Datasets / VA - Investigation of in-stream contaminant impacts to endangered Mussels in the upper Tennessee River Basin


VA - Investigation of in-stream contaminant impacts to endangered Mussels in the upper Tennessee River Basin

Published By US Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior

Issued over 9 years ago

US
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Summary

Type of release
a one-off release of a single dataset

Data Licence
Not Applicable

Content Licence
Creative Commons CCZero

Verification
automatically awarded

Description

There was no biologically relevant, statistically significant difference in available food or instream temperature among sites for each sampling event, these variables did not affect growth differences between sites. Mussel growth appears to be similar among sites. Histological evaluations detected no trematodes and no tissue abnormalities in mussels held at the North Fork Holston River NFHR Study Sites 1, 2 and 3. NFHR Sites 1 and 2, reaches at which mussels Henley 2005 were most infested with trematodes in the late 1990s and early 2000s, now appear to be suitable for maintaining histological integrity and gametogenesis in freshwater mussels. Sample size was small and, therefore, to increase certainty regarding the suitability of these sites for translocation or augmentation of the native mussel fauna, histological evaluation could be repeated with larger sample size. To address the finding of insecticide in mussels from NFHR Study Site 2, we recommend the following: 1 Sampling of the native mussel fauna, of several species, for analysis of pesticides organophosphates. 2 Sampling of sediments at that site for pesticide analysis. 3 Work with the local agricultural extension agent to a identify the pesticides sold and used in the localized watershed; b work with landowners to understand the sensitivity of the fauna to land and agricultural management practices; and c initiate and conduct a mussel outreach event to be held in the upper NFHR watershed to raise awareness about the fauna. To address the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Aquatic Wildlife Conservation Center AWCC Control Site mussels with a measurable total petroleum hydrocarbon bodyburden, an unexpected finding in the control mussel analyses, an investigation is underway at the facility that includes collecting and analyzing tissue, water, and sediment holding pond samples for confirmation and possible isolation of a source.