Unionid Growth Curves Derived from Annual Rings: A Baseline Model for Long Point Bay, Lake Erie

Growth curves for Lampsilis radiata and Anodonta grandis collected in July 1981 at three stations in Long Point Bay, Lake Erie, were determined based on measured lengths at annual winter shell rings. A Walford Plot technique was used to convert annual growth-in-length increments to length vs. age growth models. For the two species, we used simulated baseline and environmental impact data to illustrate the use of baseline growth models in testing for long-term environmental deterioration.