Plants and Animals
Obovaria subrotunda Round hickorynut
Key Characteristics
The round hickorynut is a small mussel (average size is 1 ¾ inch) that has a nearly perfect circular shell that is moderately thick and inflated. The shell is brown, smooth, and lacks rays. The beak is centrally located and the beak sculpture has slight, indistinct circular ridges, which are especially apparent on young individuals.
Status and Rank
US Status: LT - Listed Threatened
State Status: E - Endangered (legally protected)
Global Rank: G3 - Vulnerable
State Rank: S1 - Critically imperiled
Occurrences
| County | Number of Occurrences | Year Last Observed |
|---|---|---|
| Lenawee | 3 | 1930 |
| Macomb | 7 | 2017 |
| Monroe | 11 | 2017 |
| Sanilac | 1 | 1934 |
| St. Clair | 9 | 2019 |
| Wayne | 11 | 2019 |
Information is summarized from MNFI's database of rare species and community occurrences. Data may not reflect true distribution since much of the state has not been thoroughly surveyed.
Habitat
The round hickorynut is typically found in medium to large rivers and along the shores of Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair, near river mouths. The round hickorynut generally is found in sand and gravel substrates in areas with moderate flow.
Specific Habitat Needs
Sand, gravel, muddy substrates needed in: Great lake, littoral, benthic; Mainstem stream (3rd-4th order), run; River (5th-6th order), riffle.
Natural Community Types
- Great lake, littoral, benthic
- Mainstem stream (3rd-4th order), run
- River (5th-6th order), riffle
For each species, lists of natural communities were derived from review of the nearly 6,500 element occurrences in the MNFI database, in addition to herbarium label data for some taxa. In most cases, at least one specimen record exists for each listed natural community. For certain taxa, especially poorly collected or extirpated species of prairie and savanna habitats, natural community lists were derived from inferences from collection sites and habitat preferences in immediately adjacent states (particularly Indiana and Illinois). Natural communities are not listed for those species documented only from altered or ruderal habitats in Michigan, especially for taxa that occur in a variety of habitats outside of the state.
Natural communities are not listed in order of frequency of occurrence, but are rather derived from the full set of natural communities, organized by Ecological Group. In many cases, the general habitat descriptions should provide greater clarity and direction to the surveyor. In future versions of the Rare Species Explorer, we hope to incorporate natural community fidelity ranks for each taxon.
Management Recommendations
Like other mussels, threats to the round hickorynut include: natural flow alterations, siltation, channel disturbance, point and non-point source pollution, and exotic species. Maintenance or establishment of vegetated riparian buffers can help protect mussel habitats from many of their threats. Control of zebra mussels is critical to preserving native mussels. And as with all mussels, protection of their hosts habitat is also crucial.
Survey Methods
Glass-bottom bucket less than waist deep water
Survey Period: From first week of June to first week of October
SCUBA searches
Survey Period: From first week of June to first week of October
Snorkeling searches
Survey Period: From first week of June to first week of October
References
Survey References
- Cummings, K.S. and C.A. Mayer. 1992. Field Guide to Freshwater Mussels of the Midwest. Illinois Natural History Survey Manual 5, Champaign. 194pp.
- Strayer, D.L. and D.R. Smith. 2003. A Guide to Sampling Freshwater Mussel Populations. American Fisheries Society Monograph 8, Bethesda. 103pp.
Technical References
- Carman, S.M. 2001. Special Animal Abstract for Obovaria subrotunda (Round hickorynut). Michigan Natural Features Inventory, Lansing, MI. 2pp.
- Clarke, A.H. 1981. The Freshwater Molluscs of Canada. National Museum of Natural Science, National Museums of Canada, Ottawa. 446pp.
- Cummings, K.S. and C.A. Mayer. 1992. Field Guide to Freshwater Mussels of the Midwest. Illinois Natural History Survey Manual 5, Champaign. 194pp.
- Dillon, R.T. Jr. 2000. The Ecology of Freshwater Molluscs. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. 509pp.
- Evers, D.C. 1994. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife of Michigan. The University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor. 412pp.