Teresa J Newton, PhD
Teresa Newton holds a B.S. in Biology from Central Michigan University, and M.S. in Biology from Tennessee Technological University, and a PhD in Fisheries Biology and Toxicology from Iowa State University
Teresa's research interests focus on the conservation and ecology of freshwater mussels, a group of benthic animals in which 70% of the North American species are threatened. Mussels are keystone species in many rivers and their catastrophic decline may lead to the decline of other faunal groups and the alteration of ecosystem processes. Teresa uses a combination of comparative and experimental approaches to understand factors affecting the distribution and abundance of freshwater mussels and to determine the roles that mussels may play in large river food webs. Teresa also investigates the ecotoxicological effects of aquatic contaminants on freshwater mussels and is especially interested in developing sub-lethal endpoints of exposure. Teresa manages a native mussel team at the Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center in La Crosse, WI. The team's is currently focused on (1) understanding factors limiting the distribution, abundance, and species richness of mussels in large rivers, (2) using hydrophysical models to identify locations of patches and features of suitable habitat for mussels in the Upper Mississippi River, (3) measuring a suite of population vital rates (e.g., survival, growth. recruitment) to assess the viability of mussels within these patches, (4) developing sampling designs to estimate mussel abundances associated with habitat restoration projects, and (5) quantifying spatial patterns of adult and juvenile mussels across multiple scales in the Upper Mississippi River.
Science and Products
Population assessment and potential functional roles of native mussels in the Upper Mississippi River
Polymethylene-interrupted fatty acids: Biomarkers for native and exotic mussels in the Laurentian Great Lakes
Evaluation of single and two-stage adaptive sampling designs for estimation of density and abundance of freshwater mussels in a large river
Effect of imperfect detectability on adaptive and conventional sampling: Simulated sampling of freshwater mussels in the upper Mississippi River
Hydrodynamic modeling of juvenile mussel dispersal in a large river: The potential effects of bed shear stress and other parameters
Influence of shell morphology on distributions of unionids in the upper Mississippi River
Fish movement and habitat use depends on water body size and shape
Characteristics of a refuge for native freshwater mussels (Bivalvia: Unionidae) in Lake St. Clair
Differential exposure, duration, and sensitivity of unionoidean bivalve life stages to environmental contaminants
Use of complex hydraulic variables to predict the distribution and density of unionids in a side channel of the Upper Mississippi River
Importance of physical and hydraulic characteristics to unionid mussels: A retrospective analysis in a reach of large river
Lethal and sublethal effects of ammonia to juvenile Lampsilis mussels (Unionidae) in sediment and water-only exposures
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Population assessment and potential functional roles of native mussels in the Upper Mississippi River
1. Despite a heightened global concern for native mussels, fundamental research on mussel ecology in large rivers is lacking. These gaps in knowledge about where mussels occur, and why, are limiting habitat restoration activities. 2. Large-scale systematic surveys for native mussels in three reaches of the Upper Mississippi River documented mussel communities composed of 16–23 species and rangingAuthorsTeresa J. Newton, Steven J. Zigler, James T. Rogala, Brian R. Gray, Mike DavisPolymethylene-interrupted fatty acids: Biomarkers for native and exotic mussels in the Laurentian Great Lakes
Freshwater organisms synthesize a wide variety of fatty acids (FAs); however, the ability to synthesize and/or subsequently modify a particular FA is not universal, making it possible to use certain FAs as biomarkers. Herein we document the occurrence of unusual FAs (polymethylene-interrupted fatty acids; PMI-FAs) in select freshwater organisms in the Laurentian Great Lakes. We did not detect PMI-AuthorsTadej Mezek, Ed Sverko, Martina D. Ruddy, Donna Zaruk, Alfredo Capretta, Craig E. Hebert, Aaron T. Fisk, Daryl J. McGoldrick, Teresa J. Newton, Trent M. Sutton, Marten A. Koops, Andrew M. Muir, Timothy B. Johnson, Mark P. Ebener, Michael T. ArtsEvaluation of single and two-stage adaptive sampling designs for estimation of density and abundance of freshwater mussels in a large river
Reliable estimates of abundance are needed to assess consequences of proposed habitat restoration and enhancement projects on freshwater mussels in the Upper Mississippi River (UMR). Although there is general guidance on sampling techniques for population assessment of freshwater mussels, the actual performance of sampling designs can depend critically on the population density and spatial distribAuthorsD. R. Smith, J. T. Rogala, B. R. Gray, S. J. Zigler, T.J. NewtonEffect of imperfect detectability on adaptive and conventional sampling: Simulated sampling of freshwater mussels in the upper Mississippi River
Adaptive sampling designs are recommended where, as is typical with freshwater mussels, the outcome of interest is rare and clustered. However, the performance of adaptive designs has not been investigated when outcomes are not only rare and clustered but also imperfectly detected. We address this combination of challenges using data simulated to mimic properties of freshwater mussels from a reachAuthorsD. R. Smith, B. R. Gray, T.J. Newton, D. NicholsHydrodynamic modeling of juvenile mussel dispersal in a large river: The potential effects of bed shear stress and other parameters
Because unionid mussels have a parasitic larval stage, they are able to disperse upstream and downstream as larvae while attached to their host fish and with flow as juveniles after excystment from the host. Understanding unionid population ecology requires knowledge of the processes that affect juvenile dispersal prior to establishment. We examined presettlement (transport and dispersion with floAuthorsJ.A. Daraio, L.J. Weber, T.J. NewtonInfluence of shell morphology on distributions of unionids in the upper Mississippi River
Attempts to predict the distribution of unionids from readily measurable microhabitat descriptors (i.e. water depth, current velocity, stream size, sediment type) have been largely unsuccessful, but certain biological and calculated hydraulic variables have recently shown some predictive power. We used historic and recent data on unionids (from 1987 to 2003) and hydraulic conditions at 438 sampleAuthorsM.R. Bartsch, S. J. Zigler, T.J. Newton, J.S. SauerFish movement and habitat use depends on water body size and shape
Home ranges are central to understanding habitat diversity, effects of fragmentation and conservation. The distance that an organism moves yields information on life history, genetics and interactions with other organisms. Present theory suggests that home range is set by body size of individuals. Here, we analyse estimates of home ranges in lakes and rivers to show that body size of fish and wateAuthorsD.A. Woolnough, J. A. Downing, T.J. NewtonCharacteristics of a refuge for native freshwater mussels (Bivalvia: Unionidae) in Lake St. Clair
The Lake St. Clair delta (??? 100??km2) provides an important refuge for native freshwater mussels (Unionidae) wherein 22 of the ??? 35 historical species co-occur with invasive dreissenids. A total of 1875 live unionids representing 22 species were found during snorkeling surveys of 32 shallow (??? 1??m) sites throughout the delta. Richness and density of unionids and zebra mussel infestation ratAuthorsD.J. McGoldrick, J. L. Metcalfe-Smith, M.T. Arts, D. W. Schloesser, T.J. Newton, G.L. Mackie, E.M. Monroe, J. Biberhofer, Kevin JohnsonDifferential exposure, duration, and sensitivity of unionoidean bivalve life stages to environmental contaminants
Freshwater mussels (superfamily Unionoidea) are in serious global decline and in urgent need of protection and conservation. The declines have been attributed to a wide array of human activities resulting in pollution and water-quality degradation, and habitat destruction and alteration. Linkages among poor water quality, pollutant sources, and mussel decline in rivers and streams have been associAuthorsW.G. Cope, R.B. Bringolf, D.B. Buchwalter, T.J. Newton, C.G. Ingersoll, N. Wang, T. Augspurger, F.J. Dwyer, M.C. Barnhart, R. J. Neves, E. HammerUse of complex hydraulic variables to predict the distribution and density of unionids in a side channel of the Upper Mississippi River
Previous attempts to predict the importance of abiotic and biotic factors to unionids in large rivers have been largely unsuccessful. Many simple physical habitat descriptors (e.g., current velocity, substrate particle size, and water depth) have limited ability to predict unionid density. However, more recent studies have found that complex hydraulic variables (e.g., shear velocity, boundary sheaAuthorsJ. J. Steuer, T.J. Newton, S. J. ZiglerImportance of physical and hydraulic characteristics to unionid mussels: A retrospective analysis in a reach of large river
Interest in understanding physical and hydraulic factors that might drive distribution and abundance of freshwater mussels has been increasing due to their decline throughout North America. We assessed whether the spatial distribution of unionid mussels could be predicted from physical and hydraulic variables in a reach of the Upper Mississippi River. Classification and regression tree (CART) modeAuthorsS. J. Zigler, T.J. Newton, J. J. Steuer, M.R. Bartsch, J.S. SauerLethal and sublethal effects of ammonia to juvenile Lampsilis mussels (Unionidae) in sediment and water-only exposures
We compared the sensitivity of two juvenile unionid mussels (Lampsilis cardium and Lampsilis higginsii) to ammonia in 96-h water-only and sediment tests by use of mortality and growth measurements. Twenty mussels were placed in chambers buried 2.5 cm into reference sediments to approximate pore-water exposure (sediment tests) or elevated above the bottom of the experimental units (water-only testsAuthorsT.J. Newton, M.R. Bartsch - Software