Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

Award Date

2026

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department / School

Natural Resource Management

First Advisor

Alison Coulter

Second Advisor

Christopher Cheek

Abstract

Mussels are sensitive and cryptic species that are significantly declining across the globe. Many state agencies have Wildlife State Action plans to mitigate the decline and protect threatened and endangered native mussels. A key part of mussel decline is their reliance on host fish to successfully reproduce and disperse. Host fish are directly impacted by habitat and anthropogenic changes, which ultimately alters habitat viability for mussels. Mussels also face negative impacts from agriculture, pollution, rapid temperature changes, and the absence of host fish among other things. Due to their rarity, some species of native mussels can be difficult to detect and survey in natural environments. Host fish occurrence is often more widely sampled by state agencies and due to their obligatory relationship with native mussels, fish occurrence data can be used in place of mussel data as a type of “surrogate species”. Habitat suitability modeling provides a method through which occurrence data can be used to predict suitable habitat and assist in prioritizing key areas of potential mussel presence. For my second chapter, I assessed habitat suitability for 18 different Species of Greatest Conservation Need mussels in South Dakota, Nebraska, and Wyoming. The objectives of this chapter are to 1) model mussel habitat suitability using host fish occurrence data to identify and prioritize mussel monitoring or reintroduction locations across South Dakota, Nebraska, and Wyoming, and 2) identify environmental predictors of host fish occurrence to understand their influence on possible host fish and mussel presence. These models were based on host fish occurrence and coupled with environmental variables to identify areas of high habitat suitability. Based on the results of the models, many highly suitable areas for mussel presence can be found in the central-eastern portions of each state. Surveys should take place in areas of highest suitability and host fish diversity to increase the chances of mussel detection. For my third chapter, I wrote a perspective piece to highlight key information about habitat suitability modeling and how it can be implemented using surrogate species such as host fish. The objectives for this paper are 1) to compare weaknesses and strengths of using habitat suitability of host fish to inform mussel conservation, 2) identify when habitat suitability models of host fish are most applicable for mussel conservation, and 3) provide suggestions for how these models can be used to inform management decisions. Surrogate species can be key to informing conservation and management decisions, especially when target species data is limited or unavailable. Over time, this type of modeling is growing to encompass animals like mussels and fish and provides important management information to guide state agencies in their conservation goals.

Publisher

South Dakota State University

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Available for download on Saturday, May 15, 2027

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Rights Statement

In Copyright