species of alasmidonta , a . undulata . they argue for the elevation of the subgenus prolasmidonta ( ortmann , 1914 ) with the type species alasmidonta heterdon , to create prolasmidonta heterodon . a list of synonyms for this species can be found on the mussel project web site ( graf and cummings 2011 ) .
vulnerable b2ab ( i , ii , iii , iv ) ver 3 . 1
dyer , e . , soulsby , a . - m . , whitton , f . , mcguinness , s . , de silva , r . , milligan , h . t . , kasthala , g . , herdson , r . , thorley , j . , mcmillan , k . & collins , a .
justification : alasmidonta heterdon has been assessed as vulnerable . this species continues to be threatened throughout its range , although the threat level is generally more severe in southern areas . declining populations and loss of viable habitat in the southern portions of its range are not compensated for by the extensive , but geographically - limited populations found in new hampshire . decline has continued , especially over the last 10 years , and it is inferred that a . heterdon currently occupies only 20–25 % of the sites it once occupied , with populations severely fragmented . as a result , its area of occupancy is estimated as between 500 and 2 , 000 km² , thus qualifying the species for a vulnerable listing . without significant recovery activities targeted at southern populations , there is a real possibility of further range contraction .
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sarah mcrae , fish and wildlife biologist , 919 - 856 - 4520 ext . 16
u . s . fish and wildlife service home page | department of the interior | urltoken | about the u . s . fish and wildlife service | accessibility | privacy | notices | disclaimer | foia
the following is provided as technical assistance only and is not intended as a comprehensive list of all activities that may affect this species .
any stream modification ( e . g . , channelizing , diverting , stabilizing , impounding , dredging )
use of pesticides ( e . g . , herbicides , fungicides , insecticides , rodenticides ) or fertilizers , or releases of other environmental contaminants
intensive or wide - spread use of pesticides ( e . g . , herbicides , fungicides , insecticides , rodenticides )
the following best management practices are examples of typical conservation measures frequently recommended by the new jersey field office in the course of consultation or technical assistance .
design replacement bridges and culverts in accordance with state requirements for class a waters ( see the new jersey flood hazard area control act rules at n . j . a . c . 7 : 13 - 11 . 7 ) .
eliminate deck drains on new bridges if possible . work with the service in the design and location of bridge drainage outlets .
use granular material in all fill areas immediately adjacent to the bridge to reduce sediment reaching the stream .
implement the society for protective coatings’ class 1 emission control / containment system standards for structural recoating .
dismantle existing bridges from the top down . do not allow any debris to reach the stream .
work with the service in the selection of utility installation methods ( e . g . , directional drill , open cut ) .
avoid grubbing within 50 feet of the stream . conduct unavoidable clearing by hand wherever feasible .
direct any liquid drainage away from the stream , or design a self - containment system for liquid drainage .
do not locate , store or stage fill material , construction causeways , or construction equipment in the stream . locate construction staging areas at least 150 feet from the stream bank .
use care in the transport and placement of fill material to avoid accidental releases into the stream .
keep motor fuels , lubricants , and other potential pollutants at least 100 feet from the stream .
individual landowners with suitable habitat can also contact the service for site - specific , proactive conservation recommendations . most land in new jersey is privately owned . voluntary conservation efforts by new jersey ' s residents are critical in the conservation and recovery of threatened and endangered species .
new jersey field office northeast region ecological services northeast region home u . s . fish and wildlife service home page
when it lived in canada , it was limited to the petitcodiac river system in southeast new brunswick . but a kilometer long causeway road built across this river in 1968 , connecting moncton to riverview , likely led to its demise .
in addition , these freshwater mussels are sensitive to pesticide and metal contamination , as well as low oxygen levels , all more likely to occur in dammed rivers . declining populations of mussels in rivers and lakes is now considered an early indicator that pollution is interfering with the ecosystem .
several federal and provincial studies have recommended replacing parts of the causeway road on the petitcodiac river with a bridge . as of october , 2006 , this was still being considered .
when jeff swain , 72 , moved to the village of aversboro in garner with his wife in 2009 , he and the others who live in the fairly new neighborhood with nice single family homes , green grass and colorful flower beds , expected to be living there for a while .
but when the n . c . department of transportation needed alternatives to the orange route to complete the n . c . 540 outerloop , it drew a line through garner that went straight through many neighborhoods in the town , including the village of aversboro .
“we along the red route woke up one morning with great amazement to see there was a red line on the map , ” swain said .
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“of course the red route has its own problems , but it is an option that we are considering , ” he said .
north carolina is one of the few states where the particular species live , including new york , new hampshire , connecticut , vermont , maryland and virginia . more are found in the northern states .
biologists say the reason for their decline is because of water pollution and many other environmental factors that negatively affect streams .
in a memo to n . c . dot , biologists at u . s . fish and wildlife said they were concerned , not necessarily with the direct effects of the highway passing over the stream , but rather the indirect effects the highway would have on the species of mussels , such as future housing growth in the area that is likely to be a result of the highway .
“with new development you get new impervious surface , ” said gary jordan , a biologist for the u . s . fish and wildlife service . “whenever you have that you tend to get more degraded water quality in the watershed , bank erosion , more pollutants in the stream and more water run off . ”
the endangered species act of 1973 , passed by congress and signed into law by then president richard nixon , protects endangered fish and wildlife species . under section 7 of the law , it requires any federal action agency , in this case , the federal highway administration , to ensure that their action does not jeopardize the continued existence of any federally threatened or endangered species .
they can sometimes be hard to spot , because of their rarity and size . so there is no way of knowing how many there are , jordan said .
“they are a very cryptic species , ” jordan said . “anything i would tell you , somebody would argue with . for every one you find , there are probably many you would never find . ”
but biologists are finding and catching fewer each time they conduct the survey . they are trying to figure out ways to increase the species , but water pollution has played a major part in its decline .
“if there are adverse effects on the mussels , we need to be aware there could be adverse affects on humans and we need to address the problems . ”
“it’s not going to be possible for them to build it without adverse affects , ” jordan said . “but that doesn’t mean you can’t build it though . ”
the bypass did not cross swift creek but it did cross the watershed and tributaries to the stream . the tributaries flow into swift creek and the potential for further development in the area would have caused indirect affects similar to the ones biologist are concerned about with n . c . 540 .
but local ordinances between garner , clayton , wake county , and johnston county were passed to ensure the water quality stayed the same . buffers were built around area affected , and local governments put additional restrictions on what activities could occur in the watershed .
the u . s . fish and wildlife service gave dot the ok because they were satisfied with the conservation methods .
“for the complete 540 it is possible that n . c . dot and the federal highway administration may have sufficient conservations built in their project to allow the project to move forward , ” jordan said .
one possibility biologists at the u . s . fish and wildlife service are looking at is capturing a number of mussels and taking them to a laboratory setting to produce more of them .
“just a handful of them will produce a lot , because they produce thousands and thousands of young , ” jordan said . “the problem is the vast majority never survive very long in a wild type setting . but we can raise them in a laboratory type setting in ideal type conditions and produce quite a bit of them . ”
midkiff said all the proposed routes have their own problems . routes such as the orange one have the most environmental effects , while others such as the red route have the biggest human impacts . midkiff said dot is looking to choose an alternative that most balances those impacts .
“overall , in making the decision , it’s a consideration of all these issues , ” midkiff said . “it’s not an easy thing . ”
swain also serves as the president of the homeowners association at the village of aversboro . he said he and the residents of the neighborhood plan to go to the public meetings to learn more about what is happening .
n . c . dot will hold public input sessions monday and tuesday and a public hearing on wednesday .
he said he respects the fact that the mussels are a protected species and the wetlands also must be protected . however , he said the environmental study should have been conducted in the 1990s when dot first blocked off the path for the orange corridor .
monday , dec . 7 barwell road elementary school , 3925 barwell road . public meeting : 6 to 8 p . m .
tuesday , dec . 8 holly springs high school cafeteria , 5329 cass holt road . public meeting : 6 to 8 p . m .
wednesday , dec . 9 wake tech community college , student services building , 9101 fayetteville road . public meeting : 4 to 6 : 30 p . m . , hearing : 7 p . m
ospreys are an indicator species . the health of their population has implications for the health our coastal ecosystems .
( two shells hinged together ) shell rarely exceeding 1 . 5 in . in length . the outer shell , or epidermis , is dark brown or yellowish brown and often exhibits greenish rays in young mussels . the
because of water quality degradation and other factors . there are only four known active state occurrences of this elusive species ; the flat brook , paulins kill , pequest river , and a portion of the upper delaware river .
( microscopic plants and animals ) , bacteria and other particles from the water column . the larval stage of the freshwater mussel , known as glochidia , are external parasites and feed on a host ( usually a fish ) .
glochidia are microscopic and have a thin shell with two valves . once released from the female , glochidia must find a host ( usually a specific species of fish ) on which to attach . each species of freshwater mussel has its own specific species of fish that can serve as a host for the glochidia . the glochida effectively become a parasite on the fish , attaching to the gills , scales , fins or even eyes of the host fish . while attached to the fish , the glochidia feed on them , much like a flea or tick feeds on terrestrial mammals . if the glochidia do not attach themselves to a host fish , they will die .
mussel which looks like a much smaller version of the adult . after anywhere from 6 to 160 days , the juvenile mussel will fall off of the host fish and begin its life in the bottom of the water body . if the appropriate
is available , it will burrow into the bottom sediment . juvenile mussels spend their first year of life beneath the substrate .
although very slow - moving , freshwater mussels are capable of moving along the substrate using their powerful foot . a mussel “track” can sometimes be seen in the mud or sand next to a mussel which has recently moved . during the winter in new jersey , freshwater mussels will burrow into the sediment and enter a period of dormancy .
many small aquatic animals will feed on the mussel glochidia . adults may be eaten by raccoons , muskrats , otters , bears , herons , some waterfowl , some turtles , and large fish such as sturgeon .
in this century . meanwhile , 75 % of the remaining species are either rare or imperiled . this alarming decline is directly tied to the degradation and loss of essential habitat , and the invasion of exotic species such as the asian clam . exotic species compete for space and food with native mussels .
freshwater mussel species are currently being conducted each spring , summer , and fall . it is recommended that such surveys continue in order to determine special distributions , population sizes , and age distributions . threats to populations , such as barriers to host fish and glochidia movement , must also be further explored . sufficient buffer areas along streams should also be created and stream bank
efforts encouraged . lastly , protection classifications of streams with endangered and threatened freshwater mussel species should be upgraded in order to protect water quality .
text derived from the book , endangered and threatened wildlife of new jersey . 2003 . originally edited by bruce e . beans and larry niles . edited and updated jeanette bowers - altman and michael j . davenport in 2010 .
kingdom : animalia phylum : mollusca class : bivalvia order : unionoida family : unionidae genus : alasmidonta species : a . heterodon
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water pollution , including sediments and chemicals from agriculture and other development projects such as golf courses , have been implicated in the mussel ' s decline . also , impoundments and channelization may have eliminated the mussel from former habitat .
harman , w . n . 1974 . the effects of reservoir construction and canalization of the mollusks of the upper delaware watershed . bulletin of the american malacological union . 1973 : 12 - 14 .
havlik , m . e . and l . l . marking . 1987 . effects of contaminants on naiad mollusks ( unionidae ) : a review . u . s . d . i . , fish and wildlife service , resource publication 164 . washington , dc 20 pp .
strayer , d . l . and j . ralley . 1991 . the freshwater mussels ( bivalvia : unionidea ) of the upper delaware river drainage . american malacological bulletin . volume 9 ( 1 ) : 21 - 25 .
strayer , d . l . and j . ralley . 1993 . microhabitat use by an assemblage of stream - dwelling unionaceans ( bivalvia ) , including two rare species of alasmidonta . j . n . am . benthol . soc . , volume 12 ( 3 ) : 247 - 258 .
strayer , d . l . 1993 . macrohabitats of freshwater mussels ( bivalvia : unionacea ) in streams of the northern atlantic slope . j . n . am . benthol . soc . , volume 12 ( 3 ) : 236 - 246 .
1 . land / water protection - > 1 . 1 . site / area protection 2 . land / water management - > 2 . 1 . site / area management
7 . natural system modifications - > 7 . 2 . dams & water management / use - > 7 . 2 . 11 . dams ( size unknown )
9 . pollution - > 9 . 1 . domestic & urban waste water - > 9 . 1 . 3 . type unknown / unrecorded
9 . pollution - > 9 . 2 . industrial & military effluents - > 9 . 2 . 3 . type unknown / unrecorded
9 . pollution - > 9 . 3 . agricultural & forestry effluents - > 9 . 3 . 4 . type unknown / unrecorded
bogan , a . e . 2000 . alasmidonta heterodon . available at : urltoken . ( accessed : 15 october 2009 ) .
bogan , a . e . , huang , y . , raley , m . and levine , j . f . 2008 . intraspecific phylogenetic relationships in the freshwater bivalve genus alasmidonta ( bivalvia : unionidae ) . north carolina department of transportation , north carolina .
clarke , a . h . 1981 . the tribe alasmidontini ( unionidae : anodontinae ) , part i : pegias , alasmidonta and arcidens . smithsonian contributions to zoology 326 : 1 - 101 .
graf , d . l . and cummings , k . s . 2011 . the mussel project database : musselp . available at : urltoken . ( accessed : 5 august 2015 ) .
iucn . 2011 . iucn red list of threatened species ( ver . 2011 . 2 ) . available at : urltoken . ( accessed : 10 november 2011 ) .
mclain , d . c . and ross , m . r . 2005 . reproduction based on local patch size of alasmidonta heterodon and dispersal by its darter host in the mill river , massachusetts , usa . journal of the north american benthological society 24 ( 1 ) : 139 - 147 .
natureserve . 2009 . natureserve explore : an online encyclopaedia of life [ web application ] . version 7 . 1 . arlington , virginia available at : urltoken .
ortmann , a . e . 1914 . studies in najades . nautilus 28 : 41 - 47 .
strayer , d . l . , sprague , s . j . and claypool , s . 1996 . a range - wide assessment of populations of alasmidonta heterodon , an endangered freshwater mussel ( bivalvia : unionidae ) . journal of the north american benthological society 15 ( 3 ) : 308 - 317 .
williams , j . d . , warren , m . l . jr . , cummings , k . s . , harris , j . l . and neves , r . j . in press . conservation status of freshwater mussels of north america and mexico .
- - natureserve explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50 , 000 plants , animals and ecological communtities of the u . s and canada . natureserve explorer provides in - depth information on rare and endangered species , but includes common plants and animals too . natureserve explorer is a product of natureserve in collaboration with the natural heritage network .
itis reports - - itis ( the integrated taxonomic information system ) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants , animals , fungi , and microbes of north america and the world .
fws digital media library - - the u . s . fish and wildlife service ' s national digital library is a searchable collection of selected images , historical artifacts , audio clips , publications , and video .
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distribution : found only in the connecticut river watershed ( connecticut river mainstem and the ashuelot river ) .
description : a small wedge - shaped mussel measuring 1 - 1 . 5 inches . color varies from yellowish - brown to blackish - brown . the inner shell ( nacre ) is bluish - white . the foot is typically pale beige .
habitat : streams or rivers with a slow to moderate current in a mix of cobble , gravel , and sandy substrates . it has been found in a range of substrates , depths , and stream sizes .
life history : host fish are the tessellated darter , johnny darter , slimy sculpin , mottled sculpin , and atlantic salmon .
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this book deals with freshwater bivalves in france . part one presents the phylogeny , biology , ecology , conservation issues of french freshwater bivalves in general . part two is dedicated to species account and describes in details the taxonomy , morphology , ecology and conservation issues for each of the 45 species of freshwater bivalves living in france . 336 pages .
this speech presents ( in french ) the recent advances in french freshwater bivalve species detection using environmental dna metabarcoding from water samples .
this speech presents the recent results in the detection of freshwater bivalves from france using environmental dna metabarcoding from water samples .
gargominy , o . , léonard , l . , prié , v . cucherat , x . 2016 . de l’utilité d’un inventaire national . malaco , 12 : 67 - 87 . [ actes du colloque national de malacologie continentale du 30 et 31 mars 2016 à barenton - bugny ( aisne ) ] .
actualisation des critères acoustiques et synthèse des données concernant le présumé scotophilus sp . à la réunion ( mascareignes , france )
online resource 2 : single and combined sdm suitable habitat prediction and explanation variables respective weight , as illustrated with p . littoralis .
209 sommaire caractéristiques acoustiques des cris d ' écholocation de 16 espèces de chiroptères ( mammalia , chiroptera ) du maroc disca et al . 2014 - caractéristiques acoustiques des cris d ' écholocation de 16 espèces de chiroptères ( mammalia , chiroptera ) du maroc
this presentation talks about unbalanced conservation efforts , mostly directed towards charismatic species , which may even threaten the most vulnerable taxa , here freshwater mollusks .
conservation status of freshwater mussels in europe : state of the art , perspectives and future challenges .
flagships and umbrellas : unbalanced conservation effort towards charismatic species as potential threat to the unknown .
do conservation efforts really target the most vulnerable taxa ? a view from europe .
nous décrivons ici une nouvelle espèce du genre lagaropsylla jordan & rothschild , 1921 , collectée dans le massif du makay à madagascar , sur la chauve - souris otomops madagascariensis dorst , 1953 . le mâle se distingue de l . obliqua smit , 1957 et l . hoogstraali smit , 1957 par la forme de l’hamulus qui est nettement plus haut que large , montrant postérieurement une petite « dent » à son apex , et de l . consularis smit , 1957 par la forme du tubercule préoral , de la cténidie pronotale et du ductus ejaculatorius . la femelle présente la particularité d’avoir un sclérite à la base du ductus bursae et se distingue de l . consularis par la forme du tubercule préoral et les épines assez courtes de la cténidie . la découverte récente de cette espèce peut s’expliquer d’une part par la rareté de l’hôte , d’autre part par l’absence d’autres études chiroptérologiques et parasitologiques sur le massif du makay , difficile d’accès . par ailleurs , une association hôte - parasite nouvelle entre araeopsylla martialis ( rothschild , 1903 ) et o . madagascariensis est mentionnée .
bad taxonomy can kill : molecular re - evaluation of unio mancus lamarck , 1819 ( bivalvia : unionidae ) and its accepted subspecies .
les sous - espèces de la mulette méridionale unio mancus lamarck 1819 ( bivalvia , unionidea ) en france : descriptions originales et matériel topotypique .
projet de gestion multi - usages de l’hydrosystème karstique du lez - caractérisation hydrochimique ; qualité chimique , vulnérabilité de l’hydrosystème et de l’écosystème associé .
the check - list of continental mollusks from france distinguishes seven sub - species within unio mancus , all endemic from france . this paper illustrates material recently collected in type localities and recalls original descriptions .
inventaire de la grande mulette margaritifera auricularia dans le sud - ouest de la france ( iii ) .
an update of the checklist of continental molluscs of france by falkner et al . ( 2002 ) is presented . all changes ( new names , taxonomical and nomenclatural acts ) are supported by a note referring to the bibliography ( up to the end of 2010 ) . altogether , 93 terminal taxa are added to the french fauna , including 61 recently described ; 20 are removed . this fauna totals 783 terminal taxa ( 695 species ) with an endemism rate of 43 % . this list aims to provide an updated taxonomic framework , resulting from ten years of research on mollusc systematics . the list includes no new nomenclatural or taxonomic acts . an extended abstract in english is given at the end of the paper .
plan national d ' actions en faveur de la grande mulette margaritifera auricularia - 2012 - 2017 .
les chauves - souris du massif du makay ( madagascar ) : premier inventaire chiroptérologique dans le cadre du projet makay nature .
plan national d ' actions en faveur de la mulette perlière margaritifera margaritifera - 2012 - 2017 .
les noms français des mollusques continentaux de france : processus d ' établissement d ' une liste de référence .
protocole d’échantillonnage pour les eaux de surface et les eaux souterraines considérant les données existantes et les points faisant l’objet d’un suivi par ailleurs .
les chauves - souris ( mammalia , chiroptera ) du gouffre de padirac ( lot , france ) : richesse spécifique et utilisation des profondeurs .
nouvelles populations de grande mulette margaritifera auricularia ( spengler , 1793 ) ( bivalvia : margaritiferidae ) découvertes dans le sud - ouest de la france .
la grande mulette margaritifera auricularia sur la charente , complément d’inventaire sur le site natura 2000 fr 5400 - 472 .
the giant pearl mussel : a new location discovered in france increases significantly the known number of living individuals .
la grande mulette margaritifera auricularia dans l ' oise - chronique d ' une mort annoncée .