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Matthew J Cannister

Freshwater mussels (Unionidae) are among the most imperiled groups of organisms in the world. Unionids are plagued with a lack of basic information regarding species distributions, life history characteristics, and ecological and biological requirements. We assessed the influence of hydrologic factors on the occurrence of the Suwannee Moccasinshell, Medionidus walkeri, a federally threatened freshwater mussel species endemic to the Suwannee River basin in Georgia and Florida. We also assessed the influence of survey effort on detection of M. walkeri during field surveys. All current (2013-2016) mussel survey records in the Suwannee River Basin were compiled, and cumulative discharge contributed by upstream springs...
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The South Florida Fish and Invertebrate Assessment Network (FIAN) is a monitoring project within the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP). It is an element of the Southern Estuaries module of the Monitoring and Assessment Plan (MAP).The FIAN is designed to support the four broad objectives of MAP: (1) to establish a pre-CERP reference state, including variability, for each of the performance measures; (2) to determine the status and trends in the performance measures; (3) to detect unexpected responses of the ecosystem to changes in stressors resulting from CERP activities; and (4) to support scientific investigations designed to increase ecosystem understanding, cause-and-effect, and interpretation...
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Longstanding taxonomic uncertainties have limited conservation efforts for species currently assigned to the freshwater mussel genus Alasmidonta. Here, we present mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequence data needed to assess the genus- and species-level taxonomy of Alasmidonta. These molecular data allowed us to test whether cryptic diversity exists within Alasmidonta and whether A. triangulata and A. arcula are distinct species. Details associated with specimens and DNA sequence data are provided here to provide a foundation for future research on Alasmidonta and give conservation agencies greater confidence in the findings of our work.
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Red lionfish (Pterois volitans) have become a successful invasive predator across the Northwestern Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico (GoM). Previous investigations have identified the southeast coast of Florida as the original site of introduction, but no region-wide genetic study has directly addressed the question of introduction location(s). This dataset includes previously unpublished red lionfish samples (n = 237) from six locations: The Bahamas, Florida Keys, Northwest Florida, North Carolina, Panama, and Southeast Florida. Sequences archived in NCBI from other locations in the Northern Region, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico basins were used in the analyses (N = 1558). Previously published sequences were...
Conservation of imperiled species is frequently challenged by insufficient knowledge of life history and the environmental factors that affect various life stages. The larvae (glochidia) of most freshwater mussels in the family Unionidae are obligate ectoparasites of fishes. We describe the early life history of the federally endangered Southern Kidneyshell, Ptychobranchus jonesi, and compare methods for estimating fecundity and conducting host trials on conglutinate-producing mussel species. Both the glochidial inoculation baths and direct feeding of conglutinates to Percina nigrofasciata, Etheostoma edwini, and Etheostoma fusiforme resulted in successful metamorphosis to the juvenile life stage. Ptychobranchus...
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