Obovaria jacksoniana
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Obovaria jacksoniana faces severe population declines primarily due to habitat degradation from dam construction and river channelization, which alter the natural flow regimes essential for its reproduction and survival. Water pollution from agricultural runoff and urban development introduces toxins that accumulate in filter-feeding mussels, while sedimentation from erosion smothers individuals and reduces water quality. The species' dependence on specific fish hosts for larval development makes it particularly vulnerable to declining fish populations in southeastern river systems.
Habitat
Obovaria jacksoniana inhabits medium to large rivers with stable gravel and sand substrates in the southeastern United States, particularly in the Tennessee and Cumberland river systems. The species requires well-oxygenated waters with moderate to swift currents and depends on clean, sediment-free conditions for successful filter feeding and reproduction.
