Heather Galbraith (Former Employee)
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 32
Behavioral responses of freshwater mussels to experimental dewatering
Understanding the effects of flow alteration on freshwater ecosystems is critical for predicting species responses and restoring appropriate flow regimes. We experimentally evaluated the effects of 3 dewatering rates on behavior of 6 freshwater mussel species in the context of water-removal rates observed in 21 Atlantic Coast rivers. Horizontal movement differed significantly among species and dew
Authors
Heather S. Galbraith, Carrie J. Blakeslee, William A. Lellis
An integrated Riverine Environmental Flow Decision Support System (REFDSS) to evaluate the ecological effects of alternative flow scenarios on river ecosystems
In regulated rivers, managers must evaluate competing flow release scenarios that attempt to balance both human and natural needs. Meeting these natural flow needs is complex due to the myriad of interacting physical and hydrological factors that affect ecosystems. Tools that synthesize the voluminous scientific data and models on these factors will facilitate management of these systems. Here, we
Authors
Kelly O. Maloney, Colin B. Talbert, Jeffrey C. Cole, Heather S. Galbraith, Carrie J. Blakeslee, Leanne Hanson, Christopher L. Holmquist-Johnson
Transcriptomic analysis of the mussel Elliptio complanata identifies candidate stress-response genes and an abundance of novel or noncoding transcripts
Mussels are useful indicator species of environmental stress and degradation, and the global decline in freshwater mussel diversity and abundance is of conservation concern. Elliptio complanata is a common freshwater mussel of eastern North America that can serve both as an indicator and as an experimental model for understanding mussel physiology and genetics. To support genetic components of the
Authors
Robert S. Cornman, Laura S. Robertson, Heather S. Galbraith, Carrie J. Blakeslee
The effects of salinity exposure on multiple life stages of a common freshwater mussel, Elliptio complanata
There is growing concern over the effects of increased salinization on freshwater organisms, which are largely unknown for unionid mussels. Adult and larval Elliptio complanata were exposed to low-level salt concentrations to determine the effects on mussel survival, physiology, and reproduction. Adults were exposed to salt concentrations of 0 parts per thousand (ppt), 2 ppt, 4 ppt, and 6 ppt NaCl
Authors
Carrie J. Blakeslee, Heather S. Galbraith, Laura S. Robertson, Barbara St. John White
Newly documented host fishes for the eastern elliptio mussel (Elliptio complanata)
The eastern elliptio Elliptio complanata is a common, abundant, and ecologically important freshwater mussel that occurs throughout the Atlantic Slope drainage in the United States and Canada. Previous research has shown E. complanata glochidia to be host fish generalists, parasitizing yellow perch Perca flavescens, banded killifish Fundulus diaphanus, banded sculpin Cottus carolinae, and seven ce
Authors
William A. Lellis, Barbara St. John White, Jeffrey C. Cole, Connie S. Johnson, Julie L. Devers, Ellen van Snik-Gray, Heather S. Galbraith
Phase 1 freshwater mussel survey and comparison to historical surveys at the Pond Eddy bridge, Delaware River, New York and Pennsylvania
A qualitative freshwater mussel survey was conducted in a section of the main stem Delaware River near the Pond Eddy Bridge site, New York and Pennsylvania, during summer 2011 to assess population levels of state and Federal threatened and endangered species. Historical data that were collected at this site were compared to data from the 2011 survey to assess changes in mussel community compositio
Authors
Heather S. Galbraith
Species traits and environmental conditions govern the relationship between biodiversity effects across trophic levels
Changing environments can have divergent effects on biodiversity–ecosystem function relationships at alternating trophic levels. Freshwater mussels fertilize stream foodwebs through nutrient excretion, and mussel species-specific excretion rates depend on environmental conditions. We asked how differences in mussel diversity in varying environments influence the dynamics between primary producers
Authors
D.E. Spooner, C.C. Vaughn, H.S. Galbraith
Recent thermal history influences thermal tolerance in freshwater mussel species (Bivalvia: Unionoida)
Understanding species’ temperature tolerances in the context of concurrent environmental stressors is critical because thermal regimes of freshwater ecosystems are changing. We evaluated the critical thermal maximum (CTM) of 3 freshwater mussel species (Alasmidonta varicosa, Elliptio complanata, and Strophitus undulatus) acclimated to 2 temperatures (15 and 25°C) and exposed to 2 aeration treatmen
Authors
Heather S. Galbraith
Non-USGS Publications**
Hargrave, Chad W., Raul Ramirez, Melody Brooks, Michael A. Eggleton, Katherine Sutherland, Raelynn Deaton, and Galbraith, H.S. 2006. Indirect food web interactions increase growth of an algivorous stream fish. Freshwater Biology 51(10):1901-1910. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2427.2006.01625.x.
Vaughn, C.C., Spooner, D.E., and Galbraith, H.S. 2007. Context-dependent species identity effects within a functional group of filter-feeding bivalves. Ecology 88:1654-1662. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1890/06-0471.1.
Galbraith, H.S., Spooner, D.E., Vaughn, C.C. 2008. Status of rare and endangered freshwater mussels in southeastern Oklahoma rivers. Southwestern Association of Naturalists 53(1):45-50. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1894/0038-4909(2008)53[45:SORAEF]2.0.CO;2.
Galbraith, H.S., Meier, C.K., and Vaughn, C.C. 2008. Environmental variables interact across spatial scales to structure trichopteran assemblages in Ouachita Mountain Rivers. Hydrobiologia 596(1):401-411. DOI: 10.1007/s10750-007-9124-z.
Galbraith, H.S., Frazier, S., Allison, B., and Vaughn, C.C. 2009. Comparison of gill surface morphology across a guild of suspension feeding bivalves. Journal of Molluscan Studies 75(2): 103-107. DOI: 10.1093/mollus/eyn045.
Allen, D. C., Heather S. Galbraith, Caryn C. Vaughn, and Daniel E. Spooner. 2013. A tale of two rivers: Implications of water management practices for mussel biodiversity outcomes during droughts. Ambio. 42: 881-891.
Lellis, William A., Barbara St. John White, Jeffery C. Cole, Connie S. Johnson, Julie L. Devers, Heather S. Galbraith. 2013. Newly documented host fish for the Eastern Elliptio Mussel (Elliptio complanata). Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management. 4: 75-85.
Galbraith, Heather S., Caleigh M. Smith, Kristyne M. Wozney, David T. Zanatta, Chris Wilson. 2011. Development and characterization of nine microsatellite loci for the endangered Kidneyshell, Ptychobranchus fasciolaris, and cross-amplification in closely related lampsilines (Bivalvia: Unionoida). Conservation Genetics Resources. 3:533-536.
Galbraith, Heather S., Kristyne M. Wozney, Caleigh M. Smith, David T. Zanatta, Chris Wilson. 2011. Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci in the freshwater mussel Lasmigona costata (Bivalvia: Unionoida). Conservation Genetics Resources. 3:9-11.
Galbraith, Heather S. and Caryn C. Vaughn. 2011. Effects of reservoir management on abundance, condition, parasitism and reproductive traits of downstream mussels. River Research and Applications. 27:193-201.
Galbraith, Heather S., Daniel E. Spooner, Caryn C. Vaughn. 2010. Synergistic effects of regional climate patterns and local water management on freshwater mussel communities. Biological Conservation. 143:1175-1183.
Galbraith, Heather S. and Caryn C. Vaughn. 2009. Temperature and food interact to influence gamete development in freshwater mussels. Hydrobiologia, 636:35-47.
Galbraith, Heather S., Sarah Frazier, Brenda Allison and Caryn C. Vaughn. 2009. Comparison of gill surface morphology across a guild of suspension feeding bivalves. Journal of Molluscan Studies 75(2):103-107.
Galbraith, Heather S., Christina K. Meier, and Caryn C. Vaughn. 2008. Environmental variables interact across spatial scales to structure trichopteran assemblages in Ouachita Mountain Rivers. Hydrobiologia 596(1):401-411.
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 32
Behavioral responses of freshwater mussels to experimental dewatering
Understanding the effects of flow alteration on freshwater ecosystems is critical for predicting species responses and restoring appropriate flow regimes. We experimentally evaluated the effects of 3 dewatering rates on behavior of 6 freshwater mussel species in the context of water-removal rates observed in 21 Atlantic Coast rivers. Horizontal movement differed significantly among species and dew
Authors
Heather S. Galbraith, Carrie J. Blakeslee, William A. Lellis
An integrated Riverine Environmental Flow Decision Support System (REFDSS) to evaluate the ecological effects of alternative flow scenarios on river ecosystems
In regulated rivers, managers must evaluate competing flow release scenarios that attempt to balance both human and natural needs. Meeting these natural flow needs is complex due to the myriad of interacting physical and hydrological factors that affect ecosystems. Tools that synthesize the voluminous scientific data and models on these factors will facilitate management of these systems. Here, we
Authors
Kelly O. Maloney, Colin B. Talbert, Jeffrey C. Cole, Heather S. Galbraith, Carrie J. Blakeslee, Leanne Hanson, Christopher L. Holmquist-Johnson
Transcriptomic analysis of the mussel Elliptio complanata identifies candidate stress-response genes and an abundance of novel or noncoding transcripts
Mussels are useful indicator species of environmental stress and degradation, and the global decline in freshwater mussel diversity and abundance is of conservation concern. Elliptio complanata is a common freshwater mussel of eastern North America that can serve both as an indicator and as an experimental model for understanding mussel physiology and genetics. To support genetic components of the
Authors
Robert S. Cornman, Laura S. Robertson, Heather S. Galbraith, Carrie J. Blakeslee
The effects of salinity exposure on multiple life stages of a common freshwater mussel, Elliptio complanata
There is growing concern over the effects of increased salinization on freshwater organisms, which are largely unknown for unionid mussels. Adult and larval Elliptio complanata were exposed to low-level salt concentrations to determine the effects on mussel survival, physiology, and reproduction. Adults were exposed to salt concentrations of 0 parts per thousand (ppt), 2 ppt, 4 ppt, and 6 ppt NaCl
Authors
Carrie J. Blakeslee, Heather S. Galbraith, Laura S. Robertson, Barbara St. John White
Newly documented host fishes for the eastern elliptio mussel (Elliptio complanata)
The eastern elliptio Elliptio complanata is a common, abundant, and ecologically important freshwater mussel that occurs throughout the Atlantic Slope drainage in the United States and Canada. Previous research has shown E. complanata glochidia to be host fish generalists, parasitizing yellow perch Perca flavescens, banded killifish Fundulus diaphanus, banded sculpin Cottus carolinae, and seven ce
Authors
William A. Lellis, Barbara St. John White, Jeffrey C. Cole, Connie S. Johnson, Julie L. Devers, Ellen van Snik-Gray, Heather S. Galbraith
Phase 1 freshwater mussel survey and comparison to historical surveys at the Pond Eddy bridge, Delaware River, New York and Pennsylvania
A qualitative freshwater mussel survey was conducted in a section of the main stem Delaware River near the Pond Eddy Bridge site, New York and Pennsylvania, during summer 2011 to assess population levels of state and Federal threatened and endangered species. Historical data that were collected at this site were compared to data from the 2011 survey to assess changes in mussel community compositio
Authors
Heather S. Galbraith
Species traits and environmental conditions govern the relationship between biodiversity effects across trophic levels
Changing environments can have divergent effects on biodiversity–ecosystem function relationships at alternating trophic levels. Freshwater mussels fertilize stream foodwebs through nutrient excretion, and mussel species-specific excretion rates depend on environmental conditions. We asked how differences in mussel diversity in varying environments influence the dynamics between primary producers
Authors
D.E. Spooner, C.C. Vaughn, H.S. Galbraith
Recent thermal history influences thermal tolerance in freshwater mussel species (Bivalvia: Unionoida)
Understanding species’ temperature tolerances in the context of concurrent environmental stressors is critical because thermal regimes of freshwater ecosystems are changing. We evaluated the critical thermal maximum (CTM) of 3 freshwater mussel species (Alasmidonta varicosa, Elliptio complanata, and Strophitus undulatus) acclimated to 2 temperatures (15 and 25°C) and exposed to 2 aeration treatmen
Authors
Heather S. Galbraith
Non-USGS Publications**
Hargrave, Chad W., Raul Ramirez, Melody Brooks, Michael A. Eggleton, Katherine Sutherland, Raelynn Deaton, and Galbraith, H.S. 2006. Indirect food web interactions increase growth of an algivorous stream fish. Freshwater Biology 51(10):1901-1910. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2427.2006.01625.x.
Vaughn, C.C., Spooner, D.E., and Galbraith, H.S. 2007. Context-dependent species identity effects within a functional group of filter-feeding bivalves. Ecology 88:1654-1662. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1890/06-0471.1.
Galbraith, H.S., Spooner, D.E., Vaughn, C.C. 2008. Status of rare and endangered freshwater mussels in southeastern Oklahoma rivers. Southwestern Association of Naturalists 53(1):45-50. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1894/0038-4909(2008)53[45:SORAEF]2.0.CO;2.
Galbraith, H.S., Meier, C.K., and Vaughn, C.C. 2008. Environmental variables interact across spatial scales to structure trichopteran assemblages in Ouachita Mountain Rivers. Hydrobiologia 596(1):401-411. DOI: 10.1007/s10750-007-9124-z.
Galbraith, H.S., Frazier, S., Allison, B., and Vaughn, C.C. 2009. Comparison of gill surface morphology across a guild of suspension feeding bivalves. Journal of Molluscan Studies 75(2): 103-107. DOI: 10.1093/mollus/eyn045.
Allen, D. C., Heather S. Galbraith, Caryn C. Vaughn, and Daniel E. Spooner. 2013. A tale of two rivers: Implications of water management practices for mussel biodiversity outcomes during droughts. Ambio. 42: 881-891.
Lellis, William A., Barbara St. John White, Jeffery C. Cole, Connie S. Johnson, Julie L. Devers, Heather S. Galbraith. 2013. Newly documented host fish for the Eastern Elliptio Mussel (Elliptio complanata). Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management. 4: 75-85.
Galbraith, Heather S., Caleigh M. Smith, Kristyne M. Wozney, David T. Zanatta, Chris Wilson. 2011. Development and characterization of nine microsatellite loci for the endangered Kidneyshell, Ptychobranchus fasciolaris, and cross-amplification in closely related lampsilines (Bivalvia: Unionoida). Conservation Genetics Resources. 3:533-536.
Galbraith, Heather S., Kristyne M. Wozney, Caleigh M. Smith, David T. Zanatta, Chris Wilson. 2011. Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci in the freshwater mussel Lasmigona costata (Bivalvia: Unionoida). Conservation Genetics Resources. 3:9-11.
Galbraith, Heather S. and Caryn C. Vaughn. 2011. Effects of reservoir management on abundance, condition, parasitism and reproductive traits of downstream mussels. River Research and Applications. 27:193-201.
Galbraith, Heather S., Daniel E. Spooner, Caryn C. Vaughn. 2010. Synergistic effects of regional climate patterns and local water management on freshwater mussel communities. Biological Conservation. 143:1175-1183.
Galbraith, Heather S. and Caryn C. Vaughn. 2009. Temperature and food interact to influence gamete development in freshwater mussels. Hydrobiologia, 636:35-47.
Galbraith, Heather S., Sarah Frazier, Brenda Allison and Caryn C. Vaughn. 2009. Comparison of gill surface morphology across a guild of suspension feeding bivalves. Journal of Molluscan Studies 75(2):103-107.
Galbraith, Heather S., Christina K. Meier, and Caryn C. Vaughn. 2008. Environmental variables interact across spatial scales to structure trichopteran assemblages in Ouachita Mountain Rivers. Hydrobiologia 596(1):401-411.
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.