Host Fish for the Snuffbox Mussel Epioblasma triquetra

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Host Fish for the Snuffbox Mussel (Epioblasma
triquetra)

• Mark Ledford
• 2003-04

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Introduction

• Snuffbox mussel (Epioblasma triquetra) is on the
  verge of becoming a federally endangered species
  in MN
• Survival of Snuffbox mussel depends greatly on
  finding host fish species native to rivers in MN

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Life Cycle of Snuffbox Mussel
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Purposes

• Identify possible host fish for the Snuffbox
  mussel
• Determine developmental stages of glochidia
  (mussel larvae) associated with life cycle

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Glochidia
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Hypotheses

• Glochidia without tissue and glochidia with
  tissue depict levels of maturity in the mussel
• Glochidia with tissue are further along in
  development than glochidia without tissue

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Background

• Previous Studies done by environmentalists in MO,
  OH, and TN show five different species of fish as
  suitable host for Snuffbox Logperch (Percina
  caprodes), Banded Sculpin (Cotus carolinae),
  Ozark Sculpin (Cottus hypselurus), and
  Blackspotted Topminnow (Fundulus olivaceus)
• No host fish studies have been done in MN on
  Snuffbox

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Procedure

• Collected 11 different fish species by
  electro-fishing

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Analyzing Siphonate
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ProcedureWhat I Looked For
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Results
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Results
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Discussion

• Logperch fish species identified as definite host
• Glochidia without tissue and glochidia with
  tissue are probable stages of development
• Period of development from infestation to
  juvenile stage is 30 days or more for the Logperch

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Further Studies

• Investigate probable stages of development on
  Snuffbox using a larger sample size of Logperch
• Investigate Iowa Darter fish species as suitable
  host
• Investigate why some glochidia do not develop
  into juveniles while on host fish species
• Investigate same project but with statistical
  analysis (same number fish needed for each
  possible host fish species)

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Acknowledgements

• Lois Fruen
• Mark Hove
• Team Research
• Brad Peterson
• Jake Miller
• American Fisheries Society