A Survey of the Unionid Mussels in Six Tributaries of the Lower Neosho River (Kansas)

Abstract Most unionid mussel surveys in the Neosho River watershed have been conducted in the river and not its tributaries. In the spring and fall of 1996, unionid mussels were surveyed in six tributaries of the lower Neosho River in southeastern Kansas. The streams were: Canville, Hickory, Flatrock, Cherry, Lightning, and Labette creeks. A 100-m baseline was established along the stream bank with 11 perpendicular transacts at 10-m intervals. Live mussels were collected from consecutive square meter quadrats along each transect. Fifteen species were present from 28 of the 40 sites that had live mussels. Pyganodon grandis (giant floater) was the most abundant species, comprising 33% of the total collection, occurring in all six streams and at half the sites. Lasmigona complanata (white heelsplitter) and Ligumia subrostrata (common pond mussel) were second most abundant, each comprising 11.4% of the collection. Lampsilis teres (yellow sandshell) is a species in need of conservation (SINC) in Kansas, occurs...