Fish Surveys within 500-meters of Alasmidonta heterodon in the Connecticut and Delaware Watersheds from 1999 - 2019
Dates
Publication Date
2022-03-24
Start Date
1997-06-01
End Date
2019-08-15
Citation
Ryan, J.E., and Roy, A.H., 2022, In-vitro Propagation and Fish Assessments to Inform Restoration of Dwarf Wedgemussel (Alasmidonta Heterodon): U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P90S15LR.
Summary
The dwarf wedgemussel (Alasmidonta heterodon) is a federally endangered freshwater mussel that once ranged from New Brunswick to North Carolina, but now only exists in isolated populations throughout its diminished range. This study aimed to understand links between fish abundance and dwarf wedgemussel abundance and occurrence in the Connecticut and Delaware watersheds. Specifically, my study objectives were to 1) characterize fish assemblages near dwarf wedgemussel locations and unoccupied locations, 2) determine if dwarf wedgemussel occurrence and abundance are related to abundance of the known host fish species, tessellated darter and other potential host fish species per St. John White et. al. (2017). Two fish repeatedly emerged [...]
Summary
The dwarf wedgemussel (Alasmidonta heterodon) is a federally endangered freshwater mussel that once ranged from New Brunswick to North Carolina, but now only exists in isolated populations throughout its diminished range. This study aimed to understand links between fish abundance and dwarf wedgemussel abundance and occurrence in the Connecticut and Delaware watersheds. Specifically, my study objectives were to 1) characterize fish assemblages near dwarf wedgemussel locations and unoccupied locations, 2) determine if dwarf wedgemussel occurrence and abundance are related to abundance of the known host fish species, tessellated darter and other potential host fish species per St. John White et. al. (2017). Two fish repeatedly emerged as indicators of dwarf wedgemussel occurrence and abundance: the tessellated darter (Etheostoma olmstedi) and brown trout (Salmo trutta). Tessellated darter was positively related to dwarf wedgemussel which supports the importance of tessellated darter as a host fish in the wild. The negative relationship between dwarf wedgemussel and brown trout may indicate a difference in habitat between the species or brown trout’s predation upon wild hosts.
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Validated_Metadata_Wizard_for_fish_v2.xml Original FGDC Metadata
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74.49 KB
application/fgdc+xml
Fish_survey_data.csv “Fish survey data”
24.58 KB
text/csv
Purpose
The data outline fish surveys conducted within 500 meters of known dwarf wedgemussel presence and absence locations across 5 states in the Connecticut and Delaware watersheds. This research will be used in conjunction with habitat and genetic information to inform future restoration plans and help find potential augmentation sites for dwarf wedgemussel to help the recovery of the species. Raw fish survey data collection can be used in conjunction with electrofishing shock seconds to determine fish catch-per-unit effort.
