25 Jan 1999
 
Doug and all:
     Over the past 23 yrs my state and federal unionid collecting permits (10
states) have varied considerably.  Statistically, research museums
(taxonomists etc.) need 30 to 100 specimens to determine species variability
(it took  800 dead Lampsilis higginsi collected over 8 yrs before we saw
species differences).  Usually you can get these numbers from mostly dead
specimens in good condition (muskrat middens etc), although some preserved
whole specimens are very desirable (frozen, or preserved in alcohol),
particularly when collecting from a locality that is not usually sampled.
     Permits often allow me to take live specimens to document new localities,
and if I've asked for a specific # of living unionids (or gastropods) for a
specific project, permission is usually granted.  It is a lot of work to take
and properly prepare voucher specimens for museums.  One museum never wanted
more than 6 shells of a species from a site (a "clean cut" of all specimens
collected). Another museum barely has room for specimens that they would love
to have.
     I too, try to spread dead vouchers among various museums. Once an
important specimen, curated at one museum, was loaned to a federal agency and
another museum, and somehow the specimen disappeared (it'll probably show up
some day).
     Most states, and my federal permits, have no restrictions on dead
specimens (except of course Indiana). Federal permits currently require that
dead, federally protected specimens go to the state where found, but some
states have no active repository museums.  My opinion on a questionable
specimen: if it isn't in a museum or the synoptic collection of the
researcher, then I don't believe the identification (this has happened a
number of times).  At least you know if an identification is right/wrong if
the specimen is in a museum. Voucher specimens are very important.
     Old field notes are also important.  Several years ago I needed field
notes from 1918-1919.  Thankfully they were in that state's historical society
archives.  But I'm still looking for some other early 1900's field notes.
     Overall, the biggest problems are "other" human impacts on the river
environment: dams, commercial barge transportation, dredging, agricultural,
industrial impacts etc.  For instance, to forbid harvest of legal commercial
unionids that has been going on for 100 years in certain areas with endangered
species, and yet still allow 1000 barges to travel in that same area, is
irresponsible.  Since the increase in barge traffic there has been an agency
documented decrease in the density and diversity of all species (thus the
commercial harvestor is really not the problem).
Marian E Havlik
Malacological Consultants
1603 Mississippi Street
La Crosse, WI 54601-4969
email: [log in to unmask]
Phone/Fax: 608.782.7958