Sensitivity to aerial exposure: potential of system-wide drawdowns to manage zebra mussels in the Mississippi River

Abstract

We report the results of five experiments performed during periods of lowered river water level in Pool 26 of the Mississippi River. Four experiments compared survivorship of zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) and unionid mussels (Unionidae). Under mild spring conditions (March), survivorship of zebra mussels was similar to that of unionid mussels, but during summer (July) survivorship of zebra mussels was lower than that of unionid mussels. Survivorship of zebra mussels was greatest when attached to native unionids, compared with detached zebra mussels and zebra mussels attached rocks. A fifth experiment compared survivorship of 10 species of unionid mussels after 24 hours of aerial exposure. In general, survivorship of thick-shelled species, such as Amblema plicata, was greater than survivorship of thin-shelled species, such as Potamilus ohiensis. The experiments conducted suggest that drawdowns during warm summer conditions could have a profound, negative influence on zebra mussel demography and distribution. In contrast, unionid mussel survival was unaffected by aerial exposure of up to 24 hours during a midsummer drawdown. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.