Pleurobema chattanoogaense
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
The Pleurobema chattanoogaense faces severe threats from habitat degradation caused by dam construction and river channelization throughout the Tennessee River system. Water quality deterioration from agricultural runoff, urban development, and industrial pollution has significantly impacted the species' filter-feeding capabilities and reproductive success. Sedimentation from land-use changes has altered the riverbed substrate essential for this mussel's burrowing behavior and juvenile recruitment.
Habitat
This freshwater mussel inhabits medium to large rivers with moderate to swift currents, typically found in gravel, sand, and cobble substrates. It requires well-oxygenated waters and stable riverbeds in the Tennessee River drainage system of southeastern United States.
