Development and Implementation of Freshwater

Species Recovery Efforts in Alabama

Paul D. Johnson, Ph.D.Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Alabama Aquatic Biodiversity CenterMarion, Alabama

• Alabama Aquatic Biodiversity Center (AABC)• Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries • Department of Conservation and Natural Resources• Not part of the state general fund• Primary funding state wildlife and other external

funds• No regulatory authority• http://www.outdooralabama.com

Cahaba River, Shelby County

AABC Mission:• Promote recovery of imperiled non-game aquatic species• Coordinate / direct research efforts for rare species• Promote habitat / river recovery efforts• Complete species restoration through reintroduction

INTRODUCTION:• Aquatic diversity summary • Species recovery methods• Site selections• Example reintroductions

Alabama Physiographic & River Basins

Distributions of Freshwater Species in Selected Southeastern States

Mussels Snails Crayfish Fish Amphibians (301) (702) (338) (1024) (163)Alabama 181 204 85+ 308 69Tennessee 132 87 62 298 66 Georgia 119 83 53 219 81Kentucky 103 62 47 220 49Mississippi 85 35 64 204 59

Pleurobema rubellum - Warrior Pigtoe

308 Species15 federally listed

85+ Species 0 federally listed

182 Species52 federally

listed

204 Historical 12 federally listed

Alabama Federally Listed Species

S…

010203040506070

5 80 4

39

2

31

67Sp

ecie

s

Recent North American Extinctions

PLAN FOR THE POPULATION RESTORATION AND CONSERVATION OF IMPERILED FRESHWATER MOLLUSKS OF THE

MOBILE RIVER BASIN      

Prepared by the: 

Mobile River Basin Mollusk Restoration Committee      

January 2010

Mollusk Recovery Planning

Proposed Reintroduction of the Orangenacre Mucket, Hamiota

peovalis (Conrad, 1834), in the Tallatchee Creek, Monroe County, Alabama

Paul D. Johnson, Ph.D., Program Supervisor, Alabama Aquatic Biodiversity Center, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, 2200 Highway 175, Marion, AL 36756 CURRENT SITE RELEASE PLAN Species Priority: Hamiota perovalis (Conrad, 1834), Orangenacre Mucket was listed as threatened by the US

Fish and Wildlife Service in 1999. The species is considered a Priority 2 rank by the Alabama

Department of Conservation (ADCNR) and threatened by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife,

Fisheries, and Parks (MSDWF&P). The species is considered a Tier 3 priority by the Mobile

River Basin Mollusk Restoration Committee. Hamiota perovalis is ranked as G2 by NatureServe

and is also considered threatened by the American Fisheries Society. Species boundaries are

somewhat confused, but it’s generally restricted to lower Cahaba and direct tributaries in the

Alabama River and throughout the Tombigbee River basin (Williams et al. 2008). Currently

restricted to 23 localities, most occurrences are found in the Tombigbee River basin (Mobile

River Mollusk Restoration Committee 2010).

Southern Pocketbook, Lampsilis ornata – Cahaba River

1.

2.

3.

4.Artificial culture process for freshwater mussels:

Modified from figure in Barnhart et al 2006

Partial Flow-Thru Bucket Culture System:

SUPSYS – Open Water Mussel Culture Chamber:

Lampsilis virescens – in SUPSYS 14 days

Lampsilis virescens – in SUPSYS 135 days

Upwelling cup containing juvenile mussels placed in silo.

1 mm mesh

Photo of a single silo placed in possible release site.

In-Situ Pre-Release

Deployed Mussel Silo

July 8, 2010

Villosa nebulosa – Choccolocco Creek Silo Test @ week 4. Note growth around ventral shell margin. August 4, 2010

Choccolocco Creek, Talladega CountyLarger channels preferred: * Higher productivity, more heterogeneity, larger surface, discharge more stable * Animals positively rheotaxic * Improved colonization rate and population size potential

Bear Creek, Colbert County, Reintroductions:

Alabama Lampmussel 1,039 Individuals = 28 pounds

Cumberland Moccasinshell 140 Individuals

Alabama Lampmussel recaptures - Bear Creek, Colbert Co., AL

June 14, 2012

≈ 9,000 Leptoxis plicata awaiting release

Juvenile Leptoxis plicata at Wallstown release site, Blount County, Alabama. Snails recruited from 2011 released cultured snails. June 13, 2011

Locust Fork Reintroduction Monitoring:

Plicate Rocksnail reintroduction site on the Locust Fork of the Black Warrior River, Blount County Alabama. October 16, 2005

Plicate Rocksnail reintroduction site on the Locust Fork Black Warrior River, Blount County Alabama. August 26, 2010

Jefferson

Blount

Locust Fork – Black Warrior River :

Etowah

Walker

1. Kimberly Site

2. Locust Fork Site

3. Wallstown Site

Release Date Number Released

July 17, 2003 4,876

October 16, 2003 11,912

July & October 2003 16,788

Release Date Number Released

January 28, 2005 4,812

October 16, 2005 > 17,000

October 3, 2006 31,425

 2005 - 2006 > 53,237

Release Date Number Released

September 14, 2010 13,200

October 4, 2011 1,281

September 2012 4,002

2010 - 2012 18,483

• Survey• Location of Reintroduction Site• Brood Stock Allocation• Culture• In-Situ Silo Trial• Reintroduction• Evaluation of Persistence• Augmentation• Verification of Recruitment

• Basic research is a requirement• Lack of WQ stability impedes recovery• Habitat monitoring SHU process benefits more than imperiled spp.

Culture & Reintroduction Process:

AABC 2012 Mollusk Reintroductions:

Alabama Lampmussel - EPaint Rock - lowerBear CreekElk River, TNCumberland Bean – EPaint RockCumberland MoccasinshellBear Creek

Alabama RainbowChoccolocco CreekAlabama CreekmusselChoccolocco Creek

Southern Combshell - ECahaba RiverCoosa Moccasinshell - ELittle Cahaba River

Fine-lined Pocketbook - TLittle RiverInterrupted Rocksnail – EWeiss Bypass

Rabbitsfoot - CLimestone CreekPainted CreekshellLimestone CreekOyster Mussel – EPaint Rock

Orangenacre Mucket - TTallatchee Creek

Tennessee Basin:

Coosa Basin:

Cahaba Basin:

Alabama Basin:

Spotted Rocksnail Cahaba River

Painted Creekmussel & Rabbitsfoot – Limestone Creek – September 2012