Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program: Virginia
Education, Research and Technical Assistance for Managing Our Natural Resources

Virginia Project

Dissolved Oxygen Requirements for Freshwater Mussels Phase 1: Development of Test Systems and Experimental Protocols.

March 2008 - February 2010

Personnel

Participating Agencies

  • Cooperative Research Unit Program

The objectives of this pilot study (Phase I) are to: 1) Construct a gas-stripping system based on the Barnhart (1995) design to control DO levels. 2) Design a system to expose adult and juvenile mussels to DO treatments under semi-natural conditions. 3) Identify dependent variables (biomarkers) that are indicative of stress under low DO levels. 4) Determine the feasibility of maintaining low DO levels (1 - 3 mg/L) for extended exposures (weeks). 5) Develop a standard protocol to maintain and monitor DO treatments.