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Impacts of Sea Level Rise and Associated Salinity Changes on At-risk Native Freshwater Mussels and Their Habitats in Atlantic Coastal Rivers

Project Information

Project Completion: August 2023. This project is now complete.
Principal Investigator(s):
Greg Cope, NC State University
Tom Kwak, USGS NC Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Project Cooperator(s):
Sarah McRae, USFWS
Todd Ewing, NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Brian Watson, VA Dept of Game and Inland Fisheries Robert Bringolf, University of Georgia
Implements Science Plan Theme: Impacts and Adaptation

Key Points

  • Researched how environmentally sensitive species respond to salt water intrusion
  • Provided resource managers with previously unknown information regarding freshwater mussel vulnerability to sea salt
  • Results allow decision makers to plan for saltwater intrusion and inundation events due to sea level rise
“These findings contribute to the best available science to inform multiple aspects of work in the US Fish and Wildlife Service…”

Overview

Sea levels are rising along the eastern coast of the United States. Sea level rise can push salt water from the ocean into freshwater sources like rivers and lakes. This leads to increased salinity in coastal freshwater ecosystems. High salinity levels in freshwater can harm species that depend on freshwater sources, like native mussels. Mussels are known as “the livers of the rivers.” They improve the water quality of the streams they live in, making the ecosystem healthier. 

This project studied if native freshwater mussels can adapt to increased salinity. These mussels live in coastal rivers, where salinity, temperature, and flow are now changing. We conducted several experiments with different species of mussels, different life stages of each species, and different levels of salinity to test how they would survive.  Results show that larvae are the most sensitive life stage to sea salt and several larvae did not survive exposure to projected salt water levels. If larvae cannot survive, they will not be able to mature into juveniles or adults. This study shows that several freshwater mussel species are threatened by sea level rise.  

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View a Science Seminar related to the project: