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

A long-term goal for mussel conservation and management in Missouri is implementation of a standardized sampling program at priority locations allowing inference regarding changes in status of mussel populations over time. Before a standardized mussel sampling program can be effectively implemented, we require additional information on mussel sampling methodology, mussel distributions, and conservation priorities. This project is a collaborative effort between the Missouri Department of Conservation and the Missouri Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit. The proposed project will advance our knowledge to the point where we can develop regional or statewide predictive models of mussel distribution and create a long-term standardized sampling program capable of tracking the status of mussel communities at priority locations.