Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

SS08 Processes at the Benthic Interface (Environmental Connections)

Date: Tuesday, February 13, 2001, Time: 4:30:00 PM

Location: Ruidoso/Pecos

Christian, A, D, Miami University/Department of Zoology, Oxford, OH, USA, christad@muohio.edu

Berg, D, J, Miami University/Department of Zoology, Hamilton, OH, USA, bergdj@muohio.edu

ECOSYSTEM PROCESSING AND NUTRIENT RECYCLING OF FRESHWATER MUSSELS IN HEADWATER STREAMS

The purpose of this study was to determine the role of freshwater mussels in headwater streams. Two headwater streams, Little Darby Creek, OH and the Ouachita River, AR, were investigated. Nutrient-diffusing clay pots were placed in the streams seasonally to determine nutrient limitation in streams. Nutrient analysis of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus was conducted on FPOM, mussel tissues and mussel shells. Seasonal excretion experiments were conducted with freshwater mussels to determine excretion and biodeposition nutrient production. Spatial and temporal trends in nutrient limitation were observed within and among sites. Differences in excretion rates and ratios within and among four species, Elliptio dilatata, Ptychobranchus fasciolaris, Actinonaias ligamentina, and Lasmigona costata, were observed within and among sites. Larger individuals excreted more nutrients per unit time but at a lower mass specific rate. These results indicate that freshwater mussels are important ecosystem processors and individual species of freshwater mussels vary in rates and ratios of nutrient production.

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Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

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