(DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species MUSSEL, JUDGE TAIT'S
Species Id ESIS404022
Date 13 MAR 96
TAXONOMY
NAME - MUSSEL, JUDGE TAIT'S
OTHER COMMON NAMES - MUSSEL, JUDGE TAIT'S; PIGTOE, PINK and SOUTHERN
ELEMENT CODE -
CATEGORY - Aquatic Molluscs
PHYLUM AND SUBPHYLUM - MOLLUSCA,
CLASS AND SUBCLASS - BIVALVIA,
ORDER AND SUBORDER - UNIONOIDA,
FAMILY AND SUBFAMILY - UNIONIDAE,
GENUS AND SUBGENUS - PLEUROBEMA,
SPECIES AND SSP - TAITIANUM,
SCIENTIFIC NAME - PLEUROBEMA TAITIANUM
AUTHORITY -
TAXONOMY REFERENCES -
COMMENTS ON TAXONOMY -
Judge Tait's Mussel
Pleurobema taitianum (Lea, 1834)
KINGDOM: Animal GROUP: Clam
PHYLUM: Mollusca CLASS: Bivalvia
ORDER: Unionoida FAMILY: Unionidae
Judge Tait's mussel is a bivalve mollusk about 55 mm long, 45 mm
high, and 30 mm wide. The shell is brown to brownish-black, obliquely
triangular and inflated, with narrowly pointed beaks directed forward,
a very shallow but distinct furrow, pink-tinted nacre, and shallow
beak cavities (01). The type specimen is at the United States
National Museum (01). The type locality is the Alabama River at
Claiborne, Monroe County, AL.
Lea gave the original description of this species in 1834 as Unio
taitianus. The following is an abbreviated synonymy for Pleurobema
taitianum (Lea, 1834) (01):
Unio taitianus Lea -- Lea, 1834:39.
Margarita taitianus (Lea) -- Lea, 1836:21.
Margaron taitianus (Lea) -- Lea, 1852:25.
Pleurobema taitiana (Lea) -- Simpson, 1900:754.
Taxonomy - 1 (DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species MUSSEL, JUDGE TAIT'S
Species Id ESIS404022
Date 13 MAR 96
Pleurobema taitianum (Lea) -- Simpson, 1914:764.
Pleurobema tombigbeanum Frierson -- Frierson, 1908:27.
The Judge Tait's mussel also may be referred to as the southern
pink pigtoe (01).
Taxonomy - 2 (DRAFT) - Status
Species MUSSEL, JUDGE TAIT'S
Species Id ESIS404022
Date 13 MAR 96
STATUS
Coded Status
Alabama; Federal Endangered
Alabama; Unofficially Listed
Mississippi; Federal Endangered
Mississippi; State Recognized
E: Federal Endangered
COMMENTS ON STATUS -
U.S. STATUSES AND LAWS:
The Judge Tait's mussel (Pleurobema taitianum) has been
designated an Endangered species pursuant to the Endangered Species
Act of 1973 (50 CFR 17.11; P.L. 93-205, 87 Stat. 884; 16 U.S.C.
1531-1540), as amended. The species has this status wherever found
including the States of AL and MS. Critical Habitat has not been
designated.
This species is protected by the Lacey Act (P.L. 97-79, as
amended; 16 U.S.C. 3371 et seq.) which makes it unlawful to import,
export, transport, sell, receive, acquire, or purchase any wild animal
(alive or dead including parts, products, eggs, or offspring):
(1) in interstate or foreign commerce if taken, possessed,
transported or sold in violation of any State law or
regulation, or foreign law; or
(2) if taken or possessed in violation of any U.S. law,
treaty, or regulation or in violation of Indian tribal law.
It is also unlawful to possess any wild animal (alive or dead
including parts, products, eggs, and offspring) within the U.S.
territorial or special maritime jurisdiction (as defined in
18 U.S.C. 7) that is taken, possessed, transported, or sold in
violation of any State law or regulation, foreign law, or Indian
tribal law.
RESPONSIBLE FEDERAL AGENCIES:
USFWS -Responsible for the management/recovery, listing, and
law enforcement/protection of this species.
All Federal agencies have responsibility to ensure that any
action authorized, funded, or carried out by that agency is not likely
to jeopardize the continued existence of the species or result in the
destruction or adverse modification of Critical Habitat (50 CFR 402),
and to utilize their authorities to carry out programs for the
conservation of the species.
STATE STATUSES AND LAWS:
STATE: Alabama
UNOFFICIAL LIST: Endangered, Bulletin No.2, "Endangered and
Threatened Plants and Animals of Alabama",
Status - 1 (DRAFT) - Status
Species MUSSEL, JUDGE TAIT'S
Species Id ESIS404022
Date 13 MAR 96
Alabama Museum of Natural History.
STATE: Mississippi
DESIGNATED STATUS: Recognized Endangered
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY: Department of Wildlife Conservation
STATE STATUTES: Public Notice No. 2156, Eff. Sept. 1, 1981.
INTERNATIONAL STATUSES, TREATIES, AND AGREEMENTS:
Pleurobema taitianum is listed as endangered in the 1986 IUCN Red
List of Threatened Animals.
ECONOMIC STATUSES:
The species is valued by collectors for scientific purposes.
79/05/01:44 FR 25589/ - Notice of review
80/04/11:45 FR 24904/24905 - Notice of review
84/05/22:49 FR 21664/21675 - Notice of review
86/04/07:51 FR 11761/11768 - Proposed rule
86/06/18:51 FR 22092/ - Notice of public hearing
87/04/07:52 FR 11162/11169 - Final rule, listed as Endangered
Status - 2 HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS
HABITAT - AQUATIC
INLAND AQUATIC
LAND USE -
Streams and Canals
NATIONAL WETLAND INVENTORY CODES
NWI NWICLS NWIMOD NWISPEC
Riverine, upper perennial SB2
Riverine, upper perennial SB1
COMMENTS ON HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS -
The Judge Tait's mussel is found associated with a riffle-run
habitat. Williams (05) found it in the main channel in gravel or
sandy-gravel in moderate to swift current. It does better in stable
substrates in strong current (01). Specific environmental parameters
required by the species are unknown.
Much of the historic habitat has been modified by reservoir and
barge canal construction. The remaining populations are in a bendway
or meander of the Tombigbee River that was bypassed by the
Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway and in a few tributaries of the Tombigbee
River. They are away from and not affected by operation of the
completed Waterway (08).
Habitat of the glochidia is initially within the gills of the
female, then in the water column, and finally attached to a suitable
fish host. The host species is unknown. Any alteration of these life
stage-specific habitats during its life cycle would likely affect the
long-term success of a population. Habitat requirements or
associations for the juvenile stage are unknown.
Habitat Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Food Habits
Species MUSSEL, JUDGE TAIT'S
Species Id ESIS404022
Date 13 MAR 96
FOOD HABITS
TROPHIC LEVEL -
OMNIVORE
LIFESTAGE FOOD FOOD PART
General Detritus
General Bacteria
General Phytoplankton
General Diatoms
General Zooplankton
General Fish
Food Habits - 1 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species MUSSEL, JUDGE TAIT'S
Species Id ESIS404022
Date 13 MAR 96
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G = General A = Adult
LIM = Limiting RA = Resting Adult
J = Juvenile FA = Feeding Adult
RJ = Resting Juvenile BA = Breeding Adult
FJ = Feeding Juvenile P = Pupae
L = Larvae E = Egg
RL = Resting Larvae
FL = Feeding Larvae
LIFESTAGE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G Aquatic Features: Pool areas
Environment Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species MUSSEL, JUDGE TAIT'S
Species Id ESIS404022
Date 13 MAR 96
LIFE HISTORY
FOOD HABITS:
Glochidia are probably obligate parasites on the tissues of the
gills or fins of fish. Adult Judge Tait's mussels (Pleurobema
taitianum) are filter-feeders and consume particulate matter suspended
in the water column, such as mud, desmids, diatoms, other unicellular
algae, protozoa, and zooplankters (02). No study of the food habits
of adult P. taitianum has been conducted; specific required/preferred
foods are therefore unknown.
HOME RANGE/TERRITORY:
Non-territorial. The species is sedentary during its adult life.
PERIODICITY:
No known periodicity.
MIGRATION PATTERNS:
Non-migratory.
COVER/SHELTER REQUIREMENTS:
The Judge Tait's mussel requires flowing water, frequently a
riffle, over stable sand and gravel. Water velocity can vary greatly.
The sand and gravel substrate must remain free of any heavy sediment
(01).
REPRODUCTIVE SITE REQUIREMENTS:
Since P. taitianum is a sedentary species reproductive site
requirements are the same as habitat requirements in general. Judge
Tait's mussels require flowing water, frequently a riffle, over stable
sand and gravel. Water velocity can vary greatly. The sand and
gravel substrate must remain free of any heavy sediment (01).
REPRODUCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS:
Sperm are discharged into the surrounding water and dispersed by
water currents. Females downstream from the males obtain sperm during
the normal process of siphoning water while feeding and during
respiration. Fertilization occurs within the gills of the female,
which serve as marsupia for embryos developing to the parasitic stage
(glochidia) and are then released (02). The specifics of reproductive
characteristics for this species are unknown.
PARENTAL CARE:
No parental care is known.
POPULATION BIOLOGY:
The population biology of this species is unknown.
SPECIES INTERRELATIONSHIPS:
The required fish hosts for the parasitic glochidia of Pleurobema
taitianum are unknown.
OTHER LIFE HISTORY DESCRIPTORS:
Life History - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species MUSSEL, JUDGE TAIT'S
Species Id ESIS404022
Date 13 MAR 96
None.
Life History - 2 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species MUSSEL, JUDGE TAIT'S
Species Id ESIS404022
Date 13 MAR 96
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
RESULT MANAGEMENT PRACTICE
Beneficial Maintaining/Controlling Water Flow
Beneficial Land Acquisition
Beneficial Creating Artificial Habitat/Nesting Structure
Adverse Harassment/Vandalism/Indiscriminate Killing
Existing Harassment/Vandalism/Indiscriminate Killing
Adverse Low Gene Pool
Existing Low Gene Pool
Adverse Siltation
Existing Siltation
Adverse Water Level Fluctuation
Existing Water Level Fluctuation
Adverse Reservoirs
Existing Reservoirs
Adverse Dredging
Existing Dredging
Adverse Developing/maintaining stream bank vegetation
Existing Developing/maintaining stream bank vegetation
Adverse Applying fertilizers
Existing Applying fertilizers
Adverse Applying herbicides
Existing Applying herbicides
Adverse Applying pesticides
Existing Applying pesticides
COMMENTS ON MANAGEMENT PRACTICES -
The Judge Tait's mussel is historically known from the Alabama
River at Claiborne and Selma, the lower Cahaba River, the Coosa River,
and the Tombigbee River.
Judge Tait's mussel was last collected from the mainstem
Tombigbee River in 1972 (01). Habitat remaining in the mainstem
Tombigbee is marginal and any remaining clams must cope with the
continuing impacts of siltation, reduced water flows due to water
diversion and dams, water quality degradation, and possible loss of
their fish host (08).
Generally, the decline is attributed to impoundments, navigation
(channelization for barge traffic), and flood control in the Alabama
River system and to construction of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway
(TTW) on the Tombigbee River (01). The situation of the remaining
Judge Tait's mussels away from the navigation channel of the TTW
allowed them to escape the full force of the threats that extirpated
it elsewhere in the Tombigbee River (08).
The Judge Tait's mussel has greatly declined in range and/or
numbers in the Tombigbee River owing to alteration of its habitat from
a free-flowing riverine system to an impounded system by the
construction of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. The modification of
the free-flowing Tombigbee River into a series of impoundments
adversely impacted the Judge Tait's mussel by physical destruction
during dredging, increasing siltation, reducing water flow, and
Management Practices - 1 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species MUSSEL, JUDGE TAIT'S
Species Id ESIS404022
Date 13 MAR 96
suffocating juveniles with sediment (03,04,05,01).
Although not consideed a primary reason for the listing of the
species, the Judge Tait's mussel was and is exposed to a continuing
threat from runoff of fertilizers and pesticides. Runoff of
fertilizers into small streams can exceed the assimilation ability of
the stream and result in algal blooms and excesses of other aquatic
vegetation. This condition can produce stream eutrophication and
result in the death of native fauna. Herbicides, insecticides,
fungicides, and other pesticides are easily washed from fields into
streams, along with silt particles to which these substances adhere.
While being transported downstream, these particles may be ingested by
filter feeders, such as this mussel. The siphoning period and
metabolic rate of mussels can be affected by such contaminants as
heavy metals and agricultural chemicals (07). Pesticide laden silt
particles eventually settle to and become part of the substrate, thus
increasing the pesticides in the clam's habitat.
The Judge Tait's mussel may be adversely affected by the loss of
its fish host. No fish host has been identified yet, but the hosts of
clams from riffle habitats tend to be riffle-dwelling species (06) and
are likely to decline or become extirpated as this habitat is
modified.
The species also continues to be threatened by flood control
projects and a low population level (01).
UNAPPROVED PLAN:
No recovery plan is yet developed for the Judge Tait's mussel.
Recovery planning should be initiated in FY 1988.
Recovery actions that are anticipated for the Judge Tait's mussel
include: Maintaining water flow; creating artificial habitat (e.g.,
gravel bars); prohibiting sand and gravel dredging; and land easement
protection for remaining habitat.
At present, dredging is being prohibited and water flow is being
maintained.
Management Practices - 2 (DRAFT) - References
Species MUSSEL, JUDGE TAIT'S
Species Id ESIS404022
Date 13 MAR 96
References
***** REFERENCES FOR ALL NARRATIVES EXCEPT N-OCCURRENCE *****
01 Stansbery, D.H. 1983. The status of Pleurobema taitianum (Lea,
1834) (Mollusca:Bivalvia:Unionoida). Unpubl. rep. on file at:
USFWS, Jackson Field Office, Jackson, MS. 10 pp + 5 pp museum
records.
02 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1984. Recovery Plan for the Rough
Pigtoe Pearly Mussel [Pleurobema plenum (Lea, 1840)]. U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, Atlanta, GA. 51 pp.
03 Stansbery, D.H. 1980. Comments on naiad mollusks being reviewed
for possible addition to the Federal list of endangered and
threatened wildlife and plants. Unpubl. Rep. on file at: Jackson
Field Office, Jackson, MS. 23 pp.
04 Stein, C.B. 1971. Naiad life cycles: Their significance in the
conservation of fauna. Pages 19-25. IN: Proceedings of a
symposium on rare and endangered mollusks (naiads) of the U.S
Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service. On file at:
USFWS, Jackson Field Office, Jackson, MS. 79 pp.
05 Williams, J.D. 1982. Distribution and habitat observations of
selected Mobile basin unionid mollusks. Pages 61-85. IN: Report
of freshwater mollusks workshop, 19-20 May 1981. A.C. Miller, ed.
U.S. Army Eng. Waterway Exper. Sta. Environ. Lab., Vicksburg, MS.
184 pp.
06 Fuller, S.L.H. 1974. Clams and mussels (Mollusca:Bivalvia).
Pages 215-273. IN: Pollution ecology of freshwater invertebrates.
C.W. Hart and S.L.H. Fuller, eds. Academic Press, NY.
07 Salanki, J. 1979. Behavioural studies in mussels under changing
environmental conditions. Symp. Biol. Hung. 19:169-176.
08 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1987. Endangered status for
Marshall's mussel (Pleurobema marshalli), Curtus' mussel
(Pleurobema curtum), Judge Tait's mussel (Pleurobema taitianum),
the stirrup shell (Quadrula stapes), and the penitent mussel
(Epioblasma (=Dysnomia) penita). Fed. Reg. 52:11162-11169.
***** REFERENCES FOR N-OCCURRENCE NARRATIVE ONLY *****
01 Stansbery, D.H. 1983. The status of Pleurobema taitianum (Lea,
1834) (Mollusca:Bivalvia:Unionoida). Unpubl. rep. on file at:
USFWS, Jackson Field Office, Jackson, MS. 10 pp + 2 pp museum
records.
References - 1