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Journal Molluscan Studies Advance Access first published online on April 24, 2006
This version published online on May 23, 2006
Journal of Molluscan Studies, doi:10.1093/mollus/eyl004
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© The Author 2006. Published by Oxford University Studies on behalf of The Malacological Society of London, all rights reserved
Received February 23, 2005
Accepted January 16, 2006

Article

A holistic approach to taxonomic evaluation of two closely related endangered freshwater mussel species, the oyster mussel epioblasma capsaeformis and tan riffleshell epioblasma florentina walkeri (bivalvia: unionidae)

Jess W. Jones 1 *, Richard J. Neves 2, Steven A. Ahlstedt 3, and Eric M. Hallerman 4

1 U.S. Fish and Widlife Service, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061-0321, U.S.A
2 U.S. Geological Survey, Virginia Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061-0321, U.S.A
3 U.S. Geological Survey, 1820 Midpark Drive, Knoxville, TN 37921, U.S.A
4 Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061-0321, U.S.A

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
Jess W. Jones, E-mail: Jess_Jones{at}fws.gov


  Abstract

Species in the genus Epioblasma have specialized life history requirements and represent the most endangered genus of freshwater mussels (Unionidae) in the world. A genetic characterization of extant populations of the oyster mussel E. capsaeformis and tan riffleshell E. florentina walkeri sensu late was conducted to assess taxonomic validity and to resolve conservation issues for recovery planning. These mussel species exhibit pronounced phenotypic variation, but were difficult to characterize phylogenetically using DNA sequences. Monophyletic lineages, congruent with phenotypic variation among species, were obtained only after extensive analysis of combined mitochondrial (1396 bp of 16S, cytochrome-b, and ND1) and nuclear (515 bp of ITS-1) DNA sequences. In contrast, analysis of variation at 10 hypervariable DNA microsatellite loci showed moderately to highly diverged populations based on FST and RST values, which ranged from 0.12 to 0.39 and 0.15 to 0.71, respectively. Quantitative variation between species was observed in fish-host specificity, with transformation success of glochidia of E. capsaeformis significantly greater (P < 0.05) on greenside darter Etheostoma blennioides, and that of E. f. walkeri significantly greater (P < 0.05) on fantail darter Etheostoma flabellare. Lengths of glochidia differed significantly (P < 0.001) among species and populations, with mean sizes ranging from 241 to 272 µm. The texture and color of the mantle-pad of E. capsaeformis sensu stricto is smooth and bluish-white, whereas that of E. f. walkeri is pustuled and brown, with tan mottling. Based on extensive molecular, morphological and life history data, the population of E. capsaeformis from the Duck River, Tennessee, USA is proposed as a separate species, and the population of E. f. walkeri from Indian Creek, upper Clinch River, Virginia, USA is proposed as a distinct subspecies.

This is an updated version of this article as the author S. A. Ahlstedt's affiliation has been updated
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