Informing a conservation strategy for recovery of a federally endangered mussel (Tennessee Bean) in the Obed Wild and Scenic River, TN: Identifying contaminants of potential concern and evaluating effects of elevated toxicants on mussel recruitment
The Obed Wild and Scenic River, located on the Cumberland Plateau, is in a region where major declines and mass mortality of mussels have been observed. The Wild and Scenic River contains designated critical habitat for the federally endangered endemic Tennessee Bean (Venustaconcha trabalis; aka Purple Bean). Water quality and habitat conditions in the Obed are critical factors for recovery of the species. Previous studies have determined that mussels are sensitive to contaminants such as ammonia, and heavy metals (e.g., copper, nickel, zinc) and major ions (e.g., chloride, potassium, nitrate, sulfate) (Wang et al. 2007, 2010, 2013, 2017). Poor water quality in the Obed Wild and Scenic River may play a role in the decline of Tennessee Bean and identifying the specific contaminants of concern will be necessary for recovery of Tennessee Bean. Additionally, the role of disease in mussel decline has received little attention but recent studies have found an association between disease agents and mass mussel mortality events (Richard et al. 2020; 2022; Leis et al. 2019, 2023).
During mass mortality events, changes in the microbiome of the mussel have been reported (Leis et al. 2019) and may indicate environmental stressors. Recently, the development of molecular assays (qPCR, quantitative polymerase chain reaction; creates multiple copies of targeted genes and quantifies the amount of DNA present over time) to detect microbes associated with mussel mortality events have allowed for broad screening for specific microbes of concern in mussel tissues and water samples .
The objectives for this study are to:
1. Identify potential contaminants in the Obed Wild and Scenic River using existing databases and a field survey. Based on the State of Tennessee’s 303(d) listing for nutrients, we will focus on inorganic contaminants (e.g., metals, major ions organic carbon). The field survey will encompass measurements of water quality parameters (e.g., hardness, pH), nutrients, and up to 10 metals and metalloids of potential concern.
2. Evaluate the toxicity of contaminants of potential concern identified during the field survey to the sensitive juvenile stage of Tennessee Bean and determine the toxicity thresholds.
3. Evaluate the potential toxicity of a permitted effluent (treated water) produced by a local wastewater treatment plant to the Tennessee Bean and two standard toxicity test species (Cladoceran, Ceriodaphnia dubia and Fathead Minnow, Pimephales promelas).
4. Characterize and compare the microbiome and metabolomic (the study of the end products of metabolism) profile of resident mussels at selected sites in the Obed Wild and Scenic River and compare to water and sediment contaminants analysis at the same sites.
5. Evaluate in-situ survival and growth of propagated Tennessee Bean juveniles; evaluate bioaccumulation of contaminants of potential concern in shells or mussel soft tissues and characterize metabolomic and microbial profile of surrogate species (Rainbow Mussel, Villosa iris) juveniles at selected sites at 4-6 months and 1 year.
This study is ongoing and is in collaboration with the National Park Service and the USGS Columbia Environmental Research Center.
References:
Leis E, Erickson S, Waller D, Richard J, Goldberg T. 2019. A comparison of bacteria cultured from unionid mussel hemolymph between stable populations in the upper Mississippi River and a mortality event in the Clinch River. Freshwater Mollusk Biology and Conservation. 22:70-80.
Leis, E. M., Dziki, S., Richard, J., Agbalog, R., Waller, D., Putnam, J., Knowles, S., Goldberg, T. (2023). Further bacteriological analysis of annual Pheasantshell (Actinonaias Pectorosa) mussel mortality events in the Clinch River (Virginia/Tennessee), USA, reveals a consistent association with Yokenella regensburgei. Freshwater Mollusk Biology and Conservation, 26(1). https://doi.org/10.31931/fmbc-d-22-00001
Richard, J., Leis, E., Dunn, C.D., Agbalog, R., Waller, D., Knowles, S., Putnam, J., Goldberg. T.L. 2020. Mass mortality in freshwater mussels (Actinonaias pectorosa) in the Clinch River, USA, linked to a novel densovirus. Scientific Reports 10:14498. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-71459-z
Richard, J. C., Leis, E. M., Dunn, C. D., Harris, C., Agbalog, R. E., Campbell, L. J., Knowles, S., Waller, D. L., Putnam, J. G., Goldberg, T. L. (2022). freshwater mussels show elevated viral richness and intensity during a mortality event. Viruses, 14(12), 2603. https://doi.org/10.3390/v14122603
Wang N, Ingersoll CG, Greer IE, Hardesty DK, Ivey CD, Kunz JL, Brumbaugh WG, Dwyer FJ, Roberts AD, Augspurger T, Kane CM, Neves RJ, Barnhart MC. 2007. Chronic toxicity of copper and ammonia to juvenile freshwater mussels (Unionidae). Environ Toxicol Chem 26:2048-2056.
Wang N, Ingersoll CG, Ivey CD, Hardesty DK, May TW, Augspurger T, Roberts AD, van Genderen E, Barnhart MC. 2010. Sensitivity of early life stages of freshwater mussels (Unionidae) to acute and chronic toxicity of lead, cadmium, and zinc in water. Environ Toxicol Chem 29:2053-2063.
Wang N, Ingersoll CG, Kunz JL, Brumbaugh WG, Kane CM, Evans RB, Alexander S, Walker C, Bakaletz S. 2013. Toxicity of sediments potentially contaminated by coal mining and natural gas extraction to unionid mussels and commonly tested benthic invertebrates. Environ Toxicol Chem 32: 207-221.
Wang N, Ivey CD, Ingersoll CG, Brumbaugh WG, Alvarez D, Hammer EJ, Bauer CR, Augspurger T, Raimondo S, Barnhart MC. 2017. Acute sensitivity of a broad range of freshwater mussels to chemicals with different modes of toxic action. Environ Toxicol Chem 36:786-79
The Obed Wild and Scenic River, located on the Cumberland Plateau, is in a region where major declines and mass mortality of mussels have been observed. The Wild and Scenic River contains designated critical habitat for the federally endangered endemic Tennessee Bean (Venustaconcha trabalis; aka Purple Bean). Water quality and habitat conditions in the Obed are critical factors for recovery of the species. Previous studies have determined that mussels are sensitive to contaminants such as ammonia, and heavy metals (e.g., copper, nickel, zinc) and major ions (e.g., chloride, potassium, nitrate, sulfate) (Wang et al. 2007, 2010, 2013, 2017). Poor water quality in the Obed Wild and Scenic River may play a role in the decline of Tennessee Bean and identifying the specific contaminants of concern will be necessary for recovery of Tennessee Bean. Additionally, the role of disease in mussel decline has received little attention but recent studies have found an association between disease agents and mass mussel mortality events (Richard et al. 2020; 2022; Leis et al. 2019, 2023).
During mass mortality events, changes in the microbiome of the mussel have been reported (Leis et al. 2019) and may indicate environmental stressors. Recently, the development of molecular assays (qPCR, quantitative polymerase chain reaction; creates multiple copies of targeted genes and quantifies the amount of DNA present over time) to detect microbes associated with mussel mortality events have allowed for broad screening for specific microbes of concern in mussel tissues and water samples .
The objectives for this study are to:
1. Identify potential contaminants in the Obed Wild and Scenic River using existing databases and a field survey. Based on the State of Tennessee’s 303(d) listing for nutrients, we will focus on inorganic contaminants (e.g., metals, major ions organic carbon). The field survey will encompass measurements of water quality parameters (e.g., hardness, pH), nutrients, and up to 10 metals and metalloids of potential concern.
2. Evaluate the toxicity of contaminants of potential concern identified during the field survey to the sensitive juvenile stage of Tennessee Bean and determine the toxicity thresholds.
3. Evaluate the potential toxicity of a permitted effluent (treated water) produced by a local wastewater treatment plant to the Tennessee Bean and two standard toxicity test species (Cladoceran, Ceriodaphnia dubia and Fathead Minnow, Pimephales promelas).
4. Characterize and compare the microbiome and metabolomic (the study of the end products of metabolism) profile of resident mussels at selected sites in the Obed Wild and Scenic River and compare to water and sediment contaminants analysis at the same sites.
5. Evaluate in-situ survival and growth of propagated Tennessee Bean juveniles; evaluate bioaccumulation of contaminants of potential concern in shells or mussel soft tissues and characterize metabolomic and microbial profile of surrogate species (Rainbow Mussel, Villosa iris) juveniles at selected sites at 4-6 months and 1 year.
This study is ongoing and is in collaboration with the National Park Service and the USGS Columbia Environmental Research Center.
References:
Leis E, Erickson S, Waller D, Richard J, Goldberg T. 2019. A comparison of bacteria cultured from unionid mussel hemolymph between stable populations in the upper Mississippi River and a mortality event in the Clinch River. Freshwater Mollusk Biology and Conservation. 22:70-80.
Leis, E. M., Dziki, S., Richard, J., Agbalog, R., Waller, D., Putnam, J., Knowles, S., Goldberg, T. (2023). Further bacteriological analysis of annual Pheasantshell (Actinonaias Pectorosa) mussel mortality events in the Clinch River (Virginia/Tennessee), USA, reveals a consistent association with Yokenella regensburgei. Freshwater Mollusk Biology and Conservation, 26(1). https://doi.org/10.31931/fmbc-d-22-00001
Richard, J., Leis, E., Dunn, C.D., Agbalog, R., Waller, D., Knowles, S., Putnam, J., Goldberg. T.L. 2020. Mass mortality in freshwater mussels (Actinonaias pectorosa) in the Clinch River, USA, linked to a novel densovirus. Scientific Reports 10:14498. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-71459-z
Richard, J. C., Leis, E. M., Dunn, C. D., Harris, C., Agbalog, R. E., Campbell, L. J., Knowles, S., Waller, D. L., Putnam, J. G., Goldberg, T. L. (2022). freshwater mussels show elevated viral richness and intensity during a mortality event. Viruses, 14(12), 2603. https://doi.org/10.3390/v14122603
Wang N, Ingersoll CG, Greer IE, Hardesty DK, Ivey CD, Kunz JL, Brumbaugh WG, Dwyer FJ, Roberts AD, Augspurger T, Kane CM, Neves RJ, Barnhart MC. 2007. Chronic toxicity of copper and ammonia to juvenile freshwater mussels (Unionidae). Environ Toxicol Chem 26:2048-2056.
Wang N, Ingersoll CG, Ivey CD, Hardesty DK, May TW, Augspurger T, Roberts AD, van Genderen E, Barnhart MC. 2010. Sensitivity of early life stages of freshwater mussels (Unionidae) to acute and chronic toxicity of lead, cadmium, and zinc in water. Environ Toxicol Chem 29:2053-2063.
Wang N, Ingersoll CG, Kunz JL, Brumbaugh WG, Kane CM, Evans RB, Alexander S, Walker C, Bakaletz S. 2013. Toxicity of sediments potentially contaminated by coal mining and natural gas extraction to unionid mussels and commonly tested benthic invertebrates. Environ Toxicol Chem 32: 207-221.
Wang N, Ivey CD, Ingersoll CG, Brumbaugh WG, Alvarez D, Hammer EJ, Bauer CR, Augspurger T, Raimondo S, Barnhart MC. 2017. Acute sensitivity of a broad range of freshwater mussels to chemicals with different modes of toxic action. Environ Toxicol Chem 36:786-79