Heart rate as a sublethal indicator of thermal stress in juvenile freshwater mussels

Freshwater mussels (Unionoida) are one of the most sensitive and rapidly declining faunal groups in the world. Rising water temperatures, caused by industrial discharges, land development, or climate change can further challenge threatened unionid communities. The direct relationship between heart rate and temperature in ectotherms enables the use of heart rate as an indicator of whole-animal thermal stress. The purpose of this study was to assess the utility of heart rate as an indicator of thermal stress in freshwater mussels. Seven species of juvenile mussels (Lampsilis siliquoidea, Potamilus alatus, Ligumia recta, Ellipsaria lineolata, Megalonaias nervosa, Alasmidonta varicosa, and Villosa delumbis) were evaluated in response to a range of experimental temperatures (20–36 °C) at three acclimation temperatures (17, 22, and 27 °C). Heart rate was measured by direct visual observation through transparent mussel shells. The average heart rate for all 7 species at 20 °C was 55 bpm, with a range from 38 bpm (L. recta) to 65 bpm (P. alatus). L. recta and V. delumbis exhibited significant changes in heart rate with increasing temperature at each of the three acclimation temperatures. The use of heart rate appears to be a suitable indicator of thermal stress in some unionid mussels.