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

Tennessee Staff Member

Dr. James Layzer

Tennessee Unit Leader Dr. Jim Layzer
Unit Leader
Phone: (931) 372 - 3032
Email: jim_layzer@tntech.edu

Education

  • Ph D Oklahoma State University 1982
  • MS University of Massachusetts 1974
  • BS University of Massachusetts 1971

Biography

BS and MS degrees, University of Massachusetts; PhD, Oklahoma State University. Curently holds the rank of Professor in the Department of Biology and Unit Leader of the Tennessee Unit.. Ecology of mussels and restoration of imperiled fish and mussels in regulated rivers. Environmental flows.. Malacology

Research Publications Publication Date
Weber, A.S. and J.B. Layzer. 2011. A comparison of turtle sampling methods in a small lake in Standing Stone State Park, Overton County, Tennessee. Journal of the Tennessee Academy of Science. January 2011
Strayer, D. L., J. A. Downing, W. R. Haag, T. L. King, J. B. Layzer, T. J. Newton, and S. J. Nichols. 2004. Changing perspectives on pearly mussels, North America's most imperiled animals. Bioscience 54:429-439. May 2004
Simmons, J. W., and J. B. Layzer. 2004. Spawning behavior and habitat of the endangered bluemask darter, Etheostoma (Doration) sp. Copeia 2004(2):412-417. May 2004
Simmons, J. W., J. B. Layzer, and D. D. Smith. 2008. Age-class structure and variability of two populations of the Bluemask darter Etheostoma (Doration) sp. American Midland Naturalist. 160:300-309 May 2008
Saha, S., and J. B. Layzer. 2008. Evaluation of a nonlethal technique for determining sex of freshwater mussels. Journal of the North American Benthological Society, 27(1):84-89 March 2008
Moles, K. R., and J. B. Layzer 2008. Reproductive ecology of Actinonaias ligamentina (Bivalvia: Unionidae) in a regulated river. Journal of the North American Benthological Society, 27(1):212-222. January 2008
Moles, K. R., N. T. Welte, and J. B. Layzer. 2007. The mussel fauna of the Wolf River, Fentress and Picket Counties, Tennessee. Journal of the Tennessee Academy of Science. 82:77-82. September 2007
Life history of the fluted kidneyshell Ptychobranchus subtentum. American Midland Naturalist 167:79-95. January 2012
Layzer, J. B., and T. R. Brady. 2003. Summer microhabitat of the endangered bluemask darter Etheostoma (Doration) sp. Journal of the Tennessee Academy of Science 78(2):55-57. October 2003
Layzer, J. B., and J. R. Khym. 2005. Fish hosts for glochidia of the pheasantshell (Actinonaias pectorosa). Walkerana. 14(31):79-85. May 2005
Layzer, J. B., and J. R. Heinricher. 2004. Coded wire tag retention in ebonyshell mussels Fusconaia ebena. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 24:228-230. January 2004
Layzer, J. B., B. Adair, S. Saha, and L. M. Woods. 2003. Glochidial hosts and other aspects of the life history of the Cumberland pigtoe (Pleurobema gibberum). Southeastern Naturalist 2(1):73-84. January 2003
Layzer, J. B. 2002. Status of the Freshwater Mussel Fauna in the Green River within the Mammoth Cave National Park - A preliminary Assessment. Pages 51-53 in:9th Mammoth Cave Science Conference, Mammoth Cave, KY. October 10-11. October 2002
Layzer, J. B. 2001. Status of the freshwater mussel fauna in the Green River within Mammoth Cave National Park - A preliminary assessment. Proceedings of the 9th Mammoth Cave Science Conference September 2002
Khym, J. R., and J. B. Layzer. 2000. Host fish suitability for glochidia of Ligumia recta. American Midland Naturalist. 143:178-184 January 2000
J. B. Layzer and E. M. Scott, Jr. 2006. Restoration and colonization of freshwater mussels and fish in a southeastern United States tailwater. River Research & Applications. 22:475-491 May 2006
Hersey, K.A., J.D. Clark, and J.B. Layzer. Consumption of freshwater bivalves by muskrats in the Green River, Kentucky. September 2013
Hardison, B. S., and J. B. Layzer. 2001. Relations between complex hydraulics and the localized distribution of mussels in three regulated rivers. Regulated Rivers: Research & Management 17:77-84 January 2001
Gore, J. A., J. B. Layzer, and J. Mead. 2001. Macroinvertebrate instream flow studies after 20 years; a role in stream management and restoration. Regulated Rivers: Research & Management 17:527-542 September 2001
Ehlo, C. A. and J. B. Layzer. Population demographics and life history of the round hickorynut Obovaria subrotunda in the Duck River, Tennessee. American Midland Naturalist. July 2013
Eads, C. B., and J. B. Layzer. 2002. How to pick your mussels out of a crowd: using fluorescence to mark juvenile mussels. J. N. Am. Benthol. Soc. 21:476-486 September 2002
Ashton, M.J. and J.B. Layzer. 2010. Summer microhabitat use by adult and young-of-year snail darters (Percina tanasi) in two rivers. Ecology of Freshwater Fish. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0633.2010.00442.x July 2010
Ashton, M., and J. B. Layzer. 2008. Distribution of the threatened snail darter (Percina tanasi) in the upper Tennessee River drainage. Journal of the Tennessee Academy of Science 83:52-56. July 2008
Project Completion Date
Determining the distribution of imperiled mussels in Tennessee waters June 2017
Propagating mussels in the Ohio River June 2017
Reintroduction of mussels into a formerly-dewatered reach of the Little Tennessee River December 2014
Response of mussels to decreasing flows December 2014
Endangered species research below Green River Dam December 2016
Life history of the Cumberland papershell (anodontoides denigrata) December 2014
Research directed at the recovery of endangered mussels December 2010
Assessment of the mussel fauna in the area impacted by possible dredging for the Green River Ferry, Mammoth Cave National Park June 2011
Propagation of pink muckets December 2012
Propagation of rare mussels June 2013
Reintroduction of mussels into the Little Tennessee River at the Calderwood Dam bypass June 2011
Life history of the Barrens Heelsplitter December 2011
Life history of Obovaria subrotunda December 2011
Research directed at the recovery of endangered mussels December 2010
Predicting the effects on endangered mussels from incremental decreases in minimum flows December 2015
Establish Non-essential Population of 2 Endangered Mussel Species in the Lower French Broad River, Tennessee January 2014
Development and testing of a protocol for monitoring mussels December 2009
Presentations Presentation Date
Life History of the Cumberland Papershell Anodontoides denigrata. Tyler R. Hern and James B. Layzer. Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society Symposium. Guntersville, Alabama. March 2013
Kendall R.Moles and James B. Layzer. Reintroduction of mussels into the Calderwood bypass of the Little Tennessee River. A case of fraternizing with the enemy? . Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society Symposium. Guntersville, Alabama. March 2013
Foley, R. P. and J. B. Layzer. 2013. ANNULUS DEPOSITION AND INTRA-ANNULAR GROWTH OF Epioblasma ahlstedti AND Lemiox rimosus IN THE DUCK RIVER, TENNESSEE. Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society Symposium. Guntersville, Alabama. March 2013
Technical Publications Publication Date
Smith, E.K., J. Gunderson, and J.B. Layzer. 2006. Gene flow among seemingly isolated populations of the endangered bluemask darter, Etheostoma (Doration) sp. Final Report, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Nashville, Tennessee. 61pp. September 2006
S.L. Surgenor and J.B. Layzer. 2003. Survival of artificially propagated juvenile mussels. Final Report, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Nashville, TN. 52pp. December 2003
Martin, R. and J.B. Layzer. 2001. Movements, habitat use, and survival of captive-reared lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) released into the upper Tennessee river system. Final Report submitted to USGS, Biological Resources Division. 68p December 2001
Layzer, J.B., T.R. Brady, and L.M. Madison. 2002. Propagation of endangered mussels at fish hatcheries. Final Report, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 78pp. September 2006
Layzer, J.B., E.M. Scott, Jr., J.M. Howard, and J.K. Farmer. 2004. Reintroduction of freshwater mussels into the Tennessee River and its major tributaries. Final Report, U.S. Geological Survey, Tennessee Cooperative Fishery Research Unit, Cookeville, Tennessee. 157pp. January 2004
Layzer, J.B., D.L. Ragland, and L.M. Madison. 2004. Reintroduction of endangered mussels and perfection of methods for the establishment of experimental populations. Final Report, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. 49pp. September 2006
Layzer, J.B., B. Adair, S. Saha, LM. Woods, and T.R. Brady. 2002. Life history of the Bluemask darter and the Cumberland pigtoe, Phase I: Microhabitats and Host Identification. Final Report submitted to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Cookeville, TN. 31p June 2002
Layzer, J.B. and K. Moles. 2009. Reintroduction of the rayed bean (Villosa fabalis) into the Duck River. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. College Station, PA. September 2009
Layzer, J.B. and K. Moles. 2009. Assessment of the fish and mussel communities in the Glenview Nature Preserve on the Green River. Green County, KY. September 2009
Layzer, J.B. and J.W. Simmons. 2004. Structure and stability of bluemask darter populations. Final report, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 60pp. September 2006
Layzer, J.B. 2004. Enhancement of endangered mussels in Horse Lick Creek. Final Report, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. 15pp. September 2006
Layzer, J.B. 2000. Book Review - Instream flow protection: Seeking a balance in western water use. By D.M. Gillilan and T.C. Brown. Island Press, Washington, DC. 1997. 410pp. In: Fisheries 25(1):42 August 2001
Layzer, J.B. 2009. Relationship between stream discharge and recruitment of the Cumberland Elktoe (Alasmidonta atropurpurea). The Nature Conservancy. Tennessee. September 2009
Layzer, J.B. 2004. Recovery of the endangered Ringpink Obovaia retusa. Final Report, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 4p. September 2006
Layzer, J.B. 2004. Maintenance of captive populations of endangered freshwater mussels. Final Report, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Nashville, Tennessee. 5p. September 2006
Brady, T.R., A.L. Currie, and J.B. Layzer. 2003. Development and transfer of technology to propagate and culture mussels at the Dale Hollow and Wolf Creek National Fish Hatcheries. Final Report, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Cookeville, Tennessee. 15pp. February 2003
Role and Organization Individual         Start Date        End Date       
Tennessee Academy of Science - Member Layzer January 1990 Present
Other - Program Committee Layzer January 2008 July 2009
Other - Invited member to the Scientific Advisory Committee for the 3rd Biennial Symposium of International Society for River Science to be held August 5- 9, 2013 in Beijing, China Layzer October 2012 Present
North American Benthological Society - Member Layzer January 1993 Present
Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society - Member Layzer January 2004 Present
American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists - Member Layzer January 1981 December 2010
American Malacological Society - Member Layzer January 1996 January 2003
American Fisheries Society - President, Tennessee Chapter Layzer March 2004 March 2005
American Fisheries Society - Member Layzer January 1970 Present