Papers by Daniel Hornbach
Preliminary analysis of bed and suspended sediment transport in a protected watershed, and the effect on native mussel populations
AGU Spring Meeting Abstracts, May 1, 2005
ABSTRACT Sediment budgets in river networks are notoriously difficult to construct, but can be im... more ABSTRACT Sediment budgets in river networks are notoriously difficult to construct, but can be important for quantifying short and long-term changes to fluvial environments. Adequate sediment supply is critical for in channel, bar, and near-shore ecosystems; too much or too little sediment can be a detriment to biota, including mussels and host fish. Hornbach and others (see http://www.macalester.edu/~hornbach/St.Croix/index.html) have been collecting bed sediment at various locations along the St. Croix River since 1990 in an effort to understand controls on mussel population and diversity. These data, along with suspended sediment data collected by other agencies (e.g., Triplett and others, 2003; Metropolitan Council, 2004), can be used to examine trends in sediment transport and/or sediment delivery to the river over time. We continued the collection of bed sediment in conjunction with mussel quadrat surveying in summer 2004, and initiated sampling of suspended sediment at various locations along the river. We developed rating curves (relating suspended sediment concentration and mean daily water discharge) for several locations along the St. Croix River, and compared these to historical data. In addition, we examined trends in bed sediment grain size over the last decade. Analysis suggests that while bed sediment grain size is relatively unchanged in most of the study areas, there has been a fining trend in the region below the St. Croix Falls dam. This corresponds with a decrease in the juvenile population of the winged mapleleaf mussel, a federally-endangered species found almost exclusively in this part of the St. Croix (Hornbach, 2005). Future research will address fluvial dynamics and sources of fine sediment in this region. Suspended sediment data are more limited, but suggest transport dynamics may have changed over the last half century.
Freshwater River Mussel Gaping Response Behavior to Increased Water Velocity and Total Suspended Solid Concentrations
GSA Annual Meeting in Seattle, Washington, USA - 2017, 2017
Effects of a small dam on the growth of the freshwater mussel, Actinonaias ligamentina, in Sunrise River, Chisago County, MN
The Impact of a Small Dam on Mussel Assemblages and Habitat in Sunrise River, MN
The UPDATE presents a three-part series of educational essays from Nancy Mathews' Wildlife Ecolog... more The UPDATE presents a three-part series of educational essays from Nancy Mathews' Wildlife Ecology class at the University of Wisconsin. We are presenting a selection of position papers regarding Section 10 of the Endangered Species Act. This educational exercise is an example of how the next generation of conservation biologists is being trained. In particular, the essay set reflects an emphasis on remaining sensitive to the perspectives of multiple stakeholders. Perhaps some novel ideas are embedded in these essays as well, as fresh eyes often bring new insights to old controversies. Wildlife Ecology students were given sample Habitat Conservation Plans and were instructed to assume the identity of the associated landowner, who also happened to be a trained wildlife biologist. The role-playing assignment was then given as follows: Please write a position paper to be presented at a Senate sub-committee hearing on reauthorization of the Endangered Species Act. Support or refute the intent of the Section 10 administrative policies that attempt to make conservation planning more palatable to private property owners. Give a brief overview of the policies and present the pros and cons of the private landowner assurances. Support your position using what you have learned in class, the Endangered Species Act, and the assigned Habitat Conservation Plan.
GENETIC AND MORPHOLOGICAL VARIATION IN THE FRESHWATER CLAM, <italic>SPHAERIUM</italic> (BIVALVIA: SPHAERIIDAE)
Journal of Molluscan Studies, Aug 1, 1980
... 2 Present address: Department of Biology, Belmont Abbey College, Belmont, North Carolina 4801... more ... 2 Present address: Department of Biology, Belmont Abbey College, Belmont, North Carolina 48012. Page 2. VARIATION IN SPHAERIUM 159 ... 3. Levene&amp;#x27;s (1949) formula was used to determine which of the polymorphic loci are in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. ...
Early Life History of the Winged Mapleleaf Mussel (Quadrula fragosa)
American Malacological Bulletin, Feb 1, 2012
... J. Heath 5 , Carrie L. Nelson 1 , Jennifer A. Bury 1 , Jennifer E. Kurth 1 , Michelle R. Bart... more ... J. Heath 5 , Carrie L. Nelson 1 , Jennifer A. Bury 1 , Jennifer E. Kurth 1 , Michelle R. Bartsch 4 , Whitney S. Thorpe 1 , Marissa R. McGill ... 10p. Turgeon, DD, JF Quinn, Jr., AE Bogan, EV Coan, FG Hochberg, WG Lyons, PM Mikkelsen, RJ Neves, CFE Roper, G. Rosenberg, B. Roth ...
Bed Sediment Grain Size Distribution and Flow Dynamics of Indianhead Reservoir, St. Croix River, MN/WI
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts, Dec 1, 2010
Dams alter sediment transport and flow dynamics in rivers by acting as a physical barrier to the ... more Dams alter sediment transport and flow dynamics in rivers by acting as a physical barrier to the downstream movement of bed sediment, decreasing water velocity, and allowing suspended material to settle. The St. Croix River, a National Scenic Riverway located along the border of Minnesota and Wisconsin, is subject to such alterations. Interstate Park, located several kilometers below the St.
Mussel Assemblages Below a Dam: High Density, Large Size and Low Recruitment
AGUSM, May 1, 2005
ABSTRACT We examined the demographic structure of mussel assemblages at three locations in the St... more ABSTRACT We examined the demographic structure of mussel assemblages at three locations in the St. Croix River watershed, Wisconsin and Minnesota between 1998-2004. One assemblage, below a small dam on a tributary (Sunrise River), has 113 mussels/m2. On the mainstem, Wild River (not below a dam) and Interstate Park (below a larger dam) have 21 and 24 mussesl/m2, respectively. There is little recruitment at Sunrise and mussels are larger than those at mainstem sites. Larger size is apparently due to higher growth rates at this site. Low recruitment may be due to competition for space with adults. Live and dead mussels comprise much of the substrate at Sunrise with living mussels occupying 23-60% of available space, compared with
Preparing for the invasion of zebra mussels: a base line study of unionid mussels in the St. Croix and Mississippi Rivers
Environments, Feb 28, 2021
Climate change is likely to have large impacts on freshwater biodiversity and ecosystem function,... more Climate change is likely to have large impacts on freshwater biodiversity and ecosystem function, especially in cold-water streams. Ecosystem metabolism is affected by water temperature and discharge, both of which are expected to be affected by climate change and, thus, require longterm monitoring to assess alterations in stream function. This study examined ecosystem metabolism in two branches of a trout stream in Minnesota, USA over 3 years. One branch was warmer, allowing the examination of elevated temperature on metabolism. Dissolved oxygen levels were assessed every 10 min from spring through fall in 2017-2019. Gross primary production (GPP) was higher in the colder branch in all years. GPP in both branches was highest before leaf-out in the spring. Ecosystem respiration (ER) was greater in the warmer stream in two of three years. Both streams were heterotrophic in all years (net ecosystem production-NEP < 0). There were significant effects of temperature and light on GPP, ER, and NEP. Stream discharge had a significant impact on all GPP, ER, and NEP in the colder stream, but only on ER and NEP in the warmer stream. This study indicated that the impacts of temperature, light, and discharge differ among years, and, at least at the local scale, may not follow expected patterns.
Variations in the Rate of Sediment Accumulation in a Backwater Lake, Pool 2, Mississippi River
Journal of Freshwater Ecology, Mar 1, 1991
Page 1. Variations in the Rate of Sediment Accumulation in a Backwater Lake, Pool 2, Mississippi ... more Page 1. Variations in the Rate of Sediment Accumulation in a Backwater Lake, Pool 2, Mississippi River Daniel J. Hornbach and Tony Deneka Department of Biology Macales ter College St. Paul, MN 551 05 and Andrew C. Miller ...
Freshwater mussel response to bedform movement: experimental stream studies
AGUFM, Dec 1, 2017
On the validity of the genus Musculium (Bivalvia: Sphaeriidae): electrophoretic evidence
Canadian Journal of Zoology, Sep 1, 1980
Starch gel electrophoresis was used to examine the generic separation of the sphaeriid clams Musc... more Starch gel electrophoresis was used to examine the generic separation of the sphaeriid clams Musculium and Sphaerium. Twenty-five loci from 13 enzyme systems were resolved. Major differences in electrophoretic patterns were observed, and these appear to support the generic separation of Musculium and Sphaerium. Sphaerium occidentale, considered to be intermediate in form between Musculium and Sphaerium, is more closely related (electrophoretically) to other spieces of Sphaerium than to Musculium. The phenotypic convergence of S. occidentale with Musculium and its genotypic divergence from other species of Sphaerium can be related to habitat characteristics of these forms.
A description of the ultrastructure of the gills of freshwater bivalves, including a new structure, the frontal cirrus
Canadian Journal of Zoology, Feb 1, 1989
The archetypical gill structure of lamellibranch bivalves has been the focus of research concerni... more The archetypical gill structure of lamellibranch bivalves has been the focus of research concerning the feeding mechanisms of these clams. In recent years there has been debate over whether the lamellibranch gill acts as a sieve or whether the gill ciliature produces hydromechanical shear forces for the capture of particles during feeding. In corbiculacean bivalves, the gill shows considerable interspecific variability in the integrity of the ciliary tracts. A novel ciliary structure, the frontal cirrus that varies in organization, distribution, and abundance in the three species studied, has been found. In Musculium transversum the cirri are found only on the outermost margins of the inner demibranch and are composed of a tight bundle of cilia originating on the posterior side of the gill filament. The cirri in Corbicula fluminea appear as either a tight bundle or a loose aggregate of cilia, originating on the posterior side of the gill filament between the frontal cilia and the laterofrontal cirri; the frontal cirri cover the entire demibranch except in the area near the food groove. The frontal cirri in Polymesoda caroliniana are similar in structure and distribution to those found in C. fluminea. The frontal cirri are hypothesized to play an important role in the feeding physiology of these bivalves.
Variation in Freshwater Mussel Shell Sculpture and Shape Along a River Gradient
American Midland Naturalist, Jul 1, 2010
ABSTRACT It has been hypothesized that variation in shell shape and sculpture in freshwater musse... more ABSTRACT It has been hypothesized that variation in shell shape and sculpture in freshwater mussels from streams is related to hydrologic variability. Using quantitative sampling, we found smooth-shelled species were more common in upstream portions of the St. Croix River, Minnesota and Wisconsin, which has coarser substrate while species with sculptured shells were more common downstream and in finer substrate. For four species distributed throughout the length of the river, individuals tended to have shells that increase in obesity (width/length) and relative height (height/length) downstream. These results support suggestions that mussels with sculptured or obese shells may have an anchoring advantage in areas of high discharge while smooth-shelled or slim forms may reburrow more readily after dislodgement in hydraulically flashy environments. One species that showed increased obesity downstream had juveniles with similar shell shape at all locations suggesting phenotypic plasticity in shell shape. The juvenile and adult valve shape for the other three species examined varied among locations making it is less clear whether the differences noted are genetically fixed or phenotypically plastic. Understanding the complex interplay between shell shape and sculpture and disturbance regimes in rivers may provide useful information when developing conservation plans for these vulnerable animals. While both shell ornamentation and shape vary along river length, and may be correlated with substrate anchoring and stream flow, other factors such as behavior and physiology also contribute to mussels&#39; success in maintaining their location in a river.
American Midland Naturalist, 2007
The ellipse, Venustaconcha ellipsiformis (Bivalvia: Unionidae), was first recorded in Minnesota f... more The ellipse, Venustaconcha ellipsiformis (Bivalvia: Unionidae), was first recorded in Minnesota from the Straight River in 1987, but we knew little of its distribution in the state, brooding behavior, glochidial host fish relationships or status. To examine these questions, we followed standard procedures to conduct an extensive, qualitative statewide mussel survey, described mantle flapping behavior from field and laboratory observations and identified suitable glochidia hosts in the laboratory and from naturally infested fishes. We found extant populations in five Mississippi River tributaries in southeastern Minnesota: the Cannon, Cedar, Root, Upper Iowa and Zumbro rivers. This appears to be the extent of its historic range in Minnesota as no valid records were found elsewhere. Among these, the largest population occurred in the headwaters of the Root River drainage, which was also the only drainage where we observed recent recruitment. Brooding V. ellipsiformis quickly flap a small mantle extension, often in response to passing shadows or jarring of the substrate, or their mantle extensions may be slowly undulated. We identified 11 fish species as suitable hosts for V. ellipsiformis glochidia in the laboratory: brook stickleback (Culaea inconstans), mottled sculpin (Cottus bairdii), slimy sculpin (C. cognatus), logperch (Percina caprodes), mud darter (Etheostoma asprigene), rainbow darter (E. caeruleum), Iowa darter (E. exile), fantail darter (E. flabbelare), Johnny darter (E. nigrum), banded darter (E. zonale) and blackside darter (P. maculata). Rainbow darter, fantail darter and blackside darter were also found naturally infested with V. ellipsiformis glochidia. Venustaconcha ellipsiformis should remain classified as a ''Threatened'' species in Minnesota and management should include conserving populations within drainages due to its restricted range and likely low dispersal ability.
Shell Morphometry and Tissue Condition ofAmblema plicata(Say, 1817) from the Upper Mississippi River
Journal of Freshwater Ecology, Jun 1, 1996
Shell morphometry and tissue condition of Amblema plicata(Say, 1817) from the upper Mississippi R... more Shell morphometry and tissue condition of Amblema plicata(Say, 1817) from the upper Mississippi River. DJ Hornbach, T Deneka, BS Payne, AC Miller Journal of Freshwater Ecology 11:22, 233-240, 6/1996. We examined shell ...
American Malacological Bulletin, Feb 1, 2012
Freshwater mussels in the family Unionidae have suffered severe population declines because of se... more Freshwater mussels in the family Unionidae have suffered severe population declines because of severe anthropogenic disturbances, such as habitat destruction and habitat alteration. Understanding the genetic diversity of healthy unionid populations is crucial to developing informed management plans for imperilled mussels. Here, we characterize the genetic diversity of two common species, Lampsilis cardium Rafi nesque, 1820 and Quadrula pustulosa (I. Lea, 1831), using the mitochondrial gene ND1. Populations of Q. pustulosa contained more numerous and more highly divergent haplotypes than populations of L. cardium. This disparity in genetic diversity could be because of several factors, including differences in population size and location and extent of refugia during the Last Glacial Maximum. For both species, AMOVA analysis indicated no genetic structuring based on location within the river, with genetic diversity concentrated within rather than between populations. This fi nding is consistent with patterns seen for other common mussel species characteristic of large rivers.
Factors Influencing the Distribution and Abundance of the Endangered Winged Mapleleaf Mussel Quadrula fragosa in the St. Croix River, Minnesota and Wisconsin
American Midland Naturalist, Oct 1, 1996
ABSTRACT We examined physical and biological factors that mac influence the distribution of the e... more ABSTRACT We examined physical and biological factors that mac influence the distribution of the endangered winged mapleleaf mussel Quadrula fragosa (Conrad, 1835). Quantitative sampling of the mussel community was undertaken at two sites in the St. Croix River known to harbor Q. fragosa. Additional searches were conducted specifically for Q. fragosa individuals. For each quantitative sample of mussels, substrate composition, water velocity and depth were assessed and mussels were identified and measured, In general, Q. fragosa does not have habitat requirements different from the rest of the mussel community, although Q. fragosa occurred in shallower areas with lower bottom current velocity compared to the overall mussel community. There was no difference in substrate composition in areas with and without Q. fragosa. Mussel community density and richness were higher in areas where Q. fragosa was found. The mussel community associated with Q. fragosa was not significantly different from the general mussel community in the area. However three species (Truncilla truncata, Truncilla donaciformis and Quadrula metanevra) were significantly associated with Q. fragosa. Due to its association with dense and diverse mussel communities, management that benefits the entire mussel community should be effective in protecting this endangered species.
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Papers by Daniel Hornbach