Abstract
A systematic survey of mussel concentrations (= beds) in Lake Chicot was conducted during June 10-15, 1991. The lake was divided into 58 relatively equal-sized quadrats for qualitative survey by two, 2-man teams using Hookah dive systems. A qualitative survey revealed a single mussel bed encompassing an area approximately 12 km long and four m wide. For population analysis, the bed was sub-divided into five strata encompassing 9600 m2 each. Twenty random, 4 x 1 m, quantitative samples were taken from each of the five strata. Four mussel taxa; Amblema plicata (threeridge), Quadrula quadrula (mapleleaf) Quadrula nodulata (wartyback), and Plectomerus dombeyanus (bankclimber), accounted for 99.6% of the specimens sampled. The total mussel population for the bed was estimated to be 59,304 + 8,392. Potential for commercial harvest of Lake Chicot mussel resources is minimal at this time due to small shell size and poor shell quality.
Recommended Citation
Harris, John L.; Rust, Peter J.; Chordas, Stephen W. III; and Harp, George L.
(1993)
"Distribution and Population Structure of Freshwater Mussels (Unionidae) in Lake Chicot, Arkansas,"
Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science: Vol. 47, Article 13.
Available at:
https://scholarworks.uark.edu/jaas/vol47/iss1/13
