Diane Waller

USGS research on carbon dioxide (CO2 ) has shown its effectiveness and relative selectivity as a control tool for nuisance mussels, zebra and quagga mussels ( Dreissena spp.). Infusing low concentrations of CO2 into water lines can prevent settlement and attachment of larval (veliger) stages of dreissenid mussels. Short-term exposure to higher concentrations of CO2 can cause detachment and...

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 Snuffbox mussel ( Epioblasma triquetra) was a historically widespread species occurring in 210 lakes and streams in the United States and Canada; however, the range has declined by 62% and reduced to 79 lakes and streams. Existing populations are small and isolated, increasing the risk of species extinction. These factors prompted the listing of Snuffbox as federally endangered in 2012...

The St. Croix National Scenic Riverway (SACN) is one of the best remaining refuges for declining populations of native unionid mussels in the United States and supports the only known self-sustaining population of the federally endangered Winged Mapleleaf ( Quadrula fragosa) in the Upper Mississippi River basin. Mussel fauna are important to the river ecosystem, providing important ecological...

Native freshwater mussels play a critical role in aquatic environments and are considered “ecosystem engineers” and indicators of water quality by constantly filtering water. Populations of native freshwater mussels have declined in recent years, and this decline has been attributed to factors such as habitat degradation, pollution, and invasive species, among others. The importance of these...

Assessing Impacts of Emerging and Established Diseases to Aquatic Ecosystems The role of disease in freshwater mussel declines has been largely ignored due to the lack of appropriate diagnostic tools. Furthermore, health assessment of mussels in conjunction with restoration and propagation has not been considered during stocking and augmentation activities. This project will develop standard...