Graduate Student Wanted
Earn an MS in Biology from SUNY Oneonta doing field work to conserve local pearly mussel populations & lab work at SUNY Cobleskill propagating pearly mussels.
Financial assistance available.
Join SUNY Oneonta’s team dedicated to preserving local pearly mussels. Learn skills required to find and to monitor pearly mussels. Be part of ongoing conservation efforts in local streams and rivers.
Conservation aquaculture of freshwater mussel is increasingly being used to restore populations of threatened and endangered species. Propagation of freshwater mussels is a relatively new process, much remains unknown, and many questions are yet to be explored. Freshwater mussels have a complex life cycle and there are many steps to raise larval to an adult. Freshwater mussel glochidia (larvae) are obligate parasites on a fish host, often a mussel species will develop a relationship with a specific species of fish. Thus, propagation first requires identifying the mussel-host relationship and then using fish in the hatchery to transform glochidia into juvenile mussels. Juveniles often take many months to years of careful culture before they reach a size at which they can be stocked into the wild. Throughout this process there are numerous research questions that need to be explored to improve the overall understanding and success of propagation.
SUNY Cobleskill is working to develop a freshwater mussel propagation facility. We have begun examining multiple questions focused on improving our ability to produce mussels native to the state of New York. Questions that we hope to continue exploring include:
- Freshwater mussel-fish host relationship (Lampsilis cariosa, Alasmidonta sp.) and a comparison of those relationships across major watersheds
- Feed trials with juvenile mussel
- Use of therapeutants on fish host while inoculated with glochidia
- Host fish immunity developed after repeated glochidia inoculations
For more information regarding this opportunity, contact Paul H. Lord
Campus office: Perna Science, Room 122c
Biological Field Station office: Thayer Boathouse Lake Level, 7016 St Hwy 80, Springfield, NY
Deliveries: Biol Dep’t, Perna Science, SUNY, Oneonta, NY 13820
Spring 2021 Office Hours: 1:15 pm – 2:00 pm Mondays (in office & in person) & 10:00 am – 11:30 am Thursdays (online or by text); other times by appointment.
Campus phone: 607-436-2818; Boat House phone: 607-547-2708; cell phone: 607-435-4989
Email: [email protected] [class days]; [email protected] [everyday]
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