Introduction
The James River Spinymussel is a freshwater mussel found in the upper James and Dan River basins. The species has declined rapidly during the past two decades, and now only exists in small, headwater tributaries in the upper James River basin in Virginia and West Virginia. The mussel is typically slightly less than three inches in length. Adults have a dark brown shell with prominent growth rings and occasionally, short spines on each valve. Young mussels have a shiny yellow shell with or without one to three short spines.
The James River Spinymussel is a freshwater mussel found in the upper James and Dan River basins. The species has declined rapidly during the past two decades, and now only exists in small, headwater tributaries in the upper James River basin in Virginia and West Virginia. The mussel is typically slightly less than three inches in length. Adults have a dark brown shell with prominent growth rings and occasionally, short spines on each valve. Young mussels have a shiny yellow shell with or without one to three short spines.
What we have learned
Reproduction
The Spinymussel reproduces sexually using seven local species of fish as hosts. Sperm of the male mussel is released into the water where the female mussel collects it through her siphon. A glochidia, the mussel's larva, attaches to the gills of a host fish where it matures into a juvenile mussel. The glochidia take about 2-4 weeks to transform into a juvenile mussel. After development, the mussel leaves the host fish and continues to develop on the stream bottom.
Living Environment
The Spinymussel thrives in a slow to moderate water current, with clean sand and a cobble bottom sediment. It is capable of living in relatively any depth, and mainly exists in relatively unpolluted waters free from silt. Mussels are sedentary and unable to move long distances, so when they experience heavy silt loads from human activities such as agricultural practices and road construction, they are severely impacted. The creation of buffer zones is accepted as the most effective solution to this problem.
Reproduction
The Spinymussel reproduces sexually using seven local species of fish as hosts. Sperm of the male mussel is released into the water where the female mussel collects it through her siphon. A glochidia, the mussel's larva, attaches to the gills of a host fish where it matures into a juvenile mussel. The glochidia take about 2-4 weeks to transform into a juvenile mussel. After development, the mussel leaves the host fish and continues to develop on the stream bottom.
Living Environment
The Spinymussel thrives in a slow to moderate water current, with clean sand and a cobble bottom sediment. It is capable of living in relatively any depth, and mainly exists in relatively unpolluted waters free from silt. Mussels are sedentary and unable to move long distances, so when they experience heavy silt loads from human activities such as agricultural practices and road construction, they are severely impacted. The creation of buffer zones is accepted as the most effective solution to this problem.
Search Procedure
The proper procedure for finding the mussels, demonstrated by the Heritage Project and Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, is as follows. A line across the river is formed, and people walk approximately 200 yards, scanning the bottom of the river for the mussel. When a mussel is found, a flag is put in the ground to mark it. A different individual then finds the flags, and records the mussel. The size of the mussel, the presence or lack thereof of a spine, and whether the mussel is a recapture or not, is all recorded. Newly captured specimens are tagged.
The proper procedure for finding the mussels, demonstrated by the Heritage Project and Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, is as follows. A line across the river is formed, and people walk approximately 200 yards, scanning the bottom of the river for the mussel. When a mussel is found, a flag is put in the ground to mark it. A different individual then finds the flags, and records the mussel. The size of the mussel, the presence or lack thereof of a spine, and whether the mussel is a recapture or not, is all recorded. Newly captured specimens are tagged.