From: "Robin (A) Cypher"
Subject: Freshwater mussel identification
I would like to thank you all for your responses to my query concerning =
freshwater mussel identification.=20
While some excellent guides were suggested and expert contacts were =
volunteered, the "ideal" method for identifying mussels appears to be the =
ability to locate a decent collection and consult a local expert.
Thank you again for your time and information.
Below is a summary of responses I received.
From: Greg Zimmerman
The problem with identification of freshwater mussels is that there are =
many species (around 300) and they are very variable in shell morphology. =
Some specimens can only be identified by soft parts, which are often not =
available.
The best route to take to ID mussels is find out if there are any museums =
or universities with collections in your area, or if there are any experts =
with private collections. Study collections and and any historical data =
to find out what common species you are likely to find in the area, and =
become familiar with them. It is very important to be able to see a =
mussel in three dimentions rather that just a picture.
Yes, there are some dichotomous keys available, but I'm not sure if any =
will cover your area. Because most of the the work I do is east of =
the=20
Mississippi, I'm not sure what the best texts would be.
But here's how to get in touch w/the people that can help you:
Email listproc@listproc.umbc.edu with : SUBSCRIBE UNIO "Your Name" in =
the subject box. This will subscribe you to the UNIO listserver where you =
can post your question. To post your question, send your email to =
unio@listproc.umbc.edu
and it will be posted to hundreds of mussel experts. I'm sure someone =
canrecommend some texts and a local collection.
From: "Dickson, Timothy L"
You've probably already received more responses about mussel identificatio=
n than you could ever hope for, but if you're still looking for a good =
dichotomous key then you may want to e-mail Dr. Michael Swift at St. Olaf =
College I did research one summer on freshwater =
mussels with him, and we used dichotomous keys. I no longer have the key =
nor
remember who made the key, but he should still have the information. The =
key was largely for mussels occuring in Minnesota.
From: "Fraley, Stephen J."
The only thing that I know of that comes close to fitting your bill is:
Burch, J.B. 1975. Freshwater Unionacean clams (Mollusca: Pelecypoda) of =
North America. Rev. ed. Malacological Publications. Hamburg, Michigan.
204pp.
The unionid fauna of the Colorado basin is relatively depauperate, which =
simplifies identifying what you do have. I must stress that positive, =
reliable identification of mollusks is possible only through an experience=
d molluscan taxonomist and I strongly encourage you to seek one out in =
your area of study. I gather from your message that you have gained some =
appreciation for how "squirrely" mussel taxonomy can be. DO NOT rely =
solely
on printed materials for identification. Find a good reference collection =
and make use of it. Find a reputable taxonomist and make use of them.
Another caution: For your mussel survey, you should use field personnel =
with as much experience as you can find in the area of your study and with =
the faunal assemblage found there. I have found surveying efficiency and =
effectiveness to be highly varible among field personnel and this can =
seriously affect the results of surveys. There are necessary skills =
required for conducting effective mussel surveys that only come with =
specific experience.
Nationwide mollusk experts you should contact:
Dr. David Stansbery, Ohio State. 614-292-8560
Dr. Art Bogan, North Carolina Museum of Natural History. 919-715-2606.
e-mail: Arthur.Bogan@ncmail.net
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From: Jacquie Lee
Adolf passed on your request to me for a dichotomous key to freshwater =
molluscs. I have done a lot of work on molluscs but it was in northern BC =
where there are only two species of mussels so telling them apart was not =
difficult. Most of the mussel work is done in the east so there may not =
be good keys to western species. I haven't tried to use Burch's key
(Burch, J.B. 1975. Freshwater Unionacean Clams (Molluscs: Pelecypoda) of =
North America. University of Michigan Museum), so I can vouch for it.=20
Kevin S. Cummings
ksc@inhs.uiuc.edu=20
http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/cbd/collections/mollusk.html
I'm afraid there isn't one good up-to-date key to freshwater mussels=20
of North America. If you can tell me which river basin you are=20
working in I can provide references that might help you out. I am=20
also willing to id and catalogue voucher specimens into our museum if=20
you are interested. A few general references to get you started.
Bequaert, J.C., and W.B. Miller. 1973. The mollusks of the arid=20
Southwest; with an Arizona checklist. University of Arizona Press,=20
Tuscon, Arizona. xvi + 271 pp.
Burch, J.B. 1973. Freshwater Unionacean clams (Mollusca:=20
Pelecypoda) of North America. Biota of Freshwater Ecosystems.=20
Identification Manual 11. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 176=20
pp.
Burch, J.B. 1975. Freshwater Unionacean clams (Mollusca:=20
Pelecypoda) of North America. [Revised Edition]. Malacological=20
Publications. Hamburg, Michigan. 204 pp.
Henderson, J. 1939. The mollusca of New Mexico and Arizona. pp.=20
187-194 in D.D. Brand and F.E. Harvey (eds.). So live the works of=20
men. University of New Mexico Press. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 366=20
pp.
Spamer, E.E., and A.E. Bogan. 1993. New records of Mollusca for=20
Grand Canyon National Park and Arizona. Southwestern Naturalist=20
38(3):293-298.
Taylor, D.W. 1987. Fresh-water molluscs from New Mexico and=20
vicinity. New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources Bulletin=20
116:1-50.
Yarrow, H.S. 1875. Report upon the collections of Mollusca made in=20
portions of Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona. Report of the=20
Geographic and Geologic Surveys West of the 100th Meridian [Wheeler=20
Survey]. 5:923-954.
--=20
Robin Cypher
email: rcypher@lcra.org
Environmental Laboratory Services
Lower Colorado River Authority
1-800-776-5272 ext. 5337
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