USGS Home
Contact USGS
Search USGS

Search fish passage bibliography

Hove, M. C., R. A. Engelking, E. R. Evers, M. E. Peteler and E. M. Peterson (1995). Suitable fish hosts of six freshwater mussels. Page 57 in M. Sandheinrich, ed. Proceedings of the Mississippi River Research Consortium, La Crosse, Wisconsin (USA), Mississippi River Research Consortium.

Most freshwater mussels (unionids) must briefly attach to a fish in order to complete their life cycle. Management of rare unionids frequently demands knowledge of their fish host(s). Studies were conducted in 1994 to determine suitable fish hosts of the following unionids: purple wartyback Cyclonaias tuberculata, creek heelsplitter Lasmigona compressa, fluted-shell L. costata, black sandshell Ligumia recta, cylindrical papershell Anodontoides ferussacianus, and squawfoot Strophitus undulatus. Suitable fish hosts were determined by artificially exposing fish to mussel glochidia and determining if they facilitated glochidia metamorphosis to the juvenile stage. Six fish species were infested with C. tuberculata glochidia, but only the yellow bullhead Ameiurus natalis served as a suitable host. Four of ten fish species tested were found to be suitable hosts for Lasmigona compressa: spotfin shiner Cyprinella spiloptera, slimy sculpin Cottus cognatus, black crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus, and yellow perch Perca flavescens. Juvenile Lasmigona costata were collected from one (slimy sculpin) of four fish species tested. Of eight fish species tested, Ligumia recta glochidia completely metamorphosed only on bluegill Lepomis macrochirus. Six of eleven species tested were found to be suitable hosts for S. undulatus glochidia: spotfin shiner, fathead minnow Pimephales promelas, bluegill, largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides, yellow bullhead, and black bullhead Ameiurus melas. Juvenile Anodontoides ferussacianus were collected from aquaria holding spotfin shiner and black crappie. Stuidies in 1994 combined with earlier studies at the University of Minnesota have identified several previously unknown suitable fish hosts for a variety of unionids.