Detection and transport of environmental DNA from two federally endangered mussels.

Environmental DNA (eDNA) offers a novel approach to supplement traditional surveys and provide increased spatial and temporal information on species detection, and it can be especially beneficial for detecting at risk or threatened species with minimal impact on the target species. The transport of eDNA in lotic environments is an important component in providing more informed descriptions of where and when a species is present, but eDNA transport phenomena are not well understood. In this study, we used species-specific assays to detect eDNA from two federally endangered mussels in two geographically distinct rivers.

Preparing Aquatic Research for an Extreme Future: Call for Improved Definitions and Responsive, Multidisciplinary Approaches.

Extreme events have increased in frequency globally, with a simultaneous surge in scientific interest about their ecological responses, particularly in sensitive freshwater, coastal, and marine ecosystems. We synthesized observational studies of extreme events in these aquatic ecosystems, finding that many studies do not use consistent definitions of extreme events. Furthermore, many studies do not capture ecological responses across the full spatial scale of the events.

Environmental DNA (eDNA) Shedding and Decay Rates to Model Freshwater Mussel eDNA Transport in a River.

Freshwater mussels are vital components of stream ecosystems, yet remain threatened. Thus, timely and accurate species counts are critical for proper conservation and management. Mussels live in stream sediments and can be challenging to survey given constraints related to water depth, flow, and time of year.

Consumer Aggregations Drive Nutrient Dynamics and Ecosystem Metabolism in Nutrient-Limited Systems.

Differences in animal distributions and metabolic demands can influence energy and nutrient flow in an ecosystem. Through taxa-specific nutrient consumption, storage, and remineralization, animals may influence energy and nutrient pathways in an ecosystem. Here we show these taxa-specific traits can drive biogeochemical cycles of nutrients and alter ecosystem primary production and metabolism, using riverine systems that support heterogeneous freshwater mussel aggregations.

Effects of flow restoration on mussel growth in a Wild and Scenic North American River.

Background: Freshwater mussels remain among the most imperiled species in North America due primarily to habitat loss or degradation. Understanding how mussels respond to habitat changes can improve conservation efforts. Mussels deposit rings in their shell in which age and growth information can be read, and thus used to evaluate how mussels respond to changes in habitat.