Project T-53-D1

Project Title: Investigating Mussel Communities in Illinois Streams

Community and/or Species Focus:

1. Identify 120-150 wadeable sample sites per year
2. Collect baseline mussel data statewide on 9-12 stream basins per year
3. Collect mussel community data on at least 40 sites
4. Maintain and update the mussel resource database annually
5. Investigate sampling efficiency​ of the current IDNR protocols

1. ​Selected 1,150 wadeable streams for sampling
2. Over 1,000 mussel sampling events took place for baseline data
3. Targeted surveys took place at over 250 sites
4. Created a master database that included each year's sampling data
5. Sampling adequacy decreased as stream size increased but was positively correlated with the percent of forests in riparian areas and the amount of logs in streams

Post-Project Survey (if applicable): n/a

Project Period: 5/1/08 - 9/30/13

Principle Investigator(s):