Department News
Symmes Creek Mussel Report to be Published in Ohio Journal of Science
Ben Van Allen (currently in graduate school at Virginia Commonwealth University), Dave Kimberly (currently in graduate school at the University of Texas at Tyler), and Dr. Michael Hoggarth have had their paper, A Study of the Mussels (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Unionidae) of Symmes Creek and Tributaries in Jackson, Gallia and Lawrence Counties, Ohio accepted for publication in the Ohio Journal of Science. They discovered four species never before reported from Symmes Creek: Simpsonaias ambigua (Ohio species of special concern), Quadrula pustulosa, Obliquaria reflexa (Ohio threatened species), and Ligumia recta (Ohio threatened species), and a few specimens of an Ohio endangered mussel, Villosa lienosa, which had been reported from the upper reaches of Symmes Creek previously. The specimens of S. ambigua were found along with their host, the mud puppy. They concluded, "The mussel community in the lower mainstem of Symmes Creek has remained healthy while the communities in the headwaters of Symmes Creek and its smaller tributaries have become severely reduced." This work was supported by a grant from the Wayne National Forest.
