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Estimation of Mussel Population Response to Hydrologic Alteration in a Southeastern U.S. Stream

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Abstract

The southeastern United States has experienced severe, recurrent drought, rapid human population growth, and increasing agricultural irrigation during recent decades, resulting in greater demand for the water resources. During the same time period, freshwater mussels (Unioniformes) in the region have experienced substantial population declines. Consequently, there is growing interest in determining how mussel population declines are related to activities associated with water resource development. Determining the causes of mussel population declines requires, in part, an understanding of the factors influencing mussel population dynamics. We developed Pradel reverse-time, tag-recapture models to estimate survival, recruitment, and population growth rates for three federally endangered mussel species in the Apalachicola–Chattahoochee–Flint River Basin, Georgia. The models were parameterized using mussel tag-recapture data collected over five consecutive years from Sawhatchee Creek, located in southwestern Georgia. Model estimates indicated that mussel survival was strongly and negatively related to high flows during the summer, whereas recruitment was strongly and positively related to flows during the spring and summer. Using these models, we simulated mussel population dynamics under historic (1940–1969) and current (1980–2008) flow regimes and under increasing levels of water use to evaluate the relative effectiveness of alternative minimum flow regulations. The simulations indicated that the probability of simulated mussel population extinction was at least 8 times greater under current hydrologic regimes. In addition, simulations of mussel extinction under varying levels of water use indicated that the relative risk of extinction increased with increased water use across a range of minimum flow regulations. The simulation results also indicated that our estimates of the effects of water use on mussel extinction were influenced by the assumptions about the dynamics of the system, highlighting the need for further study of mussel population dynamics.

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Acknowledgments

This project was funded by a grant from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. A number of people were instrumental in providing assistance with this project. We are particularly indebted to the many individuals who aided during field sampling, including Karen Herrington, Sandy Pursifull, Beau Dudley, Paul Benton, Andrea Crownhart, Justin Dycus, Jason Emmel, Ryan Harrell, Katie Owers, Will Pruitt, Amos Tuck, Mieko Camp, and Deb Weiler. Special thanks go out to Sandy Abbott and Carson Stringfellow for initiating the tagging study and providing many useful hands during sampling. The manuscript was improved with suggestions from T. Kwak, B. Albanese, M. Gangloff and anonymous reviewers. The use of trade, product, industry or firm names or products is for informative purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement by the U.S. Government or the U.S. Geological Survey. The Georgia Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit is jointly sponsored by the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the University of Georgia, and the Wildlife Management Institute.

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  1. James T. Peterson

    Present address: U.S. Geological Survey, Oregon Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. U.S. Geological Survey, Georgia Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, Athens, GA, 30602, USA

    James T. Peterson

  2. Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division, Nongame Conservation Section, Social Circle, GA, 30025, USA

    Jason M. Wisniewski

  3. Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA

    Colin P. Shea & C. Rhett Jackson

Authors
  1. James T. Peterson
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  2. Jason M. Wisniewski
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  3. Colin P. Shea
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  4. C. Rhett Jackson
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Correspondence to James T. Peterson.

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Peterson, J.T., Wisniewski, J.M., Shea, C.P. et al. Estimation of Mussel Population Response to Hydrologic Alteration in a Southeastern U.S. Stream. Environmental Management 48, 109–122 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-011-9688-2

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