Factsheet – Pilot study to evaluate potential use of fatty acids as condition index of freshwater mussels (Unionidae) in response to upstream environmental effects

Freshwater mussels (Unionidae) are a diverse and ecologically important group of organisms that are globally distributed and widespread across North America. In Indiana and across their range, unionid mussels have experienced drastic losses in diversity and abundance, and many extant species are considered threatened or endangered. Efforts to conserve mussel populations are currently underway by a number of agencies and institutions, but these efforts may be hindered by knowledge gaps related to basic life history, ecology, and mechanisms related to mussel population health. While researchers have utilized quantitative modeling as a tool to better understand mussel distributions, few mechanistic approaches have been developed to directly measure individual mussel condition, population health, and more recent species’ responses to environmental stressors. Profiles of fatty acids, a critical macronutrient, are often directly indicative of a consumer’s diet and the habitats they occupy. This project explored the use of fatty acid profiles to assess mussel health and performance.