Effects of thermal and hypoxic stress on respiratory patterns of three unionid species: implications for management and conservation

Mussels are at particular risk from thermal stress and hypoxia due to limited range and mobility. Of interest to managers is whether sensitivity is uniform or varies among species and subpopulations. We used respirometry to investigate effects of temperature on energy demand and hypoxia tolerance of two narrowly distributed species (Cyclonaias petrina, Colorado River; C. necki, Guadalupe River), and two subpopulations of a widely distributed species (C. pustulosa: Colorado and Navasota rivers) in central Texas. We observed zero mortality during acclimation and respirometry runs even when mussels were exposed to hypoxic conditions for several hours at 36 °C. However, type and magnitude of sublethal effects varied across species and subpopulations as temperatures increased. C. pustulosa (Colorado River) exhibited the greatest increase in energy demand, C. petrina exhibited a decreasing ability to regulate oxygen consumption and an increase in critical dissolved oxygen concentration, C. pustulosa (Navasota River) exhibited metabolic depression, and both C. petrina and C. necki exhibited increasing frequency of valve closure. Results suggest that effects of increasing temperature on energetic requirements are more important than effects on hypoxia tolerance. Management strategies considering physiological differences among species and/or subpopulations are likely to be more effective than a simple “one-size-fits-all” approach.