Unique Presentation Identifier:
O22
Program Type
Undergraduate
Faculty Advisor
Dr. Kyler Hecke
Document Type
Presentation
Location
Face-to-face
Start Date
29-4-2025 3:00 PM
Abstract
Freshwater mussels are facing an increasing need for conservation due to their declining populations. More data is needed on mussel distributions, especially in tributaries of large rivers to properly conserve and restore populations. Big Shoal Creek and Little Shoal Creek are two upland-tributaries of the Arkansas River (Lake Dardanelle) in which no records exist for freshwater mussel populations. We addressed this knowledge gap by sampling a total of 9 sites in Little Shoal Creek and 18 sites in Big Shoal Creek to determine the abundance and distribution of mussels in these streams. Mussels were sampled using a timed search approach. A Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was conducted to visualize the habitat data with mussel abundance data for each watershed. Little Shoal Creek yielded a total of 36 individuals across 10 species, and Big Shoal Creek yielded a total of 48 individuals across 5 species. The most abundant species in Little Shoal Creek was Yellow Sandshell (Lampsilis teres, n=12), and the most abundant species in Big Shoal Creek was Yellow Sandshell (n=36). Two mussel species in Little Shoal Creek, Yellow Sandshell and Giant Floater, have a broader frequency of lengths than observed in Big Shoal Creek. The first two principal components (PC1 and PC2) explained 38% of the variance in the dataset. The PCA demonstrates a separation between sites with a high mussel abundance and those with a low mussel abundance. High mussel abundance in both Big Shoal Creek and Little Shoal Creek is associated with greater amounts of vegetation, silt, and woody debris. Further, it appears that mussel distributions in these two watersheds are influenced by Lake Dardanelle, where mussel abundance and richness increased approaching the reservoir. Our data establishes a baseline of understanding for future conservation and monitoring efforts in these streams.
Recommended Citation
Brady, Aaron A.; Drake, Seth; Crain, Zach; and Moles, Kendall, "Distribution of Mussels in Two Intermittent Upland Streams of the Arkansas Valley Ecoregion" (2025). ATU Student Research Symposium. 38.
https://orc.library.atu.edu/atu_rs/2025/2025/38
Included in
Aquaculture and Fisheries Commons, Biodiversity Commons, Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons
Distribution of Mussels in Two Intermittent Upland Streams of the Arkansas Valley Ecoregion
Face-to-face
Freshwater mussels are facing an increasing need for conservation due to their declining populations. More data is needed on mussel distributions, especially in tributaries of large rivers to properly conserve and restore populations. Big Shoal Creek and Little Shoal Creek are two upland-tributaries of the Arkansas River (Lake Dardanelle) in which no records exist for freshwater mussel populations. We addressed this knowledge gap by sampling a total of 9 sites in Little Shoal Creek and 18 sites in Big Shoal Creek to determine the abundance and distribution of mussels in these streams. Mussels were sampled using a timed search approach. A Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was conducted to visualize the habitat data with mussel abundance data for each watershed. Little Shoal Creek yielded a total of 36 individuals across 10 species, and Big Shoal Creek yielded a total of 48 individuals across 5 species. The most abundant species in Little Shoal Creek was Yellow Sandshell (Lampsilis teres, n=12), and the most abundant species in Big Shoal Creek was Yellow Sandshell (n=36). Two mussel species in Little Shoal Creek, Yellow Sandshell and Giant Floater, have a broader frequency of lengths than observed in Big Shoal Creek. The first two principal components (PC1 and PC2) explained 38% of the variance in the dataset. The PCA demonstrates a separation between sites with a high mussel abundance and those with a low mussel abundance. High mussel abundance in both Big Shoal Creek and Little Shoal Creek is associated with greater amounts of vegetation, silt, and woody debris. Further, it appears that mussel distributions in these two watersheds are influenced by Lake Dardanelle, where mussel abundance and richness increased approaching the reservoir. Our data establishes a baseline of understanding for future conservation and monitoring efforts in these streams.