The status of unionid and dreissenid mussels in northwestern Pennsylvania inland lakes.

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Author(s)
Butkas, Katrina J.
Ostrofsky, Milton L.
Date Issued
2006
Abstract
A survey of the native unionid fauna of the eight natural lakes in the glaciated region of northwestern Pennsylvania suggests that the documented species richness of regional lotic habitats cannot be extended to lentic habitats. Richness ranged from 0 to 5 species per lake, and population densities (<0.03 individuals/m²) are low. The most frequent and abundant species were Pyganodon grandis and Utterbackia imbecillis, each occurring in five lakes, and making up 50% and 15% respectively of all unionids collected. Two of the lakes have been successfully colonized by Dreissena polymorpha, with evidence of an unsuccessful introduction in a third. In Sandy Lake, 78% of the unionids were fouled by Dreissena, with an average density of 271 Dreissena/unionid. Although none of the seven species of native unionids found in this survey are regionally endangered, the prognosis for lake populations is poor.
Journal
The Nautilus
Department
Biology
Citation
Butkas, K.J., and Ostrofsky, M.L. (2016). The status of unionid and dreissenid mussels in northwestern Pennsylvania inland lakes. The Nautilus 120(3): 106-111.
Publisher
Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum
Version of Article
Published article
Rights
This article is published with a creative commons license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/
Subjects

Unionids

zebra mussels

Pennsylvania lakes

Corbicula

Dreissena

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