Detailed Research Information

Detailed project information for
Study Plan Number 02087

Branch : Aquatic Ecology Branch

Study Plan Number : 02087

Study Title : Distribution, density and viability of native freshwater mussel populations in the free-flowing Allegheny River

Starting Date : 06/01/2002

Completion Date : 12/31/2007

Principal Investigator(s) : Villella, Rita and Smith, Dave R.

Primary PI : Villella, Rita

Telephone Number : (304) 724-4472

Email Address : rita_villella@usgs.gov

SIS Number :

Primary Program Element :

Second Program Element :

Status : Active

Abstract : BACKGROUND
The Allegheny River drainage is known to support some of the best remaining populations of two Federally listed endangered freshwater mussel species, the clubshell (Pleurobema clava), and the northern riffleshell (Epioblasma torulosa rangiana). Historically, P. clava was abundant throughout the Ohio River tributaries in seven states, occurring in 15 river basins, including the Allegheny River in Pennsylvania. Because this species has experienced a 95 percent range reduction, it was listed as endangered in 1993. It is believed the largest population of P. clava occurs in the Tippecanoe River, Indiana (Cummings and Berlocher 1990). However, since most mussel surveys are qualitative with little supporting quantitative data, it is difficult to estimate density or abundance of the population. The recovery plan for P. clava states the mainstem Allegheny River supports a sparse, viable population with low numbers and a discontinuous distribution over more than 66 miles (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1994). A survey of the direct impact area at the West Hickory bridge at river mile 158.9 showed an abundant, reproducing P. clava population with a total density of 0.4 per m2 and an estimated abundance exceeding 7,000 animals (USGS 1999). Estimated density at the alternate site for the new bridge was 0.507 per m2 (USGS 2000). The 2001 survey at a bridge near the town of Hunter in Forest County, Pennsylvania revealed an even larger reproducing population with an estimated density of 5.60 per m2 (Villella and Smith 2002). Based on best available scientific data these two locations, West Hickory and Hunter Station, represent the largest known reproducing populations for this species. Since the status of the remaining known P. clava populations is uncertain and several face threats to their continued existence, the biological opinion for these bridge projects would have resulted in a jeopardy opinion being rendered under the Endangered Species Act.

Epioblasma torulosa rangiana, also listed as endangered in 1993, has a similar historic range distribution as P. clava but with extensions further north into Michigan and Ontario. This species has also experienced drastic reduction in range distribution. The largest remaining populations occur in the Allegheny River and French Creek in Pennsylvania (Staton et al. 2000). An abundant reproducing population (over 9,000 animals) of E. t. rangiana was also documented at West Hickory and Hunter Station making these the largest known populations of this species in North America. Population distribution of E. t. rangiana in the Allegheny River is believed to be scattered over 80 miles (USFWS 1994) but it is not known how many or if other abundant populations are present.

The presence of one or both of these species has been documented at five proposed bridge replacement sites and these species are likely to be encountered at other bridge sites as well. Though the presence of both species is known to be scattered throughout the Allegheny River, sufficient distribution and quantitative information does not exist to assess population viability. The only quantitative data available are for the populations at West Hickory, Hunter Station and at Kennerdell; the Kennerdell population has since been relocated. The gap in information regarding the populations of P. clava and E. t. rangiana in the Allegheny River interferes with making reliable assessments of how site-specific actions, such as bridge replacement, affect the species= long-term viability. Quantitative surveys that have the objective of estimating the density and abundance of rare species over long distances in large rivers have not previously been done. The lack of information on river-wide population estimates is primarily due to the fact that this scale of sampling requires considerable effort. Resources for such an effort are often not available for non-game aquatic species. However, without this information on populations in the Allegheny River, future jeopardy opinions are unlikely to conserve these Federally listed species, especially with zebra mussels recently being documented in the watershed (R. Anderson, pers. comm.). To provide information needed to make effective management decisions regarding Federally listed species and proposed state listed species in the Allegheny River, we propose to conduct multi-site surveys of populations and habitat using the survey protocol developed at West Hickory.
OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this study are:

1) Estimate population density, abundance, distribution and viability of P. clava, E. t. rangiana, and proposed state listed species in the upper two thirds of the middle Allegheny River.

2) Estimate the area and proportion of the upper two thirds of the middle Allegheny River that supports reproducing populations of the endangered P. clava, E. t. rangiana and other rare mussel species.

3) Provide a comprehensive data base for all collections for these species in the Allegheny River to date and through the end of this study for use by the PA Department of Transportation and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in assessing impacts of bridge construction projects on these species.

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Branch :	Aquatic Ecology Branch
Study Plan Number :	02087
Study Title :	Distribution, density and viability of native freshwater mussel populations in the free-flowing Allegheny River
Starting Date :	06/01/2002
Completion Date :	12/31/2007
Principal Investigator(s) :	Villella, Rita and Smith, Dave R.
Primary PI :	Villella, Rita
Telephone Number :	(304) 724-4472
Email Address :	rita_villella@usgs.gov
SIS Number :
Primary Program Element :
Second Program Element :
Status :	Active
Abstract :	BACKGROUND The Allegheny River drainage is known to support some of the best remaining populations of two Federally listed endangered freshwater mussel species, the clubshell (Pleurobema clava), and the northern riffleshell (Epioblasma torulosa rangiana). Historically, P. clava was abundant throughout the Ohio River tributaries in seven states, occurring in 15 river basins, including the Allegheny River in Pennsylvania. Because this species has experienced a 95 percent range reduction, it was listed as endangered in 1993. It is believed the largest population of P. clava occurs in the Tippecanoe River, Indiana (Cummings and Berlocher 1990). However, since most mussel surveys are qualitative with little supporting quantitative data, it is difficult to estimate density or abundance of the population. The recovery plan for P. clava states the mainstem Allegheny River supports a sparse, viable population with low numbers and a discontinuous distribution over more than 66 miles (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1994). A survey of the direct impact area at the West Hickory bridge at river mile 158.9 showed an abundant, reproducing P. clava population with a total density of 0.4 per m2 and an estimated abundance exceeding 7,000 animals (USGS 1999). Estimated density at the alternate site for the new bridge was 0.507 per m2 (USGS 2000). The 2001 survey at a bridge near the town of Hunter in Forest County, Pennsylvania revealed an even larger reproducing population with an estimated density of 5.60 per m2 (Villella and Smith 2002). Based on best available scientific data these two locations, West Hickory and Hunter Station, represent the largest known reproducing populations for this species. Since the status of the remaining known P. clava populations is uncertain and several face threats to their continued existence, the biological opinion for these bridge projects would have resulted in a jeopardy opinion being rendered under the Endangered Species Act. Epioblasma torulosa rangiana, also listed as endangered in 1993, has a similar historic range distribution as P. clava but with extensions further north into Michigan and Ontario. This species has also experienced drastic reduction in range distribution. The largest remaining populations occur in the Allegheny River and French Creek in Pennsylvania (Staton et al. 2000). An abundant reproducing population (over 9,000 animals) of E. t. rangiana was also documented at West Hickory and Hunter Station making these the largest known populations of this species in North America. Population distribution of E. t. rangiana in the Allegheny River is believed to be scattered over 80 miles (USFWS 1994) but it is not known how many or if other abundant populations are present. The presence of one or both of these species has been documented at five proposed bridge replacement sites and these species are likely to be encountered at other bridge sites as well. Though the presence of both species is known to be scattered throughout the Allegheny River, sufficient distribution and quantitative information does not exist to assess population viability. The only quantitative data available are for the populations at West Hickory, Hunter Station and at Kennerdell; the Kennerdell population has since been relocated. The gap in information regarding the populations of P. clava and E. t. rangiana in the Allegheny River interferes with making reliable assessments of how site-specific actions, such as bridge replacement, affect the species= long-term viability. Quantitative surveys that have the objective of estimating the density and abundance of rare species over long distances in large rivers have not previously been done. The lack of information on river-wide population estimates is primarily due to the fact that this scale of sampling requires considerable effort. Resources for such an effort are often not available for non-game aquatic species. However, without this information on populations in the Allegheny River, future jeopardy opinions are unlikely to conserve these Federally listed species, especially with zebra mussels recently being documented in the watershed (R. Anderson, pers. comm.). To provide information needed to make effective management decisions regarding Federally listed species and proposed state listed species in the Allegheny River, we propose to conduct multi-site surveys of populations and habitat using the survey protocol developed at West Hickory. OBJECTIVES The objectives of this study are: 1) Estimate population density, abundance, distribution and viability of P. clava, E. t. rangiana, and proposed state listed species in the upper two thirds of the middle Allegheny River. 2) Estimate the area and proportion of the upper two thirds of the middle Allegheny River that supports reproducing populations of the endangered P. clava, E. t. rangiana and other rare mussel species. 3) Provide a comprehensive data base for all collections for these species in the Allegheny River to date and through the end of this study for use by the PA Department of Transportation and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in assessing impacts of bridge construction projects on these species.
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U.S. Department of the Interior \|\| U.S. Geological Survey 11700 Leetown Road, Kearneysville, WV 25430, USA URL: http://www.lsc.usgs.gov Maintainer: lsc_webmaster@usgs.gov Last Modified: October 21, 2002 dwn Privacy Policy and Disclaimers \|\| FOIA \|\| Accessibility