The freshwater mussel Quadrula quadrula of eastern North America occupies several isolated river drainages along the coastal Gulf of Mexico and northward in the Mississippi Basin and Great Lakes. Previous work has documented high morphological and genetic variation across its range but due to paraphyly of mitochondrial barcodes, variants are currently recognized as conspecific. Here we present sequence data from three genomes including male- and female-inherited mitochondrial markers and thousands of nuclear encoded SNPs that were used to disentangle the evolutionary history of this species complex. We also provide morphological and geographic data, which was analyzed with the molecular data in a comparative context to illuminate the group’s divergence history.

Longstanding taxonomic uncertainties have limited conservation efforts for species currently assigned to the freshwater mussel genus Alasmidonta. Here, we present mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequence data needed to assess the genus- and species-level taxonomy of Alasmidonta. These molecular data allowed us to test whether cryptic diversity exists within Alasmidonta and whether A. triangulata and A. arcula are distinct species. Details associated with specimens and DNA sequence data are provided here to provide a foundation for future research on Alasmidonta and give conservation agencies greater confidence in the findings of our work.

Longstanding taxonomic uncertainties have limited conservation efforts for species currently assigned to the freshwater mussel genus Alasmidonta. Here, we present mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequence data needed to assess the genus- and species-level taxonomy of Alasmidonta. These molecular data allowed us to test whether cryptic diversity exists within Alasmidonta and whether A. triangulata and A. arcula are distinct species. Details associated with specimens and DNA sequence data are provided here to provide a foundation for future research on Alasmidonta and give conservation agencies greater confidence in the findings of our work.

The North American freshwater mussel tribe Quadrulini has a suite of life history adaptations, however, the evolution of life histories in this group has yet to be explored using comparative phylogenetic methods. Here we provide the AHE DNA sequence alignment representing 27 species from the subfamily Ambleminae that was used to estimate a phylogenomic reconstruction of Quadrulini. Additionally, we provide a compilation of host use information and larval length and height measurements utilized to trace the evolution of life history characteristics, such as larval morphology and host attraction strategy. Phylogenetic trees are presented representing phylogenetic inference performed under Maximum Likelihood, Maximum Parsimony, Bayesian Inference, and coalescent-based approaches. Findings from these datasets and analyses suggest the diversification of Quadrulini has been influenced by the codiversification of their larval hosts.

The North American freshwater mussel tribe Quadrulini has a suite of life history adaptations, however, the evolution of life histories in this group has yet to be explored using comparative phylogenetic methods. Here we provide the AHE DNA sequence alignment representing 27 species from the subfamily Ambleminae that was used to estimate a phylogenomic reconstruction of Quadrulini. Additionally, we provide a compilation of host use information and larval length and height measurements utilized to trace the evolution of life history characteristics, such as larval morphology and host attraction strategy. Phylogenetic trees are presented representing phylogenetic inference performed under Maximum Likelihood, Maximum Parsimony, Bayesian Inference, and coalescent-based approaches. Findings from these datasets and analyses suggest the diversification of Quadrulini has been influenced by the codiversification of their larval hosts.

Here we provide public access to six DNA sequence alignments and details on all specimens utilized in Smith and Johnson (2020).

Here we provide public access to six DNA sequence alignments and details on all specimens utilized in Smith and Johnson (2020).

Here we provide public access to three DNA sequence alignments (COI, ND1, ITS1) and details on all specimens utilized in Keogh et al. (in review).

Here we provide public access to three DNA sequence alignments (COI, ND1, ITS1) and details on all specimens utilized in Keogh et al. (in review).

Invasion of North American waters by Dreissena polymorpha and D. rostriformis bugensis has resulted in declines in native North American Unionoida mussels. Dreissenid mussels biofoul unionid mussels in large numbers and interfere with unionid movement, acquisition of food and ability to open and close their shells. Initial expectations for the Great Lakes were that unionids would be extirpated where they co-occur with dreissenids, but recently adult and juvenile unionids have been found alive in several apparent refugia. These unionid populations may persist due to reduced dreissenid biofouling in these areas, and/or due to processes that remove biofoulers. For example, locations inaccessible to veligers may reduce biofouling and habitats with soft substrates may allow unionids to burrow and thus remove dreissenids. Here, biofouling was measured by deploying caged unionid mussels (Lampsilis siliquoidea) at 36 sites across the western basin of Lake Erie to assess spatial variation in biofouling and to identify other areas that might promote the persistence or recovery of native unionid mussels. Biofouling ranged from 0.03 – 26.33 g per mussel, reached a maximum in the immediate vicinity of the Maumee rivermouth, and appeared to primarily consist of dreissenid mussels. A known mussel refugium in the vicinity of a power plant near the Maumee rivermouth actually exhibited very high biofouling rates, suggesting low dreissenid colonization is unlikely to be the primary cause of unionid survival in this refugium. The southern nearshore area of Lake Erie, near another refugium, also had very low biofouling. A large stretch of the western basin appeared to have low biofouling rates and muddy substrates, raising the possibility that these open water areas could support remnant and returning populations of unionid mussels.