Aquatic EcologY Services

Mussel Surveys

Freshwater mussels are perhaps the most threatened taxonomic group in North America.  Approximately 43% of the 300 unionid species in North America are currently considered federally threatened, endangered, or imperiled of becoming extinct.  ESI holds a federal endangered species collection permit from USFWS for 25 species of federally endangered mussels; we also hold collection permits in several states in the eastern U.S.  Our biologists are also on qualified surveyor lists maintained by resource agencies in Pennsylvania and Virginia.

We complete mussel surveys for a variety of large scale projects, including bridge and dam developments/replacements, pipelines and transmission lines, barge stationing zone construction, industrial developments, and large reservoir drawdowns.  During these surveys, we also record and assess multiple other relevant variables including habitat/substrate, mussel density, species diversity, and depth for bathymetric mapping.

Members of our mussel survey team are certified divers; we use SCUBA with full face mask or a surface air supply, and underwater communication equipment.  We conduct surveys in shallow water bodies by snorkeling and/or with glass bottom buckets.  We are experienced with all standard survey methods:

• linear transects
• time searches
• pivot searches
• bank searches.
• quadrate sampling
• excavation sampling
• spot-dives
• video transects
• live counts

In addition to performing surveys for our clients, our dedicated professionals have also served as volunteers in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park for the All Taxa Biological Inventory (ATBI) for mussels.

 

 

Click on this link to view specific project experience: AQUATIC ECOLOGY