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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Columbus, Ohio » Soil Drainage Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #332564
Title: Relationships between community structure of freshwater mussels and host fishes in a central Ohio watershed

Author
item LAUER, MARISSA - The Ohio State University
item Smiley, Peter - Rocky

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/10/2016
Publication Date: 3/30/2016
Citation: Lauer, M., Smiley, P.C. 2016. Relationships between community structure of freshwater mussels and host fishes in a central Ohio watershed. Meeting Abstract. 2016 Richard J. and Martha D. Denman 2016 Undergraduate Research Forum, March 30, 2016, Columbus, Ohio.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The diversity of freshwater mussel communities has declined over the past several decades within watersheds in the Midwestern United States. Host fishes play an important role in the life cycle of freshwater mussels because they serve as hosts for parasitic mussel larvae to ensure successful mussel reproduction and colonization of new areas. Understanding the relationships between freshwater mussels and host fishes can guide the design of mussel conservation and restoration strategies. My research question was: what are the relationships between the community structure of freshwater mussels and host fishes in the Upper Big Walnut Creek watershed (UBWC), Ohio? My field study was conducted from June to August 2015 in eleven UBWC sites. Mussels were collected using quadrat and visual search techniques. Fishes were collected with a backpack electrofisher. I also measured selected physical and chemical variables. Simple linear regression analyses were performed to determine the relationships between species richness and abundance of mussels and host fishes. I also conducted simple linear regression analyses to examine the relationships between mussel species richness and abundance with watershed size, discharge, and turbidity. I did not observe a relationship (P>0.05) between mussel species richness and abundance with host fish species richness and abundance, nor did a relationship (P>0.05) occur between mussel species richness and abundance with discharge and turbidity. I also did not observe a relationship (P>0.05) between mussel species richness with watershed size. However, a positive relationship (R2=0.508, P=0.013) between mussel abundance with watershed size was documented. My initial results are consistent with others who did not document significant relationships between mussels and host fish communities in Midwestern watersheds. My results suggest mussel conservation and restoration efforts should be targeted within larger subwatersheds in the UBWC and other watersheds in Ohio with similar land use patterns.