Results from a quantitative survey of mussel assemblages from 12 long-term monitoring sites over 153 river kilometers of the Buffalo National River 2019-2021.

Data is included for two types of field surveys conducted for freshwater mussels in the mainstem of the middle and upper Delaware River in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States from 2000-2002. Timed search (qualitative) surveys were conducted during 2000-2001 from a point at the confluence of the East and West Branches of the Delaware River near Hancock, NY continuously downstream to a point at the mouth of the Paulins Kill River near Columbia, NJ. In this qualitative survey, mussel species and counts were collected in the field catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) data was determined for all mussel species within each of 1,095 consecutive stream sections ~200 m in length. Subsequent quantitative surveys were conducted in select 200-m sections of river using quadrats during 2002 in order to estimate abundance and density of mussel present in these sections. One Excel file contains data from qualitative surveys, and a second excel file contains data from quantitative quadrat surveys.

documented the presence of 5 freshwater mussel species in the lower reach of Abrams Creek. No state or federally-protected species were observed. Densities were generally low; however, the presence of juvenile mussels indicate that reproduction is occurring in the stream. The low overall densities are likely the result of limited habitat within the stream. The substrate of the surveyed reach of Abrams Creek is dominated by bedrock, boulder, and large cobble. These substrates are generally too course to support high densities of freshwater mussels. Small habitat patches that were dominated by sand, small gravel, and silt were observed to contain the highest densities of freshwater mussels.

documented the presence of 5 freshwater mussel species in the lower reach of Abrams Creek. No state or federally-protected species were observed. Densities were generally low; however, the presence of juvenile mussels indicate that reproduction is occurring in the stream. The low overall densities are likely the result of limited habitat within the stream. The substrate of the surveyed reach of Abrams Creek is dominated by bedrock, boulder, and large cobble. These substrates are generally too course to support high densities of freshwater mussels. Small habitat patches that were dominated by sand, small gravel, and silt were observed to contain the highest densities of freshwater mussels.

The Buffalo National River in Arkansas was established as the first national river in 1972 and later designated as an Extraordinary Resource Water with a Wild and Scenic section in the upper portion. The Buffalo National River's water quality database indicates nitrogen compounds have increased since the 1980s. This study aimed to investigate the potential threat of elevated nutrients and its association with freshwater mussel declines in the Buffalo National River through laboratory and in situ exposures. We evaluated (1) the toxicity of receiving water and sediment samples containing elevated ammonia and nitrate to native juvenile Lampsilis reeveiana (Arkansas Brokenray) and three common aquatic test species (Ceriodaphnia dubia, Pimephales promelas, and Hyallela azteca) and (2) in situ bioassays with juvenile L. reeveiana to investigate the effects of nitrogen contaminants and other water quality factors on survival and growth.

The Buffalo National River in Arkansas was established as the first national river in 1972 and later designated as an Extraordinary Resource Water with a Wild and Scenic section in the upper portion. The Buffalo National River's water quality database indicates nitrogen compounds have increased since the 1980s. This study aimed to investigate the potential threat of elevated nutrients and its association with freshwater mussel declines in the Buffalo National River through laboratory and in situ exposures. We evaluated (1) the toxicity of receiving water and sediment samples containing elevated ammonia and nitrate to native juvenile Lampsilis reeveiana (Arkansas Brokenray) and three common aquatic test species (Ceriodaphnia dubia, Pimephales promelas, and Hyallela azteca) and (2) in situ bioassays with juvenile L. reeveiana to investigate the effects of nitrogen contaminants and other water quality factors on survival and growth.

The Buffalo National River in Arkansas was established as the first national river in 1972 and later designated as an Extraordinary Resource Water with a Wild and Scenic section in the upper portion. The Buffalo National River's water quality database indicates nitrogen compounds have increased since the 1980s. This study aimed to investigate the potential threat of elevated nutrients and its association with freshwater mussel declines in the Buffalo National River through laboratory and in situ exposures. We evaluated (1) the toxicity of receiving water and sediment samples containing elevated ammonia and nitrate to native juvenile Lampsilis reeveiana (Arkansas Brokenray) and three common aquatic test species (Ceriodaphnia dubia, Pimephales promelas, and Hyallela azteca) and (2) in situ bioassays with juvenile L. reeveiana to investigate the effects of nitrogen contaminants and other water quality factors on survival and growth.

The Buffalo National River in Arkansas was established as the first national river in 1972 and later designated as an Extraordinary Resource Water with a Wild and Scenic section in the upper portion. The Buffalo National River's water quality database indicates nitrogen compounds have increased since the 1980s. This study aimed to investigate the potential threat of elevated nutrients and its association with freshwater mussel declines in the Buffalo National River through laboratory and in situ exposures. We evaluated (1) the toxicity of receiving water and sediment samples containing elevated ammonia and nitrate to native juvenile Lampsilis reeveiana (Arkansas Brokenray) and three common aquatic test species (Ceriodaphnia dubia, Pimephales promelas, and Hyallela azteca) and (2) in situ bioassays with juvenile L. reeveiana to investigate the effects of nitrogen contaminants and other water quality factors on survival and growth.

The Buffalo National River in Arkansas was established as the first national river in 1972 and later designated as an Extraordinary Resource Water with a Wild and Scenic section in the upper portion. The Buffalo National River's water quality database indicates nitrogen compounds have increased since the 1980s. This study aimed to investigate the potential threat of elevated nutrients and its association with freshwater mussel declines in the Buffalo National River through laboratory and in situ exposures. We evaluated (1) the toxicity of receiving water and sediment samples containing elevated ammonia and nitrate to native juvenile Lampsilis reeveiana (Arkansas Brokenray) and three common aquatic test species (Ceriodaphnia dubia, Pimephales promelas, and Hyallela azteca) and (2) in situ bioassays with juvenile L. reeveiana to investigate the effects of nitrogen contaminants and other water quality factors on survival and growth.

The Buffalo National River in Arkansas was established as the first national river in 1972 and later designated as an Extraordinary Resource Water with a Wild and Scenic section in the upper portion. The Buffalo National River's water quality database indicates nitrogen compounds have increased since the 1980s. This study aimed to investigate the potential threat of elevated nutrients and its association with freshwater mussel declines in the Buffalo National River through laboratory and in situ exposures. We evaluated (1) the toxicity of receiving water and sediment samples containing elevated ammonia and nitrate to native juvenile Lampsilis reeveiana (Arkansas Brokenray) and three common aquatic test species (Ceriodaphnia dubia, Pimephales promelas, and Hyallela azteca) and (2) in situ bioassays with juvenile L. reeveiana to investigate the effects of nitrogen contaminants and other water quality factors on survival and growth.