Pleurobema strodeanum (Fuzzy Pigtoe), is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The purpose of this study was to estimate growth rate, morphometric ratios, and ages for this species. One hundred and sixty-one P. strodeanum were originally tagged and measured in 2004 at Eightmile Creek, Walton County, FL. In 2011, 28 of those 161 were recovered and re-measured. Growth-rate percentages were determined based on length, width, height, and volume. Age was estimated using the von Bertalanffy growth equation. Results indicate that over a period of seven years, P. strodeanum grew 0.48 mm/year (SD = 0.14) in length. The age estimations in this study ranged from 48.7 to 74.5 years. The growth constant (K) was 0.018 per year, and the asymptotic length L∞) was 71.97 mm. Natural history data such as these will be useful in understanding the basic biology of P. strodeanum and may assist in successful mussel management.
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1 March 2013
Growth Rates and Age Estimations of the Fuzzy Pigtoe, Pleurobema strodeanum: A Species Newly Listed Under the Endangered Species Act
Evelyn G. Reátegui-Zirena,
Paul M. Stewart,
Jonathan M. Miller
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Southeastern Naturalist
Vol. 12 • No. 1
April 2013
Vol. 12 • No. 1
April 2013