Temkin, M. H.*; Nelson, M. L.; Snell, A.; Erickson, J. M.: Genetic Variation In The Freshwater Mussel Elliptio complanata From Northern New York

Freshwater mussels are an important group of animals inhabiting the rivers and lakes of North America. Many native populations of freshwater mussels in the Adirondack highlands and St. Lawrence lowlands have been lost or are endangered because of the introduction of the exotic species Dreissena polymorpha (zebra mussels) and Dreissena bugensis (quagga mussels). The loss of populations within the range of a species may significantly effect the genetic diversity contained within that species. Here, we examine the genetic variation at two mitochondrial loci of the freshwater mussel Elliptio complanata. Fifty E. complanata were collected from fifteen sites in northern New York. After isolating DNA from individuals, nested PCR protocols were used to amplify a 400 bp segment of the cytochrome C oxidase subunit I (CO I) gene and a 362 bp segment of the 16s rRNA gene. Variation among PCR products for each gene were screened using single stranded polymorphism conformation analysis (SSCP). Initial SSCP analysis revealed six CO I alleles and four 16s rRNA alleles. To identify how PCR products of each gene differed, we cloned and sequenced each PCR product. We use the DNA sequences of the CO I and 16s rRNA genes to assess genetic diversity and evaluate the roles of historical and contemporary processes in determining the genetic variation within E. complanata populations in northern New York.