Freshwater mussels are important members of a healthy ecosystem, yet nearly two-thirds of Minnesota's species are state or federally listed. As larvae (glochidia) most mussel species must attach to a specific fish species to facilitate metamorphosis into a juvenile. Effective conservation of mussels frequently requires knowledge of mussel-host relationships. We collected freshwater drum, walleye, smallmouth bass, shorthead redhorse, white bass, long and shortnose gar, northern pike, emerald and mimic shiners, and lake sturgeon naturally infested with glochidia from the St. Croix River during 2000-2001. Fish were held in individual aquaria and aquaria were siphoned to recover juvenile mussels. Juveniles were sorted using life history information and identified with scanning electron micrographs. Most juveniles were in the subfamily Ambleminae or Lampsilinae. Images are being analyzed to improve our identifications. Additionally, we are developing a species identification key to upper Mississippi River mussel glochidia using characters visible with scanning electron microscopy.
We appreciate the administrative and financial support provided by the
St. Croix National Scenic Riverway and the NRPP-Threatened and Endangered
Species Fund, U.S. Geological Service, Macalester College, and the University
of Minnesota's Undergraduate Research Opportunites Program.
[ Mark
Hove's UMN F&W Page | Dept. of
Fish., Wild., & Cons. Biol. Home Page | University
of Minnesota Home Page ]
Copyright: 1998-2002 by the Regents of the University of Minnesota, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology. All rights reserved. Images may be reproduced for non-commercial, educational purposes. Original content by Mark Hove. Please contact me if you would like to use any material and read my use policy. This page was supported in part by: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and University of Minnesota. The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer. The views and opinions expressed in this page are strictly those of the page author. The contents of this page have not been reviewed or approved by the University of Minnesota. Thanks for dropping by!
Last modified
on May 7, 2002
Please submit
web page suggestions to Mark.Hove@fw.umn.edu