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Population genetics of the freshwater mussel, Amblema plicata (Say 1817) (Bivalvia: Unionidae): Evidence of high dispersal and post-glacial colonization

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Abstract

Over 70% of North American freshwater mussel species (families Unionidae and Margaritiferidae) are listed as threatened or endangered. Knowledge of the genetic structure of target species is essential for the development of effective conservation plans. Because Ambelma plicata is a common species, its population genetic structure is likely to be relatively intact, making it a logical model species for investigations of freshwater mussel population genetics. Using mtDNA and allozymes, we determined the genotypes of 170+ individuals in each of three distinct drainages: Lake Erie, Ohio River, and the Lower Mississippi River. Overall, within-population variation increased significantly from north to south, with unique haplotypes and allele frequencies in the Kiamichi River (Lower Mississippi River drainage). Genetic diversity was relatively low in the Strawberry River (Lower Mississippi River drainage), and in the Lake Erie drainage. We calculated significant among-population structure using both molecular markers (A.p. Φst = 0.15, θst = 0.12). Using a hierarchical approach, we found low genetic structure among rivers and drainages separated by large geographic distances, indicating high effective population size and/or highly vagile fish hosts for this species. Genetic structure in the Lake Erie drainage was similar to that in the Ohio River, and indicates that northern populations were founded from at least two glacial refugia following the Pleistocene. Conservation of genetic diversity in Amblema plicata and other mussel species with similar genetic structure should focus on protection of a number of individual populations, especially those in southern rivers.

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Acknowledgements

We thank S. Guttman and W. Hoeh for assistance and advice with methodologies. We thank the following field assistants: J. Di Maio, S. Staton, S. Roark, K. Elderkin , J. Harris, S. Chordas , C. Meier, and D. Spooner. B. Jack, J. Trybula, S. Roark, V. Gervasio, and numerous undergraduate students assisted with the laboratory work. E. Cunningham calculated geographic distances among populations. This manuscript was greatly improved by the comments of R. Waples and two anonymous reviewers. Mussels were collected under multiple permits from Division of Wildlife, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. Tissue collection by C. Vaughn was supported by NSF grants DEB-9306687 and DEB-9870092. This project was supported by Ohio’s Lake Erie Protection Fund (grant 00–01).

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  1. C. L. Elderkin

    Present address: Department of Biology, The College of New Jersey, Ewing, NJ, 08628, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, Miami University, Oxford, OH, 45056, USA

    C. L. Elderkin & A. D. Christian

  2. Department of Zoology and Oklahoma Biological Survey, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, 73019, USA

    C. C. Vaughn

  3. National Water Research Institute, Burlington, ON, Canada, L7R 4A6

    J. L. Metcalfe-Smith

  4. Department of Zoology, Miami University, Hamilton, OH, 45011, USA

    D. J. Berg

  5. Department of Biological Sciences, Arkansas State University, State University, AR, 72467, USA

    A. D. Christian

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  4. J. L. Metcalfe-Smith
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Elderkin, C.L., Christian, A.D., Vaughn, C.C. et al. Population genetics of the freshwater mussel, Amblema plicata (Say 1817) (Bivalvia: Unionidae): Evidence of high dispersal and post-glacial colonization. Conserv Genet 8, 355–372 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-006-9175-0

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