Freshwater mussels are one of the most endangered animals in North America due to pollution, habitat alteration and overharvesting.
Other factors that impact the native mussel’s population negatively include: dredging, pollution, siltation and zebra mussels.
The invasive Zebra Mussel is an aquatic hitchhiker. They like to use water filtration to collect nutrients. An adult zebra mussel can filter up to a liter a day. They also interrupt the food web. Zebra mussels attach to native mussels with their byssal threads and smother them by filtering all the food out of the water. They rapidly multiply. They can damage watercrafts, clog power plants and public water pipes, and cover the beaches with broken shells.
Three amphibian species are listed as state species of special concern: Blue-spotted Salamander, Plains Leopard Frog, and Northern Leopard Frog. While these three species are listed as state species of special concern in Indiana, these species have a G5 ranking, stating them to be widespread and abundant globally. The Plains Leopard Frog is ranked as S1 and to be critically imperiled in the state. The Blue-spotted Salamander and Northern Leopard Frog have an S2 ranking of being imperiled in the state.
Habitat preferences for the state listed species vary. Warm water temperatures,high turbidity, and loss of habitat can all impact fish and mussel diversity. Deforestation or forest fragmentation likely affect the peregrine falcon and Indiana bat species. These species require large hunting areas where dense forests are present and small stream corridors with well developed riparian forests. The elimination of these habitats could result in the loss of roost and hunting habitat thus eliminating these species. Other listed species, including Franklin’s ground squirrel (found within Newton County), eastern massasauga, smooth green snake, and several bird and vascular plant species rely on prairie habitat. Many live on the border between forested and prairie habitats hunting in one habitat and nesting in the other. The conversion of prairies and forests to agricultural and urban land uses could have resulted in the decline in these populations (WREC, 2010)
A 14 Year Study of Amphibian Populations and Metacommunities
A study of amphibian populations and metacommunities by Dr. Robert Brodman, of the Biology Department at Saint Joseph’s College, Rensselaer, IN used data from 14 species of amphibian fauna in Jasper County to detect population and diversity trends. Hypotheses regarding the influence of landscape, climatic, and biotic
factors on abundance, occupancy, and diversity were also tested. A total of 11,438 breeding populations were recorded in Jasper County from 1994-2007. An average of 339 sites with amphibian breeding activity and 817 populations were identified. A total of 630 wetland clusters and isolated wetlands were identified. Of these, 94.4% had at least one year with amphibian breeding activity and 81.3% had metacommunities with at least two coexisting species.
The 23 wetland clusters that exhibited the highest abundance were defined as megametacommunities. These megametacommunities are associated with several landscape variables with 78% including upland habitat identified by the IBI conservation tool as km2 sections with greater than 50% cover by important native plants or core habitat for any of the six species designated for the region as umbrella wildlife species. This association with priority habitats is related to the stakeholder’s concerns list, particularly in regards to protecting and creating healthy fish habitat. The megametacommunities are associated with all but two of the large areas in Jasper County that have large numbers of wetlands and important native plant or umbrella animal habitats. Figure 23 Amphibian Megametacommunities shows the location of the 23megametacommunities.
Wetland clusters and isolated wetlands are indicated by the blue, amphibian megametacommunities are indicated by the red circles, and IBI (Index of Biological Integrity) priority habitats are indicated by open squares. Yellow circles indicate areas with wetlands, and priority habitat, but no amphibian megametacommunities (Brodman, 2009).
On a state listing basis, 45 species which are listed in the Natural Heritage Database as state endangered have been observed within the watershed including:
External links to specie pages: Sheepnose mussel , Aethes patricia, Frosted Elfin, Greater Redhorse, Spotted Turtle, , Eastern Mud Turtle, Smooth Green Snake, Ornate Box Turtle, Upland Sandpiper, Northern Harrier, Marsh Wren, Sedge Wren, Peregrine Falcon, Least Bittern, Loggerhead Shrike, Virginia Rail, Golden-winged Warbler, Indiana Bat, Franklin’s Ground Squirrel