Data from metabarcoding assays to detect a suite of mussel species using mitochondrial DNA regions of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and NADH dehydrogenase subunit (ND1) genes sequences.

Dataset consists of morphometric measurements from unionid Pondmussel (Ligumia subrostrata) and concentrations of four per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in water and freshwater mussels collected from a 14-day accumulation and 7-day elimination study. The accumulation of four per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were measured. Samples (4 replicates) were collected at 0, 4, 12, 48, 96, 168, and 336 hours during the uptake phase of the exposure. Samples (4 replicates) were collected at time point 348, 360, 408, and 504 hours during the elimination phase of the exposure. Note the time points are sequential with the uptake portion of the study followed by the elimination portion of the study.

These datasets provide geographic sampling information for Bathymodiolin mussel samples collected from three cold seep sites off the mid-Atlantic U.S. coast, northwestern Atlantic Ocean. Also included are GenBank accession numbers for mitochondrial gene sequences (COI and ND4) used to identify the mussel species and GenBank accession numbers for BioProject containing 16S metabarcoding sequence data used to identify gill symbionts in mussels.

These datasets provide geographic sampling information for Bathymodiolin mussel samples collected from three cold seep sites off the mid-Atlantic U.S. coast, northwestern Atlantic Ocean. Also included are GenBank accession numbers for mitochondrial gene sequences (COI and ND4) used to identify the mussel species and GenBank accession numbers for BioProject containing 16S metabarcoding sequence data used to identify gill symbionts in mussels.

This dataset uses the ITIS recommended Ortmanniana pectorosa, Conrad, 1834 in place of Actinonaias pectorosa, which was used in the Richard et al. 2020 manuscript. Biologists monitoring freshwater mussel (Order Unionida) populations rely on behavioral, often subjective, symptoms to identify “sick” or stressed animals, such as gaping valves and slow response to probing and lack clinical indicators to support a diagnosis. As part of a multi-year study to investigate causes of reoccurring mortality of pheasantshell (Ortmanniana pectorosa, Conrad 1834) in the Clinch River, Virginia and Tennessee, USA, we analyzed the hemolymph metabolome of a subset of mussels from the 2018 sampling period. Mussels at the mortality sites were diagnosed as affected (case) or unaffected (control) based on behavioral and physical signs. Hemolymph was collected in the field by nonlethal methods from the anterior adductor muscle for analysis. We used ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography, quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectroscopy (UHPLC-QTOF-MS) to detect targeted and untargeted metabolites in hemolymph and compared metabolomic profiles by field diagnosis. This dataset contains information about the viral load measured previously by Richard et al. 2020. We also include the intensity of mass spectrum signals from metabololites found in the hemolymph of pheasantshell mussels (Ortmanniana pectorosa, Conrad, 1834). These values are unitless values as the intensity is measured as the area under the curve for each metabolite.

This dataset uses the ITIS recommended Ortmanniana pectorosa, Conrad, 1834 in place of Actinonaias pectorosa, which was used in the Richard et al. 2020 manuscript. Biologists monitoring freshwater mussel (Order Unionida) populations rely on behavioral, often subjective, symptoms to identify “sick” or stressed animals, such as gaping valves and slow response to probing and lack clinical indicators to support a diagnosis. As part of a multi-year study to investigate causes of reoccurring mortality of pheasantshell (Ortmanniana pectorosa, Conrad 1834) in the Clinch River, Virginia and Tennessee, USA, we analyzed the hemolymph metabolome of a subset of mussels from the 2018 sampling period. Mussels at the mortality sites were diagnosed as affected (case) or unaffected (control) based on behavioral and physical signs. Hemolymph was collected in the field by nonlethal methods from the anterior adductor muscle for analysis. We used ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography, quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectroscopy (UHPLC-QTOF-MS) to detect targeted and untargeted metabolites in hemolymph and compared metabolomic profiles by field diagnosis. This dataset contains information about the viral load measured previously by Richard et al. 2020. We also include the intensity of mass spectrum signals from metabololites found in the hemolymph of pheasantshell mussels (Ortmanniana pectorosa, Conrad, 1834). These values are unitless values as the intensity is measured as the area under the curve for each metabolite.

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.

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.

Data describe a mesocosm study for the detection of mucket (Ortmanniana ligamentina), fatmucket (Lampsilis siliquoidea), and giant floater (Pyganodon grandis) freshwater mussel environmental DNA (eDNA). Water samples were collected on two different days in September of 2022 from a CERC pond containing O. ligamentina, L. siliquoidea, and P. grandis then analyzed for the presence of eDNA. Three different collection methods were performed: (1) 50 milliliter samples which were centrifuged, decanted, and concentrated pellet suspended for analysis; (2) 1.0 um mixed cellulose ester (MCE) membranes were used to filter sample material; and (3), 1.2 um polyethersulfone (PES) membranes were used to filter sample material. Parameters described in this data release include qPCR results and associated quality assurance measurements from the mesocosm water samples.

We generated multilocus DNA sequence data and traditional morphometric measurements to evaluate species boundaries in Fusconaia mitchelli. We sequenced three loci: the protein-coding mitochondrial DNA genes cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 and NADH dehydrogenase 1, and the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 1. We also took three measurements, maximum length, maximum width, and maximum height, of mussel shells for morphometric analysis.