1. The Impending Extinction of the Little-winged Pearly Mussel

2. An ongoing extinction crisis…
Mussel Diversity Peaks in N. America
Of 297 known species... 72% are:
endangered 26% (77)
threatened 15% (42)
of “special concern” 24% (72)
or “possibly” extinct 7% (21)

3. Pegias fabula

4. Ecology Filter feedar (Plantivorous) algea etc
Trophic link (Baird 2000), Indicator (Master 1990).
Cool Water, Low Turbidity, Appalachian Streams.

5. Population/Distribution
Once Widespread
Recovery plan (1989) points to six reaches
Horse Lick Creek, Rockcastle Co.
“last remaining refuge” (DiStefano 1984)
Little South Fork, Cumberland Riv.
“ The most pristine stream within the entire known range”

6. Pegias fabula decline in HLC (J. B. Layzer, Draft)

7. Mussel loss, Little South Fork (Anderson et al. 1991)

8. Methods (PVA) Big South Fork, Cumberland Rv. Assuming 500 individuals
Modeled 100 populations over 100 years
Fecundity 10 (Kjos et al. 1997)

9. Focus on Likelihood of Catastrophe (%)5 10 15 20 25

10. Pegias fabula decline in response to catastrophe

11. Results cont. At Zero, 500 individuals at present to 109.56
5% mean population size decreases to a mere 18
15% the mean population reaches less than one
25% the mean population reaches less than one after only 60 years.

12. Pegias fabula survivorship as a function of catastrophe

13. Troubled Waters
In Kentucky, in 1995, there were 31 “fish kill” 172,306 fish
963 miles of streams and rivers were “impaired” by coal mining pollution
Cumberland River, 504 miles were considered to be “not supporting uses” due to pollutants (EQC 1997)

14. Management Implications
Continental conservation necessary and yet not sufficient.
Local efforts must be concerted with regional effort
Challenges how we value species

15. Lao Tzu ~500 B.C. Ma-wang-tui manuscript (76)
Though the unhewn log is small,
no one in the world dare subjugate it.
If the feudal lords and kings
could maintain it, the myriad creatures
would submit of themselves.