Dwarf wedgemussel

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Alasmidonta heterodon

Type: invertebrate

Status: endangered

Species Guide

Dwarf wedgemussel

Alasmidonta heterodon

Species Type: invertebrate

Conservation Status: endangered

Identification

The dwarf wedgemussel is a rare freshwater mussel with a trapezoid-to-ovate or “humpbacked” bivalve (two shells hinged together) shell rarely exceeding 1.5 in. in length. The outer shell, or epidermis, is dark brown or yellowish brown and often exhibits greenish rays in young mussels. The nacre (inside of the shell) is bluish or silvery white.

Distribution & Habitat

The dwarf wedgemussel could once be found from New Brunswick, Canada in the north to North Carolina in the south. Today however, this species is only found at 30 small sites in New Hampshire, Vermont, Maryland, North Carolina, New York, Connecticut, Virginia, and New Jersey.

In New Jersey, the dwarf wedgemussel historically inhabited areas of the Delaware, Hackensack, and Passaic rivers. These populations, however, are thought to be extirpated because of water quality degradation and other factors. There are only four known active state occurrences of this elusive species; the Flat Brook, Paulins Kill, Pequest River, and a portion of the upper Delaware River.

Preferred habitat of the dwarf wedgemussel ranges from muddy sand to sand and gravel/pebble bottoms in rivers and creeks with slow to moderate current. Favoring clean and relatively shallow water with little silt deposition, this species is known to co-occur with other freshwater mussels such as the eastern elliptio, triangle floater, creeper, eastern floater, and eastern lampmussel. Host fish species identified as suitable hosts for the dwarf wedgemussel that occur in New Jersey include the tessellated darter, mottled sculpin and slimy sculpin.

Diet

Adult freshwater mussels are filter-feeders. They strain plankton (microscopic plants and animals), bacteria and other particles from the water column. The larval stage of the freshwater mussel, known as glochidia, are external parasites and feed on a host (usually a fish).

Life Cycle

Although many species of mollusks are hermaphrodites (one individual has both male and female reproductive organs), freshwater mussel sexes are generally separate. During spawning, males release sperm directly into the water. If a mature female happens to draw-in the sperm through its siphon, the eggs which are contained within her body will be fertilized. The eggs then develop within the female’s gills into the larval stage of the mussel known as “glochidia”. This period of larval development within the female’s body may last a few days to several months. At the end of this stage, up to several million glochidia will be expelled into the water through the female’s exhalent siphon.

Glochidia are microscopic and have a thin shell with two valves. Once released from the female, glochidia must find a host (usually a specific species of fish) on which to attach. Each species of freshwater mussel has its own specific species of fish that can serve as a host for the glochidia. The glochida effectively become a parasite on the fish, attaching to the gills, scales, fins or even eyes of the host fish. While attached to the fish, the glochidia feed on them, much like a flea or tick feeds on terrestrial mammals. If the glochidia do not attach themselves to a host fish, they will die.

While attached to the host fish, the glochidia go through a metamorphosis, transforming into a juvenile mussel which looks like a much smaller version of the adult. After anywhere from 6 to 160 days, the juvenile mussel will fall off of the host fish and begin its life in the bottom of the water body. If the appropriate substrate is available, it will burrow into the bottom sediment. Juvenile mussels spend their first year of life beneath the substrate.

Growth of the mussel is most rapid while it is young. The average age at which freshwater mussels become sexually mature is six years. Once a freshwater mussel reaches maturity, its chances for survival increase dramatically. Some species may live as long as 100 years or more. Like most small mussels, however, the dwarf wedgemussel is rather short-lived (approximately 15 years).

Although very slow-moving, freshwater mussels are capable of moving along the substrate using their powerful foot. A mussel “track” can sometimes be seen in the mud or sand next to a mussel which has recently moved. During the winter in New Jersey, freshwater mussels will burrow into the sediment and enter a period of dormancy.

Many small aquatic animals will feed on the mussel glochidia. Adults may be eaten by raccoons, muskrats, otters, bears, herons, some waterfowl, some turtles, and large fish such as sturgeon.

Current Threats, Status, and Conservation

One in ten of North America’s freshwater mussel species has gone extinct in this century. Meanwhile, 75% of the remaining species are either rare or imperiled. This alarming decline is directly tied to the degradation and loss of essential habitat, and the invasion of exotic species such as the Asian clam. Exotic species compete for space and food with native mussels.

Destruction of freshwater mussel habitat has ranged from dam construction, channelization, and dredging to siltation and contaminants. Dams alter the physical, chemical, and biological stream environment, sometimes destroying 30% to 60% of the mussel fauna upstream and downstream of the construction. The most harmful effect of dams, however, is the elimination of host species and resulting disruption in the reproductive cycle. Increased silt loads and shifting stream bottoms caused by erosion also threaten mussel habitats, as do contaminants such as heavy metals and pesticides, and discharge from sewage treatment plants.

Due in part to habitat destruction and interruption of fish hosts, the dwarf wedgemussel has suffered population losses throughout the northeast and mid-Atlantic region in the last century. Its small size and coincidental association with trout streams make this species subject to trampling.

The dwarf wedgemussel is protected through federal and state Endangered Species acts, federal and state Clean Water acts, Flood Hazard Area Control Act rules (stream encroachment), and environmental reviews of proposed development projects. Dwarf wedgemussels were listed as state endangered in late 2002.

Surveys for endangered and threatened freshwater mussel species are currently being conducted each spring, summer, and fall. It is recommended that such surveys continue in order to determine special distributions, population sizes, and age distributions. Threats to populations, such as barriers to host fish and glochidia movement, must also be further explored. Sufficient buffer areas along streams should also be created and stream bank restoration efforts encouraged. Lastly, protection classifications of streams with endangered and threatened freshwater mussel species should be upgraded in order to protect water quality.

References

Text derived from the book, Endangered and Threatened Wildlife of New Jersey. 2003. Originally edited by Bruce E. Beans and Larry Niles. Edited and updated Jeanette Bowers-Altman and Michael J. Davenport in 2010.

Scientific Classification

  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Mollusca
  • Class: Bivalvia
  • Order: Unionoida
  • Family: Unionidae
  • Genus: Alasmidonta
  • Species: A. heterodon