File:American malacological bulletin (1988) (18157571531).jpg

Title: American malacological bulletin
Identifier: americanmal6719881990amer (find matches)
Year: 1983 (1980s)
Authors: American Malacological Union
Subjects: Mollusks; Mollusks
Publisher: (Hattiesburg, Miss. ?) : (American Malacological Union)
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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Fig. 5. West Prong Little Pigeon River, looking downstream, during period of low water (July, 1986). McMahan site along right bank. inundated the main business district and suburbs of Sevierville. During the period June 1985-May 1987, a total of 15 collecting trips were made in the Little Pigeon River in a stretch from the TN Hwy 66 bridge in Sevierville to just below the confluence with the West Prong Little Pigeon River, a distance of ca. 0.9 km. A total of 118 specimens, represent- ing 11 species, were recovered (Table 3); shells of Fusconaia barnesiana, Lampsilis fasciola, Villosa vanuxemensis and V. iris comprised 93.2% of the sample. The one individual of Anodonta grandis (Say, 1829), the Common Floater, taken here (shell length 85.5 mm) was the only specimen of this species encountered during this study. Except for one individual and a left valve of Elliptio dilatata (Rafinesque, 1820), the Spike, found in the West Prong Little Pigeon River, one relic shell (chalky, periostracum badly eroded) recovered in this stretch of the Little Pigeon River was the only other example of this species found in the river system. Although several locations on the Little Pigeon River from immediately below the confluence with the West Prong Little Pigeon River to its mouth (confluence with the French Broad River), a distance of ca. 7.5 km, were surveyed on six occasions during this two year study, no freshwater mussels were encountered. A substratum of shifting sand, private homes and small businesses lining the east bank and croplands and pastures adjacent to the west bank, plus the last ca. 1.1 km above the mouth being impounded, probably contribute the void in mussel populations. In his study of the effect of rechanneling on the fish population of Middle Creek, Sevierville, Etnier (1972) was of the opinion that substratum instability and the decreased variability of the physical habitat were the most significant factors responsible for changes in Table 3. Species of freshwater mussels inhabiting the Little Pigeon River, TN Hwy. 66 bridge to confluence with West Prong Little Pigeon River, Sevier County, TN. Specimens obtained primarily from muskrat feeding stations, June 1985-May 1987 No. of % of Species Specimens Specimens Fusconaia barnesiana (Lea, 1838) 35 29.41 Pleurobema oviforme (Conrad, 1834) 3 2.52 Anodonta grandis (Say, 1829) 1 .84 Lasmigona costata (Rafinesque, 1820) 1 .84 Toxolasma lividus (Rafinesque, 1831) 2 1.68 Epioblasma capsaeformis (Lea, 1834) 1 .84 Lampsilis fasciola (Rafinesque, 1820) 26 21.85 L ovata (Say, 1817) 1 .84 Villosa iris (Lea, 1830) 16 13.45 V. vanuxemensis (Lea, 1838) 33 27.73 Totals 119 100.00 the fish fauna. Widening and other modifications of the Little Pigeon River in Sevierville by the TVA, plus the aforemen- tioned conditions downstream, all contributed to reducing the environmental quality of the river for most aquatic organisms. Less than six specimens of Villosa iris and Lampsilis fasciola were found in the Little Pigeon River at the Walnut Grove Bridge in Sevierville (River Mile 6.7; 10.7 km); these were relic specimens and the apparent paucity of naiads inhabiting this stretch of the river could be due in part to urban development along the banks at this point and upstream. No mussels were found in the Little Pigeon River upstream from the southern city limits of Sevierville, so with the possible exception of an occasional individual becoming established, viable mussel

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