Thomas M. Haggerty, Jeffrey T. Garner, Lucas Gilbert
Freshwater Mollusk Biology and Conservation 17 (1), 1-7, (1 April 2014) https://doi.org/10.31931/fmbc.v17i1.2014.1-7
Campeloma decampi, the Slender Campeloma, is a federally endangered snail endemic to the Tennessee River drainage in Alabama, U.S.A. We studied a population in Round Island Creek, Limestone County, in July, 2010, to obtain information about density, microhabitat, and demography. The overall mean density at the site was 49.2/m2 (± 14.4 SE), but the distribution was highly clumped. We used generalized linear models and multi-model inference to examine the response of snail density to seven microhabitat explanatory variables. The greatest densities were associated with shallow, low-flow areas with silt and clay near the stream margin. Shell heights ranged from 4.3–34.7 mm, and the size distribution appeared to be composed of three cohorts possibly representing age 0 recruits, age 1 individuals, and individuals ≥2 years of age. The population was dominated by small individuals (4-12 mm; modal size class = 6 mm), and individuals >20 mm made up only 7% of the population. This size distribution suggests that parturition occurs over a protracted period from late winter to summer and that most individuals produce only one or two broods in their lifetime; however, additional sampling and information about life span are needed to more conclusively describe the reproductive strategy.