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Biodiversity on the brink: an assessment of conservation strategies for North American freshwater mussels

  • FRESHWATER BIVALVES
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Abstract

The North America freshwater mussel fauna has suffered an inordinately high recent extinction rate, and the small size and isolation of many remaining populations portends a continued diminishment of this fauna. Causes of extinction and imperilment are varied but revolve around massive habitat loss, deterioration, and fragmentation. The National Strategy for the Conservation of Native Mussels, published in 1997, has guided efforts to address this crisis. Considerable progress has been made toward several of the Strategies’ goals, particularly increasing our knowledge of mussel biology, promoting mussel conservation, and development of techniques for captive mussel propagation. However, mussel conservation should focus more directly on reducing fragmentation through bold and aggressive habitat restoration. In addition to dam removal, improvement in dam tailwater flows, and restoration of channelized streams, identification of factors that eliminated mussels from many otherwise intact streams is critical. Translocation and captive propagation will be key elements in reestablishing mussel assemblages in restored habitats, but these techniques should be used with caution and primarily to increase the occurrence of a species throughout its historical range. Conserving mussel diversity in an ever-changing world is dependent on promoting the natural, long-term sustainability and evolutionary potential of mussel populations.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Manuel Lopes Lima for inviting us to present this perspective on mussel conservation. We also thank Greg Cope and two anonymous reviewers for providing helpful comments on the manuscript, Chris Barnhart and Paul Johnson for sharing their perspectives on the use of silos for juvenile culture, and Catherine Gatenby and Patty Morrison for encouragement and support.

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  1. Center for Bottomland Hardwoods Research, US Forest Service, Oxford, MS, USA

    Wendell R. Haag

  2. Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    James D. Williams

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  1. Wendell R. Haag
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  2. James D. Williams
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Correspondence to Wendell R. Haag.

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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

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Haag, W.R., Williams, J.D. Biodiversity on the brink: an assessment of conservation strategies for North American freshwater mussels. Hydrobiologia 735, 45–60 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-013-1524-7

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