Freshwater mussels are the most imperiled large group of organisms in North America.

Basic biology, life history, fish hosts, effects of contaminants on early life stages, water quality parameters, microhabitat needs, distribution data, and demographic and abundance information are poorly known for these species. Molecular genetics and soft anatomy studies of particularly the species complexes are needed to clarify which species are truly at risk. Some wide-ranging species may represent multiple narrow endemics that are in desperate need of protection. (Recent genetic studies with fishes have shown that the freshwater fish fauna of the southeastern United States is much more diverse than taxonomists previously thought.)

Freshwater Mussels

Elktoe mussel - Alasmidonta marginata
Mussel - Plethobasus cyphyus
Snuffbox mussel - Epioblasma triquetra
Pink pigtoe mussel - Pleurobema rubrum
Mussel - Cumberlandia monodonta

Sheyenne River Clams, Kathryn, ND. August 2001 Photo by Jean Legge		VIEW Clamor over Clams USGS VIEW Sheyenne River Invertebrate Assessment Project Andre DeLorme of VCSU VIEW Aquatic Mussels of North Dakota USGS
	ND Native Forests: found along riparian zones. Courtesy: ND Forest Service

FRESHWATER MUSSEL MANAGEMENT

IN NORTH DAKOTA

BY STEVE DYKE

NORTH DAKOTA GAME AND FISH DEPARTMENT

Published in Freshwater Mussels of the Great Plains: Ecology and Prehistoric Utilization

Great Plains Archeology, 2000 v.8-n.1 Pages 99-102

Joint Publication of Nebraska Association of Professional Archeologists and the Nebraska Historical Society