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Historical distribution
Historical distribution
Museum records provide unique information about the distribution of the Yellow Lampmussel Lampsilis cariosa (Unionidae)
The distribution of out-of-range points along the Atlantic coast of the United States and maritime region of Canada. The light gray background represents the expected range of YLM based on MusselMapR and other literature (see manuscript). Yellow dots were confirmed as YLM, whereas other colors were rejected.
This paper assesses the value of natural history museum records in informing the distribution of the Yellow Lampmussel. We queried museum data from across the range of YLM and assessed uncertain records (n = 36) occurring outside of the generally expected geographic range of YLM.
This paper assesses the value of natural history museum records in informing the distribution of the Yellow Lampmussel. We queried museum data from across the range of YLM and assessed uncertain records (n = 36) occurring outside of the generally expected geographic range of YLM.
We found that 50% of these records were valid, including in regions of New York and Vermont (USA) and Québec and Ontario (Canada). Our study provides a reproducible method for the reverification of freshwater mussel museum records and highlights how these records can provide unique contributions to our understanding of the geographic range of a rare, at-risk mussel species.
We found that 50% of these records were valid, including in regions of New York and Vermont (USA) and Québec and Ontario (Canada). Our study provides a reproducible method for the reverification of freshwater mussel museum records and highlights how these records can provide unique contributions to our understanding of the geographic range of a rare, at-risk mussel species.
Project Updates
Preliminary results were presented at the Society for Freshwater Science meeting in 2024.
This manuscript was published in 2025.
Contemporary distribution
Contemporary distribution
Range-wide distribution models uniquely capture niche breadth and suitable habitat of a rare freshwater species
Range-wide SSDM results. The color ramp reflects the probability of YLM presence based on the final ensembled model results. Watersheds with white backgrounds represent unoccupied watersheds that have at least 1 stream reach with predicted presence of YLM.
This paper assesses habitat suitability for Yellow Lampmussel through a multi-species modeling approach. Environmental data, host fish distribution data, and mussel distribution data were collected from across the range (thanks to the help of the YLMWG!) and were used to build stacked species distribution models to discover the best predictors of Yellow Lampmussel presence and unveil areas to survey that may have YLM presence but have gone unrecorded.
This paper assesses habitat suitability for Yellow Lampmussel through a multi-species modeling approach. Environmental data, host fish distribution data, and mussel distribution data were collected from across the range (thanks to the help of the YLMWG!) and were used to build stacked species distribution models to discover the best predictors of Yellow Lampmussel presence and unveil areas to survey that may have YLM presence but have gone unrecorded.
We identified 104 Hydrologic Unit 8 code watersheds with no previously recorded presence of YLM and yet predicted presences. These watersheds included areas in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Delaware, where YLM has not been recently (1980 - present) recorded.
We identified 104 Hydrologic Unit 8 code watersheds with no previously recorded presence of YLM and yet predicted presences. These watersheds included areas in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Delaware, where YLM has not been recently (1980 - present) recorded.
Project Updates
I was invited to present this research at the College of Earth, Life, and Health Sciences Graduate Student Research Awards Competition at the University of Maine in 2026.
Preliminary results were presented at the Northeast Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies meeting in 2024.
This manuscript is in review at Ecological Applications as of May 2026. Links to the data release, software release, and article will be available on this webpage as soon as they are available, or reach out to Jillian Fedarick for more information!
Funding for this research project is provided by:
the U.S. Geological Survey through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Science Support Partnership
the University of Maine Orono Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Conservation Biology
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