A survey to assess community characteristics, density, population demography of dominant species, and the presence of rare or endangered species of mussels (Family: Unionidae) was conducted in selected reaches of the Quiver River and Bogue Phalia, Mississippi, in 1994 and 1995 for the U.S. Army Engineer District, Vicksburg. Results are being used to assess the economic value of mussels in the project area and to determine the environmental effects of proposed maintenance dredging. The project area included a section of the Quiver River between its confluence with the Big Sunflower River immediately north of Highway 82 in Sunflower County to the Leflore-Tallahatchie county line. In the Bogue Phalia, the study area consisted of a reach between Highway 82 and Rosedale, west-central Bolivar County. Twenty-two species of native freshwater mussels were collected in the Quiver River; 26 sites were sampled using qualitative methods, and a total of 2,238 mussels were collected. The dominant mussel was Amblema p. plicata, which comprised over 67 percent of the mussel fauna. Plectomerus dombeyanus comprised 20 percent of the mussels. Overall species diversity (0.67 to 0.90) was low, mainly because of the dominance of A. p. plicata. Evidence of recent recruitment was low; approximately 7 percent of the species and 0.15 percent of the individuals collected were less than 30 mm total shell length. Overall mean density ranged from less than 8.6 individuals/square meter at River Mile (RM) 6.4 to 92.3 individuals/square meter at RM 19.7.

Synthesizes the ecology and natural history of North American freshwater mussels for scientists, natural resource professionals, students and natural history enthusiasts.