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Mytella charruana (d'Orbigny, 1846) Charrua Mussels In Duval Co., Florida |
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This exotic species, native to South America, was first
identified in Duval County during 1986 when it was found clogging
the filters at the Jacksonville Electric Authority's (JEA) Northside
Generating Station which draws water from the St. Johns River (report
and discussion) but had disappeared by
1987. According to Dr. Patrick Baker (University of Florida/IFAS), his students
collected the species from a floating dock at Mayport
near the mouth of the St. Johns River in Duval County (2006).
However, several follow-up visits to that location by this reporter
during 2007 failed to find any evidence of Mytella. The next
confirmed sighting of the mussel in the county took place during
January of 2007 when a single live specimen was collected from
intertidal substrate (a wooden pole) at Mayport Naval Station beach.
The species was then next discovered in large numbers attached to
floating docks at two different locations well up the St. Johns River in the Arlington section of
Jacksonville (12/2007 and 2/2008). Not surprisingly, on 8/28/2008 the JEA once again reported problems with their facilities cooling water
system due to the presence of mussels. The specimens provided by JEA
were confirmed as Mytella charruana. Mytella charruana
has also been found on a floating pier at the
University of Florida's Whitney Laboratory at Marineland in northern
Flagler County, Florida (October, 2006) and on a settlement plate in
the
Guana
Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve |
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The map above depicts the locations where the Charrua Mussel has thus far been found living in Duval County, Florida. |
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Location |
Date Found | ||
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Jacksonville Electric Authority Northside Generating Station (St. Johns River) | [site image] | 10/20/1986 |
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Intertidal wooden poles at Mayport Naval Station (Atlantic Ocean) | [site image] | 1/22/2007 |
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Lonnie Wurn boat ramp floating dock (4131 Ferber Road) (St. Johns River) | [site image] | 12/5/2007 |
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Arlington Lions Club boat ramp and floating docks (St. Johns River) | [site image] | 2/2/2008 |
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| Matanzas River - Flagler Co. | St. Marys River - Camden Co., Georgia |
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| St. Marys River - Camden Co., Georgia | Coastal southeast Georgia |
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| St. Johns River - Duval Co., Florida | |
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