Freshwater Mollusks of the Colorado River and Tributaries in the Grand Canyon
Lightfoot J. 1981. Freshwater Mollusks of the Colorado River and Tributaries in the Grand Canyon. Sedona, AZ
Little baseline information on mollusks in the Grand Canyon corridor is available, and the author investigated these mollusks during the summer of 1981 on an eight-day river trip. Despite advance expectations of nine other species, she found only 1 species (Physa virgata) in the whole river-side area, from Lees Ferry to Pierce Ferry. She concludes that this air-breathing mollusk is the only freshwater one that can withstand the existing conditions in the Grand Canyon, washing down from the rim and populating the streams right down to the banks of the Colorado River. The aquatic mollusks are found primarily in tributaries as the swift current, changing water levels, steep banks and shifting sands make the river itself undesirable habitat. Also, correspondence about collecting permit, research proposal, biography
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Lightfoot, Joanne
- Date of Issue
- 1981
- Units
- GRCA
- Keywords
- Colorado River, Habitats, Mollusks (Mollusca), NPSRecord, Physa virgata (mollusk), pulmonate mollusks (Mollusca), Tributaries