The Fragile Papershell

Volume 18

2008-07-21T05:00:00.000-07:00

Catching Up
Please forgive my lapse in posting updates. I shall try to fill in the gaps, relying on my spotty memory alone. I invite those of you close to this project to remind me if I've left out anything important.

For the last few weeks, Rosie, Joe, Kt and I have been trying to come to terms with the third river in our triad. The Maumee is a little bigger than the Saint Mary's and the Saint Joseph Rivers. Also, her banks are more steep, she has fewer and less well developed access points, and is surprisingly shallow and rocky in spots.

These challenges have stimulated us to activity. One day, we motored downstream from Fort Wayne to Antwerp, recording the depth of the channel every minute, together with the GPS position. These data were entered into a spreadsheet, which will allow us to better plan our trips, given the gage height at New Haven reported on the USGS website.

We are presently investigating the purchase of a portable, self-contained electric winch to save our backs. It will allow us to easily pull our boats up the rather steep paths that pass for boat ramps along most of the Maumee.

Because of our logistical challenges, we have limited our crew to a core of folks recently. However, I anticipate that we will again be inviting guests to come out with us. Watch this website and your email for upcoming opportunities.

Volume 17

2008-06-17T03:05:00.000-07:00

Week of 16-20 June Cancelled
The mussel shell hunting adventures planned for 18 and 19 June are now officially cancelled. Watch this website and your email for details about next week.

Volume 16

2008-06-16T05:08:00.000-07:00

Plan for the week of 16-20 June

Much rain has fallen in the past few days, thus the rivers are running high. As of 8:00 AM on Monday, 16 June, the USGS Website reported that the discharge rates for our three rivers were:

Saint Joseph River = 691 cfs
Saint Mary's River = 626 cfs
Maumee River = 1420 cfs

Thus, I'm tentatively planning only two days on the river this week:

Wednesday, 18 Jun, 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM, Saint Mary's River
Thursday, 19 Jun, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Maumee River

Contact me at wpryor@sf.edu if you want to go.

Volume 15

2008-06-02T05:17:00.000-07:00

Plan for the Week of 2 - 6 June
I intend to be on the river on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and to use Johnny Appleseed Park as a base. We will begin at 8:00 AM each day, and finish up between 2:00 and 3:00 PM. Email me at wpryor@sf.edu to reserve your slot on the schedule.

USGS Site Gives Helpful Information
Searching for mussels requires enough water to float your boat, but not so much that the river is over its banks. It's the Goldilocks Principle: not too low, not too high, but just right. While there's no substitute for standing on the shore and assessing the situation, modern technology saves me some gas and driving. Remember all that rain we had the other day? What effect did that have on the Saint Joseph River? Follow this link to see for yourself: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?cb_00060=on&cb_00065=on&format=gif_default&period=7&site_no=04180500

Volume 14

2008-05-23T07:44:00.000-07:00

Imporant Locations for Field Work
Follow the links to directions and maps you'll need to show up in the right place at the right time:

Boat Ramp across from IPFW (41 7.02'N, 85 6.93'W) on the Saint Joseph River http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=6881009981898006785,41.115677,-85.117145&saddr=2701+Spring+Street,+Ft.+Wayne,+IN&daddr=41.118547,-85.124903+to:41.1156766938,-85.1171450718+(%22ball+park%22)&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=14&via=1&sll=41.106972,-85.131426&sspn=0.027938,0.050468&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=14
Boat Ramp off of North River Road (41 5.19'N, 85 2.92'W) on the Maumee River http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=2701+Spring+Street,+Ft.+Wayne,+IN&daddr=41.0867353972,-85.0481138227+(%22Boat+Ramp%22)&ie=UTF8&v=2.2&cv=4.2.0205.5730&hl=en&t=h&z=12
Johnny Appleseed Park on the Saint Joseph River http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=2701+Spring+Street,+Ft.+Wayne,+IN&daddr=41.1121483136,-85.1195296372+(%22JAP+Campground%22)&ie=UTF8&v=2.2&cv=4.2.0205.5730&hl=en&t=h&z=13

Volume 13

2008-05-22T06:23:00.000-07:00

Help Wanted!
I need people to go in the boats on these upcoming dates:

Thursday, 29 May
Friday, 30 May
Tuesday, 3 June
Wednesday, 4 June
Thursday, 5 June

We will be meeting at boat ramps at 8:00 AM each day (no overnight camping this go-round), and spending about six hours on the water. Please email me (wpryor@sf.edu) with dates when you'd be able to help, and I'll reply with a confirmation message containing location details.

Volume 12

2008-05-20T12:35:00.000-07:00

Clark & Wilson (1912)
In order to give the folks who are helping with this project some of the background material, I have scanned some of the more relevant pages of the "founding document" and posted them on-line. You may follow this link to view them: http://picasaweb.google.com/Quadrula/ClarkAndWilson1912

Volume 11

2008-05-19T16:57:00.000-07:00

Photos from Week 1
You can see the photos from last week's expedition on the upper Saint Joseph River by following this link: http://picasaweb.google.com/Quadrula
A summary of our activities will be forthcoming!

Volume 10

2008-05-05T03:07:00.000-07:00

First Week at Base Camp 1 to be 12-16 May
Our first base camp is located on the bank of the Saint Joseph River between Leo and Spencerville. It is an ideal spot, with level, grassy areas for camping, and easy access to the water for the boats. Although it is near the road, it is also secluded.

Our first week of field work is planned for the week of 12-16 May. Presently I have openings available (see below) , so email me at wpryor@sf.edu to sign up.

Tuesday, 13 May
Crew for Boat #1 Skipper=Warren, Mussel Specialist=Rosie, Passenger=Open
Crew for Boat #2 Skipper=Open, Mussel Specialist=Open, Passenger=Open
Wednesday, 14 May
Crew for Boat #1 Skipper=Kt, Mussel Specialist=Rosie, Passenger=Open
Crew for Boat #2 Skipper=Warren, Mussel Specialist=Open, Passenger=Open
Thursday, 15 May
Crew for Boat #1 Skipper=Kt, Mussel Specialist=Rosie, Passenger=Open
Crew for Boat #2 Skipper=Warren, Mussel Specialist=Open, Passenger=Open
Overnight Camping
Monday 12 May (covered)
Tuesday 13 May (covered)
Wednesday 14 May (covered)
Thursday 15 (Open)

Summer Schedule

Here's when we'll be going out this summer. Mark your calendar and let me know when to count on you!

Week 1: 12-16 May
Week 2: 27-30 May (Monday is Memorial Day)
Week 3: 2-6 June
Week 4: 16-20 June
Week 5: 14-18 July
Week 6: 28 July - 1 August
(Rain Week: 11-15 August)

Volume 9

2008-04-30T03:19:00.000-07:00

Rosie and Kt on the River at Last

Volume 8

2008-04-29T01:55:00.000-07:00

Research Lunch Cancelled for 1 May
Because many of the faculty are attending a luncheon meeting of the School of Arts and Sciences on 1 May, our Research Lunch will not take place that day. Please watch your email and this blog for future gatherings over the summer.

Volume 7

2008-04-24T16:52:00.000-07:00

Summer Mussel Survey Plans
The following is a brief summary of my (Warren’s) vision for our effort to survey mussels. The first priority is for us to visit all of Clark & Wilson’s sites that are in Allen County, almost all of which are located on the Saint Joseph and Maumee Rivers. They did very little work on the Saint Mary’s River. A modern complication is the presence of three dams, which logistically divide the rivers into four functional units:
(1) The Saint Joseph River from the county line to the Cedarville Dam
(2) The Saint Joseph River between the Cedarville Dam to the Johnny Appleseed Dam.
(3) The Saint Joseph and Maumee Rivers between the Johnny Appleseed Dam and the Anthony Boulevard Dam.
(4) The Maumee River between the Anthony Boulevard Dam and the Indiana/Ohio border.
To efficiently perform the necessary searches, we will establish base camps within each of these functional units. Presently, I have good prospects to allow us access to land adjacent to the water at strategic locations.

During a typical week, I intend to set up the base camp on Monday, and spend the night looking after the equipment. On Tuesday morning, individuals will meet me at the base camp (hopefully bearing donuts...I'll provide the fresh coffee). We'll slip the boats into the water, and spend the day making valuable scientific observations. In the late afternoon, we will return to camp, have a little supper, and put away the boats, motors and assorted gear. A couple of people will remain in the camp overnight, and we'll start the whole process over the next (Wednesday)morning. If need be, we will continue work on Thursday, then tear down the base camp on Friday.

Research Lunch Update

A total of 15 people showed up to our Research Lunch on 24 April: Gary B, Rosie M, Amy R, Carolyn E, Paula A, Jenny M, Joe B, Dick H, Kt M, Trina H, Dianna V, Warren P, Vinnie, Peter H, and Tessa P. The pizza was excellent (four kinds, two of which were vegetarian). Warren gave an informal talk which consisted of an update on the plans for this summer’s mussel survey, and a demonstration on the use of ImageJ to measure images of snails. Afterwards, Amy R described how she intends to use ImageJ to quantify areas of interest on images of coral reefs which she collected recently in the waters around Andros.

Volume 6

2008-04-22T15:39:00.000-07:00

Grant Money
We have received a grant from the Fort Wayne Zoological Society for $1125 to support our efforts to document the temperature of the water and sediment in which our local native freshwater mussels live. This project has been going for well over a year now, and the many probes that are in the field are busy generating data even as I write this, for they record temperatures every 15 minutes. This is very cool, but the sheer volume of numbers that are in our database are rather overwhelming, thus the grant to support a research assistant to crunch through all of those numbers.

Boat Training
On Tuesday (22 April), many of us (Rosie M, Kt M, Joe B and Amy R) spent time on Mirror Lake, practicing our sailor skills, such as launching, docking and close-quarter manoeuvring. We also provided work platforms for Sister Carol's Environmental Chemistry class, so that they could measure various parameters in the water at two locations on the lake. We intend to graduate to a river next Tuesday, weather permitting.

Thursday Lunches
Our "lunch bunch" on 17 April was huge (19 people) including: Jackie E, Vanessa H, Joe B, Gary T, Paula A, Tyler K, Dick H, Jenny M, Patrick S (from Heritage High School), Amy R, Rosie M, Peter H, Warren P, Gary B, Jean E, Teri B, Gerald S, Kt M and Dianna V. My chili wasn't that great, but the conversation was fantastic.

Please try to attend this week in Achatz 34 around noon. I don't know what's on the menu just yet, but there will be something to chew on. I am planning to give the group a little demonstration of the ImageJ software that I've been using to measure my snail images from Andros, provided that the technology cooperates.

Volume 5

2008-04-15T17:20:00.000-07:00

Tyler's Presentation
On Thursday, 10 April, Tyler delivered the report on his project which used skull measurements to estimate maximum bite force of adult muskrats. The information that he provided will allow future students to put into context the force-resistance of native freshwater mussels of various species and sizes. After his talk, he provided us with an assortment of skulls, calipers and worksheets so that we could practice the method that he taught us.

Paula provided lunch: a fabulous, authentic Mexican lentil soup. People who attended included Kt M, Trina H, Katy H, Jenny M, Carolyn E, Amy R, Paula A, Gerald S, Gary B, Rosie M, Warren P, Peter H, Tessa P, Joe B and Tyler K (n = 15).

We will meet for lunch again this week (16 April), with no formal topic, but with chili and bread on the menu. Come and enjoy!

Boats Get Wet
On 15 April, Rosie and Kt got their first training in the operation of one of our boats. We spent the morning on Mirror Lake, learning to row, and to run the electric and gasoline motors. We intend to continue our training next Tuesday, weather permitting.

Volume 4

2008-04-02T06:28:00.000-07:00

Thursday Lunches
Our most recent Thursday Lunch (on 27 March) was well attended, and quite interesting. Folks who came and ate the chili were Tyler K, Rosie M, Joe B, Dianna V, Paula A, Jenny M, Peter H, Holly S, Kt M and me (Warren). Dianna filled us in on her research into the history of one of the scientists who did the 1908 survey, H. Walton Clark. For example, she has discovered his wife, and thus established his relationship to another important person in the story, one Elizabeth Bowman, a schoolteacher at a Fort Wayne elementary school.

This week (3 April), we'll meet again for informal conversation, and sandwiches (I'm making bread again, and I'll bring cold cuts and cheese).

Then, on 10 April, Tyler Kimmel will present the results of his work with muskrat skulls. He intends to spend about 10 minutes on a slide show, and then turn us loose with calipers and some mammal skulls, to give us practice using the technique. It should be great fun!

Volume 3

2008-03-24T05:24:00.000-07:00

Thursday Lunches
Thursdays for me are generally devoted to working with my mussel researchers. Often do Rosie, Jackie, and recently Amy, come in to key out and measure shells. Usually Joe stops by for an update on his work of planning the itineraries for this summer. The problem is, I get hungry.

Thus, I have reserved a room (Achatz 034) from now until the end of the semester (from noon to 2 PM), so that those of us involved or interested in mollusk research can chat informally. We started small last week (20 March) with two pizzas and a handful of people (Rosie, Nicole & Joe were the students, and Peter Hurley, Gerald Short & I were the faculty). Don't feel bad that you weren't invited, because it was on the spur of the moment. Now, however, you are invited, and I look forward to seeing you next time (that would be 27 March). I'll provide something to eat, but you're sure welcome to bring your own in a sack. You're also encouraged to bring along your slides, graphs, or anything else related to your research to share with the group. Last week, for example, I showed some pretty pictures of some Bahamian snails that I met recently, and described how I'm using digital images to explore their ecology.

Temperature Probe Project
Although the big push this year is the county-wide mussel survey, some of my students are still working on the continuing effort to document the thermal environment of mussels, using Hobo Data Loggers. To this end, Holly is training Nicole on data processing, and Kt is learning how to retrieve and deploy probes. When the rivers final behave themselves, we'll be able to get out there and gather more data (some probes are nearly full of numbers, having been in the field for at least 10 months in some cases).

Volume 2

2008-02-28T06:52:00.000-08:00

Several folks have already agreed to participate in this project. They are:

Mussel Specialists:
Jackie Ehlerding
Rosie Morman
Amy Roberts
Sarah Tracy
Stephanie Goodman

Navigators
Jenny Maldonado
Paula Avila
Kt McBride

Trip Planner
Joe Baumgartner

First Aid Advisers
Ellen Fagan-Pryor
Katy Hathaway

Scientific Historians
Dianna Voors

Food Coordinator
Aggie Pryor

Openings exist for Equipment Manager, Navigators, Mussel Specialists, Expedition Artists, and Campsite Coordinator. You can obtain job descriptions by sending a request to wpryor@sf.edu.

Volume 1

2008-02-13T07:15:00.000-08:00

In 1908, two scientists working for the federal government spent the summer exploring the rivers around Fort Wayne, documenting the freshwater mussels living there. This year, my students and I intend to repeat that work, using modern methods to compare and contrast our findings with those from 100 years ago.

The time is ripe in many ways. Thanks to a grant, USF purchased some excellent field equipment during 2007, including: two boats and trailers, outboard motors, sonar equipment, GPS receivers, and electrofishing equipment. A group of dedicated students have shown their talents for research, by presenting at the Fall Meeting of the Indiana Academy of Science on the thermal environment of unionid mussels. I have acquired knowlege that I am now able to share with them, thanks to 14 years of experience working with mussels locally.

I envision the field work to be accomplished by teams in boats. The core of each team will consist of a Navigator (who will operate the outboard motor and keep track of the team's geographical position), and a Mussel Specialist (who will be proficient at species identification and record-keeping). Additional team members may include Expedition Artists, Bird Watchers, and Plant Collectors.

The first draft of the Provisional Key to the Mussels of Allen County is complete! I have wrestled with this document for many weeks, and it is now being tested by my students, to make it more user-friendly. It will be vital that a workable key is in the hands of the paricipants in this summer's effort.