Packenham enigma
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Fred Schueler
Aug 5, 2025, 8:20:56 AMAug 5
to Eastern Ontario Natural History listserve
Everyone,
I've just finished processing the specimens from my 29 July visit to the
Mississippi at Packenham - another site ravaged by Zebra Mussels which
doesn't seem to have many living Zebra Mussels around.
fred.
=================================================
29 July 2025 -Canada: Ontario: Lanark County: Packenham CA at W shore
Mississippi River. (20m waypoint), 31F/8, 45.33740° N 76.28786° W TIME:
1746-1804. AIR TEMP: 29°C, light overcast, Beaufort light breeze,
smokey. HABITAT: muddy limestone bedrock river shore at driven-over
lawnpark, water very warm. OBSERVER: Frederick W. Schueler. 2025/190/f,
visit (event). natural history, walk, wade. WAYPT/Y047, parked near the
downstream end of traffic access, and waded upstream to a side channel.
Collected sparse shells by wading, 1 small living Alasmidonta marginata
(Elktoe) no living Dreissena polymorpha (Zebra Mussel) seen -
not-blooming Xanthium (Cockleburr) among Phalaris arundinacea (Reed
Canary Grass) along shore - Lythrum salicaria (Purple Loosestrife)
scattered, some imperforate and others quite distorted - the only signs
of Galerucella biocontrol Beetle activity seen today.
2025/190/fa, Elliptio complanata (Eastern Elliptio) (Mollusca). 19
shell, specimen. 10 fragments including 98 mm broken pair, 7 old valves,
2 old pairs, larger 76 mm - NO:Dreissena on any of the shells.
2025/190/fb, Lampsilis (Lamp-Mussel) (Mollusca). 2 shell, specimen. 76
mm old broken pair & larger fragment.
2025/190/fc, Alasmidonta marginata (Elktoe) (Mollusca). 1 juvenile,
specimen. 45 mm juv, died in care, flesh in et OH.
2025/190/fd, Dreissena polymorpha (Zebra Mussel) (Mollusca). 3 shell,
specimen. none noted alive, only 3 retained, largest 25 mm.
2025/190/fe, Orconectes (Crayfish). 1 shell, specimen. dactylus found on
shore - only a couple of potential cover objects turned.
--
------------------------------------------------------------
Frederick W. Schueler & Aleta Karstad
Fragile Inheritance Natural History - https://fragileinheritance.ca/
2024 annual letter: https://clt1233162.bmeurl.co/11E63979
6 St-Lawrence Street Bishops Mills, RR#2 Oxford Station, Ontario K0G 1T0
on the Smiths Falls Limestone Plain 44.87156° N 75.70095° W
------------------------------------------------------------
I've just finished processing the specimens from my 29 July visit to the
Mississippi at Packenham - another site ravaged by Zebra Mussels which
doesn't seem to have many living Zebra Mussels around.
fred.
=================================================
29 July 2025 -Canada: Ontario: Lanark County: Packenham CA at W shore
Mississippi River. (20m waypoint), 31F/8, 45.33740° N 76.28786° W TIME:
1746-1804. AIR TEMP: 29°C, light overcast, Beaufort light breeze,
smokey. HABITAT: muddy limestone bedrock river shore at driven-over
lawnpark, water very warm. OBSERVER: Frederick W. Schueler. 2025/190/f,
visit (event). natural history, walk, wade. WAYPT/Y047, parked near the
downstream end of traffic access, and waded upstream to a side channel.
Collected sparse shells by wading, 1 small living Alasmidonta marginata
(Elktoe) no living Dreissena polymorpha (Zebra Mussel) seen -
not-blooming Xanthium (Cockleburr) among Phalaris arundinacea (Reed
Canary Grass) along shore - Lythrum salicaria (Purple Loosestrife)
scattered, some imperforate and others quite distorted - the only signs
of Galerucella biocontrol Beetle activity seen today.
2025/190/fa, Elliptio complanata (Eastern Elliptio) (Mollusca). 19
shell, specimen. 10 fragments including 98 mm broken pair, 7 old valves,
2 old pairs, larger 76 mm - NO:Dreissena on any of the shells.
2025/190/fb, Lampsilis (Lamp-Mussel) (Mollusca). 2 shell, specimen. 76
mm old broken pair & larger fragment.
2025/190/fc, Alasmidonta marginata (Elktoe) (Mollusca). 1 juvenile,
specimen. 45 mm juv, died in care, flesh in et OH.
2025/190/fd, Dreissena polymorpha (Zebra Mussel) (Mollusca). 3 shell,
specimen. none noted alive, only 3 retained, largest 25 mm.
2025/190/fe, Orconectes (Crayfish). 1 shell, specimen. dactylus found on
shore - only a couple of potential cover objects turned.
--
------------------------------------------------------------
Frederick W. Schueler & Aleta Karstad
Fragile Inheritance Natural History - https://fragileinheritance.ca/
2024 annual letter: https://clt1233162.bmeurl.co/11E63979
6 St-Lawrence Street Bishops Mills, RR#2 Oxford Station, Ontario K0G 1T0
on the Smiths Falls Limestone Plain 44.87156° N 75.70095° W
------------------------------------------------------------
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