Current Undergraduate Students
(Major: BS - Wildlife Ecology & Management; Hometown: Willow Spring, MO)
FRESHWATER MUSSEL HABITAT VARIABILITY AND MOVEMENT PATTERNS FOLLOWING RELOCATION: A CASE STUDY OF
POTAMILUS CAPAX (GREEN 1832)
David R. Baldridge, Andrew J. Peck, and Alan D. Christian Arkansas State University. 1Department of Biological Sciences; 2 Department of Environmental Science, State University, Arkansas, 72467.
ABSTRACT: Identification of appropriate habitat characteristics are among the most important aspects
when selecting a viable relocation site for mussels, yet behavioral patterns following
these relocations are little known. The target species of this study is the fat pocketbook,
Potamilus capax, designated as “Endangered” in June 1976 by the USFWS. The goal of
this project is to better understand the behavior of relocated mussels with the objectives
being: 1) to determine movement patterns of resident and relocated P. capax; and 2) to
determine if P. capax prefers certain substrates over others. We hypothesize that
relocated P. capax will show a greater displacement than resident P. capax and that P. capax will chose certain substrates. We examined movement patterns of resident and
relocated P. capax where 2 study groups were monitored for displacement: the first group
monitored from October, 2005 to January, 2006 and July to November, 2006; the second
group was monitored quarterly from May, 2005 through March, 2007. Substrate
composition, along with water depth and velocity, were determined through
perpendicular transects at 10 meter intervals. Substrate, depth and velocity were
interpolated using krieging and GIS. Results of this study will help refine relocation
monitoring methods involving freshwater mussels with a movement and substrate
characteristics in their life history. Because monitoring of relocated P. capax has proven
to be largely unsuccessful, better understanding their movement abilities will provide a
more thorough perspective of how this species uses available habitat and will provide
options to refine selection criteria for potential relocation sites.
TRACY BIANCO
(Major: BS - Pre-professional; Hometown: Jonesboro, AR)
The use of protein concentration as a potential indicator of freshwater mussel (Mollusca: Bivalvia) fitness.
Tracy A. Bianco, Andrew J. Peck, Jeannette M. Loutsch, and Alan D. Christian.
Arkansas State University, Department of Biological Sciences, Arkansas State University, State University, Arkansas. 72467
ABSTRACT: As part of larger study
using glycogen content, lipid content, and RNA:DNA ratios found in mantle tissue
of freshwater mussel as overall fitness indicators, we are proposing to
investigate if protein concentration can be a useful fitness indicator. These
tests are indicators of how well relocated mussels adjust to their new habitat.
Due to the transcription and translation relationships between DNA, RNA, and,
protein, we anticipate identifying similar patterns of protein concentration
between resident and relocated individuals as found in these other fitness
indicators such as RNA:DNA, lipid concentrations and glycogen concentrations.
The results of this study may help to streamline future study designs and
identify other potentially viable indicators by determining the effectiveness of
relocating individuals from harms way during mitigation efforts related to such
activities such as bridge construction and channel maintenance dredging.
(Major: BS - Wildlife Ecology & Management; Hometown: )
(Major: BS - Wildlife Ecology & Management; Hometown: Heber Springs, AR)
(Honors ABI Internship; Major: BS - Pre-professional; Hometown: Jonesboro, AR)
(RISE Program; Colorado State University; Hometown: Boston, MA)
Black Basses Habitat
Quantification in the Eleven Point River, Arkansas
Esther Daniells1,
Ronald L. Johnson2, and Alan
D. Christian2
1Colorado State
University: Fort Collins, Co;
2Department of
Biological Sciences and Environmental Sciences Program, Arkansas State
University: Jonesboro, AR
The Eleven Point River, Arkansas originates in southeast Missouri,
Howell County, along the border of northeast Arkansas. The Eleven Point
River joins Spring River near Ravendon, Arkansas. The Eleven Point River
has an abundant amount of habitats; each organism has a habitat
requirement. In this study the habitat: riffles, runs and pools were
quantified. The quantification is important because it is going to be
compared to see how it corresponses with the previous study on the
distribution of the following black basses of the Eleven Point River,
AK: Micropterus
dolomieui:
smallmouth,
Micropterus salmoides: largemouth and spotted:
Micropterus punctalatus which all require different habitats.
We gathered the information on the river’s substrate composition, length
(m), width (m), water chemistry, embededness (mm), water clarity (m),
depth (m), canopy opening and velocity (m/s) in a spread of five days.
The habitat quantification for these basses is important because they
are big game fish. By having a clearer understanding of their
distribution and the surrounding habitats ideal for them, it will be
easier to monitor them and control the rate they are fished at.
(McNair Scholar; Major: BS - Pre-professional; Hometown: Bryant, AR)
Molecular testing on freshwater mollusks: analysis construction effects
on freshwater mussel lipid concentration
Ronald E. McNair Program
Background:
Freshwater mussels are vital components of river ecosystems and
important to researchers because of their large size, long life span,
and utility in bio-monitoring a tool used in assessing habitat health.
It is in North America that the greatest diversity of freshwater
mussels is found consisting of over three hundred species. However, over
seventy percent of those species are either extinct, endangered,
threatened, or of special concern (Williams et al 1993.)
Objectives:
This research aims to determine if there are any physiological effects
(i.e. stress) on freshwater mussels associated with pre and post river
bridge construction directly above a freshwater mussel bed. This is
achieved through examining the trends in molecular fitness testing by
using macromolecules as biotic indicators to indicate stress in
organisms. The macromolecules chosen for this research were glycogen
and lipids. The collection of mussel tissue will be before, during, and
after bridge construction, which will allow for there to be a measure
and comparison of fitness indicator concentrations (e.g. glycogen and
lipids). The study site for this research project is held at the Saline
River in Sheridan, Arkansas. This site was chosen because Arkansas
Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD)
is building a bridge at the crossing of a road and mussel bed at the
Saline River.
Former Undergraduate Students
GRACE MILLER
(Major: BS - Pre-professional; Hometown: North Little Rock, AR)
Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Organic and Inorganic Material within Total Sediment Load Samples in the Lower White River, Arkansas
Grace Miller1, Andrew J. Peck2, and Alan D. Christian1,2
1Arkansas State University, Department of Biological Sciences, PO Box 599, State University AR, 72401
2Arkansas State University, Department of Environmental Science, PO Box , State University, AR, 72401
ABSTRACT: The foundation of food webs is organic material,
in all of its various forms. Organic matter is a food source for primary
consumers; therefore, organics are significant to the survival of organisms in
the river system. Though both organic and inorganic materials are considered to
play a significant ecological role in a river reach, the distribution of organic
and inorganic suspended load and bedload is not very well understood. For this
study, suspended load is defined as that material that is suspended in the water
column while bedload is defined as material in motion at the bottom of the
stream that was collected by a Helley-Smith bedload sampler. In conjunction
with a larger study examining multiple habitat parameters of mussel beds in the
lower White River, Arkansas, we examined the spatial and temporal distribution
of organic and inorganic suspended and bed load. Organic and inorganic content
of suspended load and bedload were examined using standard lab methods. Though
this study is in the preliminary stages, we expect to find an uneven
distribution of organic material both spatially and temporally. Understanding
the distribution of organic material within a reach can be important to
understanding the formation and distribution of aquatic habitats.
WAYLON EDWARDS
(Major: BS - Wildlife Ecology and Management; Hometown: DeWitt, AR)
JASON GAMBILL
(Major: BS - Pre-professional; Hometown: Jonesboro, AR)
ANTHONY PERKINS
(Major: BSE - Biology Education; Hometown: Jonesboro, AR)
