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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 Northside
Generating Station which draws water from the St. Johns River (report
& 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
with a second find a year later of a large number of living
specimens well up the St. Johns River in the Arlington section of
Jacksonville. 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). Additionally, the species has been found in the Mosquito Lagoon in Volusia County, Florida, the St. Marys River at St. Marys, Camden County, Georgia and the estuary of the Canoochee River, Liberty-Bryan Counties, Georgia. |
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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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Arlington Lions Club boat ramp and floating docks (St. Johns River) | [site image] | 2/2/2008 |
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