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23 December 2007 |
MUSSELp Sampling Sites in Zambia, 2007
From 15 May to 2 June, DLG sampled freshwater mussels in the Zambia with Alex Chilala, Principle Fisheries Officer for Lusaka Province and collaborator with the MUSSELp. Mollusks (live and shells only) were collected at 16 sites, most of which were in the Northern and Luapula Provinces. Click here to see pictures from this expedition not directly related to malacology.
 The Map to the right shows our route and sampling sites in Zambia during the expedition of 2007. Sites are numbered 1-16. Four additional, unsampled sites (A-D) are indicated as localities of future clamming potential at times of lower water levels. The yellow star indicates Lusaka.
In the northern part of Zambia, the Chambeshi River and the lakes drain to the Atlantic Ocean via the Congo River. The southern part of the country drains via the Zambezi through Mozambique to the Indian Ocean. As such, the different basins yield different assemblages of mussels. We sampled the Zambezi/Luangwa Basin in 2005.
Details of our sampling sites are transcribed below from our notebooks. Geographical coordinates were determined using a hand-held GPS, and links from the geocodes map the sites on Google Maps.
For the most part, sampling freshwater mussels in late May in the upper Congo Basin was challenging due to high water conditions. Most locals suggested that September or October would be better times, and in previous years mussels (or, oulwili) have been plentiful. Our preliminary examination of the material collected suggests that at least 12 species were collected, with one (so far) suspected to be new to science.
MPZ-2007-01: Eureka Farms
Under the corrugated roof awning of Chalet 3 at Eureka Farms Camp, S Lusaka, Zambia.
-15.504, 028.265
16 May 2007, D.L. Graf!
Two aestivating terrestrial snails were collected to mark the first collection of mollusks on the expedition. |
 
DLG at Chalet 3 of Eureka Farms Camp, near Lusaka and a resting land snail under the roof.
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 MPZ-2007-02: Chambeshi Bridge
Chambeshi River, bridge N Chambeshi on Mpika-Kasama Road (M1), Zambia.
-10.926, 031.077
18 May 2007, D.L. Graf & A.D. Chilala!
The river was too high and fast to collect in. We collected two ampullariid snails and a single dead Etheria elliptica in the tall grass in the flood-area of the river. |
MPZ-2007-03: Sawfa Pontoon
Chambeshi River, Sawfa Pontoon, 6.3 km E Mpika-Kasama Road (M1), Zambia.
-10.852, 031.167
18 May 2007, D.L. Graf & A.D. Chilala!
Alex had collected fish at this site before. The water was high and likely had bilharzia (as evidenced by the presence of Bulinus sp. and the word of the locals).
Found Coelatura luapulaensis and Aspatharia pfeifferiana live, more dead specimens of Aspatharia, and a number of dead Etheria.
ADC (center) and our local helpers at the Sawfa Pontoon on the Chambeshi River.
 MPZ-2007-04: Mbesuma Ranch Pontoon
Chambeshi River, ca. 5 km W Mbesuma Ranch on Kasama-Mbesuma Ranch Road (D18) at the site of the non-functioning pontoon, Zambia.
-10.010, 032.124
19 May 2007, D.L. Graf & A.D. Chilala!
The water was fast and deep at this site too, but the water was clear. Some locals took us downstream about 0.5 km to pollywog a shallower site where we collected a number of dead Etheria elliptica.
Other specimens procured by the locals included Aspatharia pfeifferiana, Chambardia dautzenbergi and Mutela sp. (all dead), as well as two live Coelatura luapulaensis.
The Chambeshi River near Mbesuma Ranch.
 MPZ-2007-05: Kalungu Bridge
Kalungu River, bridge on Kasama-Mbesuma Ranch Road (D18), Zambia.
-10.020, 031.935
19 May 2007, D.L. Graf & A.D. Chilala!
Live specimens of Aspatharia pfeifferiana and Coelatura luapulaensis collected by locals at their swimming hole. |
MPZ-2007-06: Bulaya Pontoon
Lake Mweru Wantipa, near Bulaya at the site of the non-functioning pontoon, Zambia.
-08.519, 030.130
21 May 2007, D.L. Graf & A.D. Chilala!
Lots of dead Mutela hargeri; broken pieces all over the beach.
Lake Mweru Wantipa at what would be the pontoon crossing near Bulaya, if it had been functioning.
 MPZ-2007-07: Kaputa
Lake Mweru Wantipa, nr Kaputa, Zambia.
-08.566, 029.663
22 May 2007, D.L. Graf & A.D. Chilala!
Lots of dead Mutela hargeri. Muddier, with lots of black mud.
Chipili Island is visible, and that is where the locals say the live ones can be found. |
Lake Mweru Wantipa near Kaputa, with Chipili Island in the background to the right.
MPZ-2007-08: Nchelenge Fisheries Station
Lake Mweru, 900 m stretch of beach nr Fisheries Station, Nchelenge, Zambia.
-09.341, 028.721
22 May 2007, D.L. Graf & Simuchele Wellington!
Escorted by the local fisheries authority to areas of the Mweru beach where fishermen illegally use seines. Some beach-junkshell of Mweruella mweruensis, Prisodontopsis aviculaeformis and Mutela hargeri.
Everyone reports that the islands are the places to go but that the water is too high right now.
Lake Mweru at the Nchelenge Fisheries Station (with islands visible on the horizon).
MPZ-2007-09: Nchelenge Water Transport Lodge
Lake Mweru, in front of Mweru Water Transport Lodge, Nchelenge, Zambia.
-09.348, 028.732
23 May 2007, D.L. Graf & A.D. Chilala!
A few Mutela hargeri fragments and a dead Etheria elliptica that some local children found. This site is just a few hundred meters down the beach from Site 8.
 MPZ-2007-10: Kashikishi
Lake Mweru, from Kashikishi to about 1 km south along the beach, nr Nchelenge, Zambia.
-09.316, 028.731
23 May 2007, D.L. Graf & A.D. Chilala!
Many specimens of Mweruella mweruensis (dead) and Prisodontopsis aviculaeformis (live), collected in sand in the surf. |
MPZ-2007-11: Samfya Fisheries Station
Lake Bangweulu, Fisheries Station, Samfya, Zambia.
-11.377, 029.564
24 May 2007, D.L. Graf & A.D. Chilala!
A few, dead Coelatura choziensis from the high-water grass.
MPZ-2007-12a: Samfya Beach
Lake Bangweulu, Samfya Beach Hotel, Samfya, Zambia.
-11.344, 029.562
24 May 2007, D.L. Graf & A.D. Chilala!
We pollywogged the sand on the west side of the beach. By the time we got there, it was 5 PM, so there was not much light to see deeply into the water. Found Coelatura choziensis on the beach, and some locals brought us dead Mutela hargeri.
Lake Bangweulu at the Samfya Beach Hotel.
 MPZ-2007-12b: Samfya Beach
25 May 2007
Many dead Mutela hargeri, plus two freshly dead with soft tissue retained inside the shells. Also, many live and dead Coelatura choziensis.
MPZ-2007-12c: Samfya Beach
25 May 2007
Just down the beach a few meters from Site 12a-b, two fishermen set a seine/trawl net. Got 17 live Coelatura choziensis, but no Mutela hargeri. |
 
Two local fishermen put out a seine to try and capture freshwater mussels from deeper waters (left). Alex examines the meager haul (right). Click here to see a quicktime of the process.
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MPZ-2007-13: Siavonga
Lake Kariba, Manchinchi Beach Hotel, Siavonga, Zambia.
-16.537, 028.726
28 May 2007, D.L. Graf & A.D. Chilala!
Very rocky habitat, with a bit of sand and clay in the protected bay. Found bits of Mutela zambesiensis, Coelatura mossambicensis and Corbicula sp. in the dredge spoil around the boat landing of the hotel.
The lagoon of the Manchinchi Beach Hotel on Lake Kariba at Siavonga.
 MPZ-2007-14: Sinazongwe Fisheries Station
Lake Kariba, in front of the Fisheries Station, Sinazongwe, Zambia.
-17.250, 027.484
29 May 2007, D.L. Graf & A.D. Chilala!
The lake was apparently very low how this time of year. We collected junkshell of Coelatura mossambicensis and Corbicula sp. on the dry beach with cows; adjacent stagnant water likely harbored bilharzia. |
MPZ-2007-15: Sinazongwe Chalets
Lake Kariba, “The Chalets,” Sinazongwe, Zambia.
-17.258, 027.480
29 May 2007, D.L. Graf & A.D. Chilala!
We pollywogged on a sandy beach, but all we found were more dead Coelatura mossambicensis.
MPZ-2007-16: Chilanga Fish Ponds
Chilanga Fisheries Department Fish Ponds, S Chilanga, Zambia.
-15.573, 028.262
31 May 2007, D.L. Graf & A.D. Chilala!
The first pond apparently has Chambardia wahlbergi living (and breeding) in it, but they are accessible only when the pond is drained. We collected a lot of dead specimens around the pond. None of the other ponds was checked.
Fisheries fish pond #1 near Chilanga.
Unsampled Site A: Lukulu River
On 20 May 2007, we visited the Lukulu just above its confluence with the Chambeshi. It was a 2.5 km hike from the Mpika-Kasama Road (M1). No mussels: the water was too deep to sample and there were (reportedly) crocodiles present.
Lukulu River: -10.69452, 031.13834
head of path from road: -10.69349, 031.16110
The Lukulu River near its confluence with the Chambeshi.
Unsampled Site B: Luapula River
On 24 May 2007, we stopped at the Luapula River near Mambalima Falls. The water was fast and deep, but with lots of rocks for Etheria. A local person confirmed their presence but offered no proof in the way of specimens.
Luapula River: -10.56930, 028.67545
head of path from road: -10.57005, 028.67828
The Luapula River near Mambalima Falls.
Unsampled Site C: Luwombwa River
On 26 May 2007, we investigated the Luwombwa River on the western end of Kasanka Park via canoe. This might be a good mussel site when the water is lower. Our guide confirmed this.
Luwombwa River: -12.50192, 030.13075
It was 50,000 ZMK per hour to use the canoe at Luwombwa Fishing Lodge.
Unsampled Site D: Kafue River
On 28 May 2007, we went to the lower Kafue while we were in the area to sample Lake Kariba. At the confluence with the Zambezi, the water was too high to sample.
Kafue River: -15.94338, 028.91274
The Kafue flowing into the Zambezi.
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