Lampsilis higginsii is a rare species of freshwater mussel known as Higgins' eye pearly mussel or simply Higgins' eye.[3] It is endemic to the United States, where it occurs in the upper Mississippi River and the drainages of some of its tributaries. It is threatened by the introducedzebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha). Lapsilis higginsii is a federally listed endangered species.
This bivalvemollusc is in the family Unionidae, the river mussels. It is oval in shape with a thick, heavy shell which is yellowish or brown, sometimes with greenish rays.[4] It reaches up to 10.2 centimeters in length (between 4-5 inches).[5] The nacre is white, sometimes tinged pink and partly iridescent.[6]
ConservationEdit
The historical range of this species stretched along 850 kilometers (about 520 miles) of the Mississippi River from Prescott, Wisconsin, to Louisiana, Missouri, as well as nine tributaries of the Mississippi. Today it can be found in the Mississippi from La Crosse, Wisconsin, to Muscatine, Iowa, and two tributaries, the St. Croix and Wisconsin Rivers.[5] It has always been rare, but it experienced a large reduction in population after 1965, when it began to lose the northernmost and southernmost reaches of its distribution, a total of over 50% of its range.[5] One cause of the drop in population was pollution. The mussel is now extirpated from the Illinois River because of pollution.[5] The habitat has been altered by impoundments, including dams and locks. Sedimentation may also have negatively affected the mussel.[7]Overfishing may have reduced the population, as well.[4]
Today the worst threat to the species is the invasive species invasion of the zebra mussel.[4] Zebra mussels attach to the shells of this and other native mussels, deforming them, preventing them from moving, and preventing their filter feeding. The zebra mussels can use up all the food in the vicinity and deplete the oxygen, and may also consume the native mussels' larvae and sperm, preventing reproduction. Deposits of waste products degrade the habitat.[7] Other invasive species include the Asian clam (Corbicula fluminea), which competes with the native mussel and consumes its sperm, larvae, and juveniles. Some introduced species of fish may eat juvenile mussels.[7]
This mussel has been propagated in captivity and released into appropriate habitat in areas where it has been extirpated.[4]
BiologyEdit
During breeding, the male releases sperm and the female siphons it and keeps the fertilized eggs in her gills until they hatch. The glochidia, or mussel larvae, are released and enter the bodies of host organisms, which are fish.[8] Some fish hosts for the mussel are largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), smallmouth bass (M. dolomieu), walleye (Sander vitreus), and yellow perch (Perca flavescens).[5]
ReferencesEdit
^Bogan, A.E. (1996). "Lampsilis higginsii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 1996: e.T11237A3264984. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.1996.RLTS.T11237A3264984.en. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
^ ab"ITIS Standard Report Page: Lampsilis higginsii". www.itis.gov. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
^ abcdLampsilis higginsii. The Nature Conservancy.
^ abcdeMiller, A. C. and B. S. Payne. (2007). A re-examination of the endangered Higgins eye pearlymussel Lampsilis higginsii in the upper Mississippi River, USA. Endanger Species Res 3 229-37.
^Lampsilis higginsii. Illinois Natural History Survey.
^ abcUSFWS. Lampsilis higginsii Five-year Review. May 2006.
lampsilis, higginsii, rare, species, freshwater, mussel, known, higgins, pearly, mussel, simply, higgins, endemic, united, states, where, occurs, upper, mississippi, river, drainages, some, tributaries, threatened, introduced, zebra, mussel, dreissena, polymor. Lampsilis higginsii is a rare species of freshwater mussel known as Higgins eye pearly mussel or simply Higgins eye 3 It is endemic to the United States where it occurs in the upper Mississippi River and the drainages of some of its tributaries It is threatened by the introduced zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha Lapsilis higginsii is a federally listed endangered species Lampsilis higginsiiConservation statusEndangered IUCN 2 3 1 CITES Appendix I CITES 2 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum MolluscaClass BivalviaOrder UnionidaFamily UnionidaeGenus LampsilisSpecies L higginsiiBinomial nameLampsilis higginsii Lea 1857 Synonyms 3 Unio higginsii Lea 1857 Contents 1 Description 2 Conservation 3 Biology 4 ReferencesDescription EditThis bivalve mollusc is in the family Unionidae the river mussels It is oval in shape with a thick heavy shell which is yellowish or brown sometimes with greenish rays 4 It reaches up to 10 2 centimeters in length between 4 5 inches 5 The nacre is white sometimes tinged pink and partly iridescent 6 Conservation EditThe historical range of this species stretched along 850 kilometers about 520 miles of the Mississippi River from Prescott Wisconsin to Louisiana Missouri as well as nine tributaries of the Mississippi Today it can be found in the Mississippi from La Crosse Wisconsin to Muscatine Iowa and two tributaries the St Croix and Wisconsin Rivers 5 It has always been rare but it experienced a large reduction in population after 1965 when it began to lose the northernmost and southernmost reaches of its distribution a total of over 50 of its range 5 One cause of the drop in population was pollution The mussel is now extirpated from the Illinois River because of pollution 5 The habitat has been altered by impoundments including dams and locks Sedimentation may also have negatively affected the mussel 7 Overfishing may have reduced the population as well 4 Today the worst threat to the species is the invasive species invasion of the zebra mussel 4 Zebra mussels attach to the shells of this and other native mussels deforming them preventing them from moving and preventing their filter feeding The zebra mussels can use up all the food in the vicinity and deplete the oxygen and may also consume the native mussels larvae and sperm preventing reproduction Deposits of waste products degrade the habitat 7 Other invasive species include the Asian clam Corbicula fluminea which competes with the native mussel and consumes its sperm larvae and juveniles Some introduced species of fish may eat juvenile mussels 7 This mussel has been propagated in captivity and released into appropriate habitat in areas where it has been extirpated 4 Biology EditDuring breeding the male releases sperm and the female siphons it and keeps the fertilized eggs in her gills until they hatch The glochidia or mussel larvae are released and enter the bodies of host organisms which are fish 8 Some fish hosts for the mussel are largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides smallmouth bass M dolomieu walleye Sander vitreus and yellow perch Perca flavescens 5 References Edit Bogan A E 1996 Lampsilis higginsii IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 1996 e T11237A3264984 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 1996 RLTS T11237A3264984 en Retrieved 16 November 2021 Appendices CITES cites org Retrieved 2022 01 14 a b ITIS Standard Report Page Lampsilis higginsii www itis gov Retrieved 30 August 2019 a b c d Lampsilis higginsii The Nature Conservancy a b c d e Miller A C and B S Payne 2007 A re examination of the endangered Higgins eye pearlymussel Lampsilis higginsii in the upper Mississippi River USA Endanger Species Res 3 229 37 Lampsilis higginsii Illinois Natural History Survey a b c USFWS Lampsilis higginsii Five year Review May 2006 USFWS Lampsilis higginsii Life History Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lampsilis higginsii amp oldid 1067203481, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
