Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Survival and extinction of the southern populations of freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera in Russia (Leningradskaya and Novgorodskaya oblast)

  • FRESHWATER BIVALVES
  • Published:
Hydrobiologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Information on the southern populations of the freshwater pearl mussel in Russia (Novgorodskaya and Leningradskaya oblast) is very scarce and has never been mentioned in the international scientific literature. Pearl fishing used to be common in this area in the fifteenth to eighteenth centuries but collapsed afterwards. Long-term field survey undertaken in 2006–2012 revealed that eight populations survived and at least 22 became extinct. The total number of mussels found was about 50,000, with the largest population in one small river consisting of approximately 40,000 individuals. Juveniles were found in six populations. The data obtained are of interest for assessing the resilience and stability of pearl mussel populations in response to potentially negative environmental and particularly anthropogenic impacts. The results are expected to inform future management strategies for conservation of suitable habitats for successful pearl mussel reproduction. The decline in host fish populations in the rivers appears to be the most significant threat to the survival of the existing pearl mussel populations.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Araujo, R. & V. A. Ramos, 2001. Action plans for Margaritifera auricularia and Margaritifera margaritifera in Europe. Nature and Environment 117: 1–73.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bauer, G., 1986. The status of the freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera L. in the south of its European range. Biological Conservation 38: 1–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bauer, G., 1987. Reproductive strategy of the freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera. Journal of Animal Ecology 56: 691–704.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bauer, G., 1988. Threats to the freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera L. in central Europe. Biological Conservation 45: 239–253.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bauer, G., 1991. Plasticity in the life history traits of the freshwater pearl mussel—consequences for the danger of extinction and for conservation measures. In Seitz, A. & V. Loeschke (eds), Species Conservation: A Population-Biological Approach. Birkhäuser, Basel: 103–120.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Bauer, G., 1992. Variation in the life span and size of the freshwater pearl mussel. Journal of Animal Ecology 61: 425–436.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bauer, G., S. Hochwald & W. Silkenat, 1991. Spatial distribution of freshwater mussels: the role of host fish and metabolic rate. Freshwater Biology 26: 377–386.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beasley, C. R., D. Roberts & T. G. Mackie, 1998. Does the freshwater pearl mussel, Margaritifera margaritifera L., face extinction in Northern Ireland? Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 8: 265–272.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bergengren, J., E. Engblom, L. Göthe, L. Henrikson, P.-E. Lingdell, O. Norrgrann & H. Söderberg, 2004. Skogsälven Varzuga—ett Urvatten pe Kolahalvön. Rapport Projekt Levande Skogsvatten, Världsnaturfonden WWF.

  • Bogatov, V. V. & Ya. I. Starobogatov, 2002a. North-European pearl mussel Margaritifera borealis (West). In Noskov, G. A. (ed.), Red Book of Nature of Leningradskaya Oblast. ANO NPO World and Family, St Petersburg: 53–54. (In Russian).

  • Bogatov, V. V. & Ya. I. Starobogatov, 2002b. Elongated pearl mussel Margaritifera elongata (Lam). In Noskov, G. A. (ed.), Red Book of Nature of Leningradskaya Oblast. ANO NPO World and Family, St Petersburg: 54–55. (In Russian).

  • Bogatov, V. V. & Ya. I. Starobogatov, 2002c. Common pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera (L.) In Noskov, G. A. (ed.), Red Book of Nature of Leningradskaya Oblast. ANO NPO World and Family, St Petersburg: 55–56. (In Russian).

  • Bogatov, V. V., L. A. Prozorova & Ya. I. Starobogatov, 2003. The family Margaritiferidae (Mollusca: Bivalvia) in Russia. Ruthenica 13: 41–52. (In Russian).

  • Campbell, R. D., 2006. What has the beaver got to do with the freshwater mussel decline? A response to Rudzīte (2005). Acta Universitatis Latviensis 710: 159–160.

    Google Scholar 

  • Degerman, E., S. Alexanderson, J. Bergengren, L. Henrikson, B.-E. Johansson, B. M. Larsen & H. Söderberg, 2009. Restoration of Freshwater Pearl Mussel Streams. WWF, Solna.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gembel, A. V., 1954. On the changes of the level of the surface and ground waters in the basin of upper Msta. Izvestija Vsesojuznogo Geographicheskogo Obschestva 86: 259–261. (In Russian).

    Google Scholar 

  • Golubev, B. F. & E. B. Golubeva, 2010. Abundance and density of the freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera populations in the rivers of northwest Russia in the period of 1970–1979. In Ieshko, E. P. & T. Lindholm (eds), Conservation of Freshwater Pearl Mussel Margaritifera margaritifera populations in Northern Europe. Proceedings of the International Workshop. Karelian Research Centre of Russian Academy of Sciences, Petrozavodsk: 12–19.

  • Golubev, B. F. & A. B. Esipov, 1973. Sources of freshwater pearl mussel in some rivers of the north-west of the Russian Federation. Trudy Vsesojuznogo Nauchno-issledovatelskogo Proektno-konstruktorskogo Instituta Yuvelirnoy Promyshlennosti 3: 51–58. (In Russian).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hastie, L. C., M. R. Young & P. J. Boon, 2000a. Growth characteristics of freshwater pearl mussels, Margaritifera margaritifera (L.). Freshwater Biology 43: 243–256.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hastie, L. C., M. R. Young, P. J. Boon, P. J. Cosgrove & B. Henninger, 2000b. Sizes, densities and age structures of Scottish Margaritifera margaritifera (L.) populations. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 10: 229–247.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hastie, L. C., E. C. Tarr, B. al-Mousawi & M. R. Young, 2010. Medium-term recruitment patterns in Scottish freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera populations. Endangered Species Research 11: 21–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hendelberg, J., 1961. The freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera (L.). Reports of the Institute of Freshwater Research. Drottingholm 41: 149–171.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hruska, J., 1992. The freshwater pearl mussel in South Bohemia: evaluation of the effect of temperature on reproduction, growth and age structure of the population. Archiv für Hydrobiologie 126: 181–191.

    Google Scholar 

  • Israel, W., 1913. Biologie der Europäischen Susswassermuscheln. K. G. Lutz, Stuttgart.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jensen, A., 2007. Is there a link between forestry and the decline of the freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera in central Sweden? Karlstads Universitet. Degree Project 07: 1–96.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karataev, A. Y. & L. E. Burlakova, 1995. The role of Dreissena in lake ecosystems. Russian Journal of Ecology 26: 207–211.

    Google Scholar 

  • Khalturin, D. K., 1970. Study on biology of kumzha (Salmo trutta L.) in the Karelskiy Peninsula. Voprosy Ikhtyologii 102: 319–332. (In Russian).

    Google Scholar 

  • Korago, A. A., 1981. River Pearl. Nedra, Leningrad. (In Russian).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kovalev, D. N., G. A. Noskov, M. G. Noskova, I. Yu. Popov & T. A. Rymkevich, 2013. A developmental concept for regional networks of protected areas as applied to Saint-Petersburg and Leningrad oblast. Part 1: ecological aspects. Biosphere 4: 393–428. (In Russian).

    Google Scholar 

  • Makhrov, A. A., 2009. European pearl-mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera (L.)) and fishes–hosts of its larvae in the water systems, adjacent to watershed of the Baltic Sea and Volga basins. In Biological Resources of the White Sea and the Internal Water Bodies of the European North, Materials of the XXVIII International Conference. Petrozavodsk, Republic of Karelia: 348–353. (In Russian).

  • Makhrov, A. A. 2010. Distribution of the freshwater pearl mussel in Russia. Conservation of freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera populations in Northern Europe. In Ieshko, E. P. & T. Lindholm (eds), Conservation of Freshwater Pearl Mussel Margaritifera margaritifera Populations in Northern Europe. Proceedings of the International Workshop. Karelian Research Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Petrozavodsk: 44–53.

  • Makhrov A., J. Bespalaya, I. Bolotov, I. Vikhrev, M. Gofarov, Y. Alekseeva & A. Zotin., 2013. Historical geography and current status of populations of the freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera (L.) in Northwestern Russia. Hydrobiologia. doi:10.1007/s10750-013-1546-1.

  • Moog, O., H. Nesemann, T. Ofenböck & C. Stunder, 1993. Grundlagen zum Schutz der Flussperlmuschel in Österreich. Bristol-Stiftung, Ruth & Herbert Uhl-Forschungsstelle, Zurich.

  • Moorkens, E. A., 1999. Conservation management of the freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera. Part 1: biology of the species and its present situation in Ireland. Irish Wildlife Manuals 8: 1–35.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moorkens, E. A., I. J. Killeen & E. Ross, 2007. Margaritifera margaritifera (the freshwater pearl mussel) conservation assessment. The National Parks and Wildlife Service, Ireland: 1–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mosichev, A., 1911. Trout and its rearing in Novgorodskaya gubernija. M. Frolova, Saint-Petersburg. (In Russian).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ostrovsky, A. N. & I. Yu. Popov, 2008. Chance for the pearl mussel? Priroda 9: 63–68. (In Russian).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ostrovsky, A. N. & I. Yu. Popov, 2011. Rediscovery of the largest population of the freshwater pearl-mussel in the Leningrad oblast (north-west Russia). Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 21: 113–121.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Popov, I. Yu., 2001. Salmonid fishes of the river Luga (Sankt-Petersburg region). In Biodiversity of the European North. Abstract of the International Conference, Petrozavodsk: 140.

  • Popov, I. Yu., 2003. Current state of the Baltic salmon in the Russian part of the Gulf of Finland. In Aquaterra Conference Volume, St Petersburg: 127–129. (In Russian with English summary).

  • Popov, I. Yu., 2010. The growth character of the Baltic salmon (Salmo salar) in the Russian part of the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea. Problems of Fisheries 11: 225–231. (In Russian with English summary).

    Google Scholar 

  • Popov, I. Yu., 2013. European anchovy and other new fish species in the water bodies around Saint-Petersburg. Invasion of Alien Species in Holarctic (Borok 4). Abstract of the International Conference, Borok (In press).

  • Reis, J., 2003. The freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera (L.)) (Bivalvia, Unionoida) rediscovered in Portugal and threats to its survival. Biological Conservation 114: 447–452.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Resources of Surface Waters of USSR, 1972. In Vodogretsky, V. E. (ed.), Karelia and Northwest, Vol. 2. Gidrometeoizdat, Leningrad. (In Russian).

  • Rudzīte, M., 2005. Assessment of the condition of freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera (Linnaeus 1758) populations in Latvia. Acta Universitatis Latviensis 691: 121–128.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rudzīte, M. & V. Znotiņa, 2006. An answer to Campbell. Acta Universitatis Latviensis 710: 161–163.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt, Ch. & R. Vandré, 2012. Do signal crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus harm freshwater pearl mussels? Some field observations. In Henrikson, L., B. Arvidson & M. Osterling (eds), Aquatic conservation with focus on Margaritifera margaritifera. Karlstad University Studies 40: 171–183.

  • Semenova, M. N., L. A. Karpycheva, B. B. Voloshenko & V. F. Bugaev, 1992. Comparative analysis of the growth rates in the European pearl mussel Maragaritifera margaritifera (Unionidea, Margaritinidae). Zoologicheskiy Zhurnal 71: 19–27. (In Russian).

    Google Scholar 

  • Valetov, V. A., 1999. Salmon of the Ladoga Lake (Biology, Reproduction). Karelian State Pedagogical University, Petrozavodsk. (In Russian).

    Google Scholar 

  • Varandas, S., M. Lopes-Lima, A. Teixeira, M. Hinzmann, J. Reis, R. Cortes, J. Machado & R. Souso, 2013. Ecology of southern pearl mussels (Maragaritifera margaritifera): first record of two new populations on the rivers Terva and Beça (Portugal). Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems. doi:10.1002/aqc.2321.

  • von Proschwitz, T., 2004. The thick-shelled river mussel (Unio crassus) in Sweden: Distribution, ecology, status, threats and conservation. Stefan Lundberg Fauna och Flora 99: 16–27.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yakunina, L. I., 1955. Russian Pearl Sewing. Iskusstvo, Moscow. (In Russian).

    Google Scholar 

  • Young, M. R., P. J. Cosgrove & L. C. Hastie, 2001. The extent of, and causes for, the decline of a highly threatened naiad: Margaritifera margaritifera. In Bauer, G. & K. Wächtler (eds), Ecology and Evolution of the Freshwater Mussels Unionoida. Springer, Berlin: 337–358.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Zahner-Meike, E. & J. M. Hanson, 2001. Effect of muskrat predation on naiads. In Bauer, G. & K. Wächtler (eds), Ecology and Evolution of the Freshwater Mussels Unionoida. Springer, Berlin: 163–181.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Zhekulin, V. S., 1972. Use of landscapes of North-West in XVIII-beginning XIX century by example of Novgorod region. Geography of Novgorodskaya oblast. Uchioniye zapiski Leningradskogo Pedagogicheskogo Instituta Imeni A. I. Herzena 461: 5–26. (In Russian).

Download references

Acknowledgements

The research was supported by Rufford Small Grants Foundation (in 2009 and 2011). We express our gratitude to the colleagues who helped us in different ways and encouraged our studies: Drs Lennart Henriksson, Nature and Man Ltd., Sweden; Thomas Ofenböck, Vienna Magistrat, Austria; Lee Hastie, University of Aberdeen, Scotland; Alexander Makhrov, Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Science, Russia. Drs M. Lopes Lima, Porto University, Portugal, Michael Winson, Heriot-Watt University, Scotland, and two anonymous reviewers kindly helped us to improve the early versions of the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Faculty of Biology and Soil Science, Saint Petersburg State University, Universitetskaya nab. 7/9, 199034, Saint Petersburg, Russia

    I. Yu. Popov

  2. Department of Invertebrate Zoology, Faculty of Biology and Soil Science, Saint Petersburg State University, Universitetskaya nab. 7/9, 199034, Saint Petersburg, Russia

    A. N. Ostrovsky

  3. Department of Palaeontology, Faculty of Earth Sciences, Geography and Astronomy, Geozentrum, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14, 1090, Vienna, Austria

    A. N. Ostrovsky

Authors
  1. I. Yu. Popov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. N. Ostrovsky
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. N. Ostrovsky.

Additional information

Guest editors: Manuel P. M. Lopes-Lima, Ronaldo G. Sousa, Simone G. P. Varandas, Elsa M. B. Froufe & Amílcar A. T. Teixeira / Biology and Conservation of Freshwater Bivalves

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Popov, I.Y., Ostrovsky, A.N. Survival and extinction of the southern populations of freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera in Russia (Leningradskaya and Novgorodskaya oblast). Hydrobiologia 735, 161–177 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-013-1640-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-013-1640-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation