An Evaluation of a Skimmer Dredge for Collecting Freshwater Mussels

Abstract
A skimmer dredge was used effectively to collect freshwater mussels from sand-silt substrate in the upper Mississippi River. The dredge obtained 62.3% of the mussels in its path and provided good estimates of species richness, diversity, and relative species abundance. It caused 10% mortality of thin-shelled species but did not damage thick-shelled species. In suitable substrate the skimmer dredge is preferable to a brail for exploratory surveys.

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