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| | A | 99 | Outreach and Education | Educate and inform the public about the Freshwater Mussel Project (CTUIR) | A. The purpose of this work is to educate the Tribal community, the public at large and the scientific community about the Freshwater Mussel. | | |
| | B | 156 | Develop RM&E Methods and Designs | Develop methods to age freshwater mussel shells (CTUIR) | B. The scope of this work is to develop techniques to accurately age freshwater mussel shells in the mid-Columbia Basin. | | |
| | C | 157 | Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data | Quantitatively age freshwater mussel shells. (CTUIR) | C. The scope of this objective is to: 1) determine the age of individual mussels by using the techniques developed in Work Element B, and 2) to determine the growth rate of individual mussels as a function of age. | | |
| | D | 162 | Analyze/Interpret Data | Quantitatively assess age structure of freshwater mussels in the Middle Fork John Day River. (CTUIR) | D. The scope of this work is to determine the age structure of mussel populations in the Middle Fork John Day River. Using the age estimates calculated in Work Element C, we would determine the age structure of mussel aggregations in the river. From these analyses we will attempt to 1) quantify mortality and recruitment rates for these populations; 2) identify the role of recruitment and mortality variations over time in determining the age structure; and 3) examine these variations for relationships with environmental variable such as discharge and fish host populations. In 2003 a map of relative mussel densities was produced from over 80 locations in these rivers. We will use a sub-set of these sites to measure and collect mussels for quantitatively aging populations in the rivers. These efforts are crucial to understanding the population dynamics of freshwater mussels in these systems, and for conservation efforts | | |
| | E | 157 | Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data | Assess the biodeposition rate of freshwater mussels in the river ecosystem (CTUIR) | E. This work will assess the biodeposition rates of the three species of freshwater mussels found in the Middle Fork John Day River. As filter feeding grazers, mussels can remove large amounts of particulate matter from the water column, and transfer those resources to the substrate as biodeposits (agglutinated mussel feces and pseudofeces). Throughout North America freshwater mussels have rapidly declined (Williams et al. 1992, Vaughn and Hakenkamp 2001). As mussels continue to decline in various streams throughout the U.S., an understanding of their role in the ecosystem may provide insight into changes in benthic resource availability and possibly water quality. Although often the dominant consumer biomass within stream reaches, the functional role of these organisms in the river food web have been relatively ignored (Strayer et al. 1999, Raikow and Hamilton 2001). Although numerous studies have examined the ecology of benthic communities, little attention has been given to how nonbivalve invertebrates react to micro-environmental variations created by native bivalves in stream systems. | | |
| | F | 157 | Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data | Assess the functional role of freshwater mussels in the benthic environment (CTUIR) | F. Determine if mussel biodeposits increase benthic resources in Umatilla River. Mussel biodeposits are a nutrient rich and easily assimilated food source, and therefore may have significant trophic relevance in the benthic community structure. This study will examine the functional role of he freshwater mussels species found in the Umatilla and Middle Fork John Day Rivers. The general context motivating study of such a role for mussels is that cycling of fine particulate matter is critical for the sustenance of stream ecosystems (Vannote et al. 1980, Allan1999). Fine particulate organic matter in stream ecosystems provides nutrients and energy to both suspension feeders (Wallace and Merritt 1980) and deposit feeders (Berg 1994, Wotton 1994, Zweig and Rabeni 2001). Nutrient recycling and translocation by relatively large stream organisms such as freshwater mussels is an important biological process for increasing nutrient standing stocks in recipient habitats, and perhaps stimulating new primary production (Vanni 2002). As future recovery efforts attempt to increase and reintroduce freshwater mussels to the Umatilla River, an understanding of their functional role may provide insight into the increased health of the system in general. To control for physical habitat variability, and to test whether the accumulation of fine benthic organic matter (FBOM) is due to active biodeposition we will conduct an "isolation experiment" which severely limits water flow rate and isolates the experimental substrate from other stream organisms. | | |
| | G | 162 | Analyze/Interpret Data | Analyze results of biodeposition experiment from Work Element F (Responsible contractor: CTUIR) | G. From the data collected through the biodeposition experiment in Work Element F, we will statistically test if there are differences between the mussel, sediment, and control treatments. | | |
| | H | 157 | Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data | Introduce Margaritifera falcata into the Umatilla River under controlled conditions. (CTUIR) | H. The objective of this project is to hold the western pearlshell, Margaritifera falcata, in holding pens at two sites in the main stem of the Umatilla River to determine; 1) whether mussels are capable of surviving in the middle and upper Umatilla River; 2) determine whether growth differs between mussels moved from the North Fork John Day River into the Middle Fork John Day River (a relatively pristine system) and the Umatilla River (a more impacted system); 3) determine whether the condition of mussels at the end of the three-month holding period differs between sites. This project is only meant as a pilot to examine gross controlling factors that may influence the reintroduction of mussels in the Umatilla River system at some later time.Tribal and federal agencies would like to restore freshwater mussels to the Umatilla River Basin as part of their ongoing efforts to rebuild ecosystem diversity, function, and traditional cultural opportunities in the basin. In addition, the Umatilla Subbasin Summary calls for strategies to "conduct initial investigations and develop a restoration plan for freshwater shellfish in the Umatilla River." Additional data, however, are needed before mussels can be restored to the middle and upper reaches of the Umatilla River. | | |
| | I | 162 | Analyze/Interpret Data | Document growth, condition, and survival of mussels introduced into the Umatilla River. (CTUIR) | I. The objective of this project is to determine: 1) whether mussels are capable of surviving in the middle and upper Umatilla River; 2) determine whether growth differs between mussels moved from the North Fork John Day River into the Middle Fork John Day River (a relatively pristine system) and the Umatilla River (a more impacted system); 3) determine whether the condition of mussels at the end of the three-month holding period differs between sites. This project is only meant as a pilot to examine gross controlling factors that may influence the reintroduction of mussels in the Umatilla River system at some later time. | | |
| | J | 156 | Develop RM&E Methods and Designs | Design sampling strategy-assess patterns of genetic diversity in freshwater mussels (Columbia Basin) | J. [original title: Design sampling strategy to assess patterns of genetic diversity in freshwater mussels of the Columbia Basin. (Responsible contractor: CTUIR)]
The scope of this work is to develop a sampling strategy designed to collect mussels from drainages within the Columbia Basin for genetic analysis. | | |
| | K | 157 | Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data | Collect tissue samples for genetic analyses of freshwater mussels from Columbia Basin drainages | K. [original title: Design sampling strategy to assess patterns of genetic diversity in freshwater mussels of the Columbia Basin. (Responsible contractor: CTUIR)]
Genetic analysis of freshwater mussels (in 2003, DNA was extracted from three genera of mussels from the two study drainages {see 2003 Annual Report}) will be initiated to assess 1) whether the freshwater mussels found in the study areas are unique compared to adjacent and regional populations, and 2) whether the morphological variation detected in Anodonta within the study areas is indicative of genetically divergent groups or possibly cryptic species. Conservation genetics has become one of the core disciplines underpinning both conservation biology and wildlife management. An understanding of evolutionary trajectories, regional patterns of gene flow, and local population dynamics is critical to the management of any wildlife species, and molecular tools have become increasingly useful for these purposes. | | |
| | L | 157 | Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data | Extract DNA from freshwater mussel specimens (Umatilla/mid-Columbia drainages] | L. [Original title: Extract DNA from freshwater mussel specimens collected from the Umatilla and other mid-Columbia drainages (based on Work Element J). (Responsible contractor: Utah State University)]
Genetic analysis of freshwater mussels (in 2003, DNA was extracted from three genera of mussels from the two study drainages {see 2003 Annual Report}) will be initiated to assess 1) whether the freshwater mussels found in the study areas are unique compared to adjacent and regional populations, and 2) whether the morphological variation detected in Anodonta within the study areas is indicative of genetically divergent groups or possibly cryptic species. Conservation genetics has become one of the core disciplines underpinning both conservation biology and wildlife management. An understanding of evolutionary trajectories, regional patterns of gene flow, and local population dynamics is critical to the management of any wildlife species, and molecular tools have become increasingly useful for these purposes. | | |
| | M | 162 | Analyze/Interpret Data | Assess the patterns of genetic diversity in freshwater mussels of the Umatilla and John Day Rivers | M. [original title: Assess the patterns of genetic diversity in freshwater mussels of the Umatilla and John Day River drainages with respect to other western drainages. (Responsible contractor: Utah State University)]
Genetic analysis of freshwater mussels (in 2003, DNA was extracted from three genera of mussels from the two study drainages {see 2003 Annual Report}) will be initiated to assess 1) whether the freshwater mussels found in the study areas are unique compared to adjacent and regional populations, and 2) whether the morphological variation detected in Anodonta within the study areas is indicative of genetically divergent groups or possibly cryptic species. Conservation genetics has become one of the core disciplines underpinning both conservation biology and wildlife management. An understanding of evolutionary trajectories, regional patterns of gene flow, and local population dynamics is critical to the management of any wildlife species, and molecular tools have become increasingly useful for these purposes. | | |
| | N | 157 | Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data | Determine the periods of gravidity for M. falcata, A. oregonensis, and G. angulata [John Day River] | N. [original title: Determine the periods of gravidity for M. falcata, A. oregonensis, and G. angulata from the John Day River system. (Responsible contractor: CTUIR)]
Knowledge of the reproductive biology is lacking for most of the freshwater mussels. The time of year when a mussel species is gravid varies depending on species and water temperature. The period of gravidity remains unknown for M. falcata, A. oregonensis, and G. angulata. This work will determine periods of gravidity by inspecting M. falcata, A. oregonensis, and G. angulata for the presence of eggs and/or developed glochidia from collected mussels. | | |
| | O | 157 | Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data | Determine the periods of gravidity for M. falcata, A. oregonensis, and G. angulata [John Day River] | O. [original title: Determine the periods of gravidity for M. falcata, A. oregonensis, and G. angulata from the John Day River system. (Responsible contractor: Browns River Environmental Consultants)]
Knowledge of the reproductive biology is lacking for most of the freshwater mussels. The time of year when a mussel species is gravid varies depending on species and water temperature. The period of gravidity remains unknown for M. falcata, A. oregonensis, and G. angulata. This work will determine periods of gravidity by inspecting M. falcata, A. oregonensis, and G. angulata for the presence of eggs and/or developed glochidia from collected mussels.
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| | P | 157 | Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data | Determine the host fish requirements for all three freshwater mussel species [CTUIR] | P. [original title: Determine the host fish requirements for all three freshwater mussel species found in the Umatilla and John Day River drainages by identifying encysted glochidia on wild caught fish (Responsible contractor: CTUIR)]
Knowledge of the reproductive biology of many mussels remains incomplete (Jansen 1990). Only 25% of the 304 mussel species in North America have had their host fish identified by way of field and/or laboratory experiments (Watters 1994). However, many of these findings do not distinguish primary hosts between secondary hosts, nor do they look at whether the same fish species can produce juveniles in the wild. A confirmed primary host fish for a mussel species is defined as primary host fish via laboratory experiments and also found to have encysted glochidia, from the same mussel species, on wild caught fishes. The purpose of this work is to determine possible host fish for M. falcata, A. oregonensis, and G. angulata by identifying encysted glochidia on wild caught fish. | | |
| | Q | 162 | Analyze/Interpret Data | Determine the host fish requirements for all three freshwater mussel species [BREC] | Q. [original title: Determine the host fish requirements for all three freshwater mussel species found in the Umatilla and John Day River drainages by identifying encysted glochidia on wild caught fish (Responsible contractor: Browns River Environmental Consultants)]
The purpose of this work is to determine possible host fish for M. falcata, A. oregonensis, and G. angulata by identifying encysted glochidia on wild caught fish. Knowledge of the reproductive biology of many mussels remains incomplete (Jansen 1990). Only 25% of the 304 mussel species in North America have had their host fish identified by way of field and/or laboratory experiments (Watters 1994). However, many of these findings do not distinguish primary hosts between secondary hosts, nor do they look at whether the same fish species can produce juveniles in the wild. A confirmed primary host fish for a mussel species is defined as primary host fish via laboratory experiments and also found to have encysted glochidia, from the same mussel species, on wild caught fishes. | | |
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