MMNS Freshwater Invertebrate Research

Freshwater invertebrate research at the Museum of Natural Science is directed primarily at the status and distribution of crayfish and freshwater mussels within Mississippi.

Contact (Mussels): Robert.ellwanger@mmns.ms.gov

Contact (Crustaceans & Gastropods): Calvin.rezac@mmns.ms.gov

 

Research and Publications

Current/Recent Research
  • Status survey for Banded Mudbug and Lonesome Gravedigger in southeastern Mississippi
  • Status assessment and behavior of the Jackson Prairie Crayfish
  • Examination of Crayfish species associated with Crawfish Frogs in Central Mississippi
  • Freshwater mussel surveys of the Big Black, Pearl, Big Sunflower, Pascagoula Rivers, and Bear Creek
  • Rediscovery of the Big Black Rocksnail and full distribution assessment
  • Production of the Guide to the Identification and Distribution of Freshwater Mussels in (Bivalvia: Unionidae) in Mississippi
Recent Publications or Technical Reports

Status, distribution of two burrowing crayfish (Lacunicambarus) from Southeastern Mississippi. Rezac, C.R., Ellwanger, R.J., Humphires, M.L., Wagner, H.N., Field-Rezac, E.K., and N.I. Stewart. 2025. MMNS Technical Report 247. Funded by USFWS, Statew Wildlife Grant. 

Status Assessment for four mussel species of federal conservation concern in the Pascagoula system in Mississippi. Ellwanger, R.J., Rezac, C.R., Humphries, M.L., Fairchild, Q.N., Wagner, H.N., Field-Rezac, E.K., and Z.C. Mabry. 2024. MMNS Technical Report 243. Funded by USFWS, Section 6.

Mussel Survey of Pickwick Reservoir in Mississippi. Ellwanger, R.J., Rezac, C.R., Field-Rezac, E.K., Wagner, H.N., Humphries, M.L., and Z.C. Mabry. 2024. MMNS Technical Report 233. Funded by USFWS, State Wildlife Grant.

Extinct or overlooked: a case study on the rediscovery of the Big Black Rocksnail. Rezac, C.R., Ellwanger, R.J., Donohoo, S.A., Hartfield, P.D., Ruppel, A.S., Wagner, M.D., and N.V. Whelan. 2024. Biodiversity and Conservation, Vol 33, p. 1811-1825.

Mollusk survey of the Big Sunflower River, Mississippi. Ellwanger, R.J., Rezac, C.R., Humphries, M.L., Fairchild, Q.N., Hurst, I.N., and C.P. Flaherty. 2024. MMNS Technical Report 222. Funded by USFWS, Section 6.

Survey of freshwater mussels (Unionidae) of the Pearl River system, Mississippi. Ellwanger, R.J., Rezac, C.R., Shake, A.J., and J.C. Creely. 2023. MMNS Technical Report 219. Funded by USFWS, Section 6.

Distribution assessment for federally listed and petitioned mussels in the Big Black River in Mississippi. Ellwanger, R.J., Rezac, C.R., and B.H. Chaffins. 2021. MMNS Technical Report 216. Funded by USFWS Section 6.

Guide to the Identification and Distribution of Freshwater Mussels in (Bivalvia: Unionidae) in Mississippi. Jones R.L., Wagner M.D., Slack W.T., Peyton J.S., and P.D. Hartfield. 2019. Mississippi Museum of Natural Science Book, 340 pages.  Download PDF Here 

hickorynut
Federally Threatened Round Hickorynut
pocketbook mussel
Female Pocketbook Mussel Displaying Lure
MDWFP biologist
MDWFP biologists sampling the Big Black River
Plain Pocketbook mussel
Plain Pocketbook Mussel
washboard mussel
Washboard Mussel
lagniappe crayfish
Lagniappe crayfish (Procambarus lagniappe) from a Sucarnoochee River tributary.

Mississippi Mussel Guidebook

Guide to the Identification and Distribution of Freshwater Mussels in Mississippi, Second Edition