Emy Monroe from the University of Miami poses with some of her test subjects - FWS photo

Genoa National Fish Hatchery strives to be a leader in the science and technology of freshwater mussel propagation.  This reputation has prompted doctoral candidate Emy Monroe from the University of Miami in Ohio to seek our assistance in her research. 

Monroe is working on understanding the number of paternal contributions made in a brood of a single female mussel.  Mussels spawn by the males releasing sperm into the water column, and that sperm is then taken in by the female’s incurrent siphon.  The female then directs the sperm to her eggs for fertilization. 

A one-to-one spawning event is unlikely with this type of spawning behavior, therefore recovery programs are most likely underestimating the number of parents contributing genetically to the mussels being produced. 

The goal in any restoration program should be to ensure that the most genetic diversity possible is maintained from the brood population.  Knowing the number of males that contribute to a brood will provide restoration planner with accurate data to model in order to reach their desired results

In order to answer the question of how many males contribute to a female’s brood, Genoa’s mussel biologist Tony Brady collected glochidia (larval mussels) and a tissue sample from 20 female plain pocketbook mussels. 

These samples were stored in vials provided by the US Geological Survey’s Upper Midwest Science Center and will be shipped to Monroe.  At the university, Monroe will extract DNA samples from individual glochidia and match that to the DNA collected from the female.  The paternal input for each glochidia will then be contrasted for the number of males contributing.  This information will assist recovery planners by ensuring sufficient genetic contributions are used to promote the survival of the species.