Abstract
Pleurobema riddellii is a state listed unionid in Texas, proposed for potential USFWS protections. Life history information is critical to determine whether a species warrants protection and to ensure that effective conservation measures are implemented. The Neches River is the only Texas river with substantial numbers of P. riddellii. In 2014, we selected three 25 m2 locations in the Neches River with the highest P. riddellii density and excavated those areas. All P. riddellii were collected, measured, and marked. This was repeated again in 2017. We used the inverted von Bertalanffy growth equation to create growth models for each location and an overall growth model. Models were compared to determine if there were differences between locations. The Highway 294 site had a higher growth rate and smaller individuals and was apparently a younger assemblage. To validate our models, additional P. riddellii were measured and their growth rings were counted. They were compared to the number of rings and sizes calculated by our model. Our overall growth model matched growth parameters calculated for other Pleurobema species, indicating that the model is accurately predicting P. riddellii growth. This study increases our knowledge of P. riddellii life history and can help in planning effective conservation strategies.
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