Freshwater mussel conservation: A global horizon scan of emerging threats and opportunities
Aldridge, D.C.; Ollard, I.S.; Bespalaya, Y.V.; Bolotov, I.N.; Douda, K.; Geist, J.; Haag, W.R.; Klunzinger, M.W.; Lopes-Lima, M.; Mlambo, M.C.; Riccardi, N.; Sousa, R.; Strayer, D.L.; Torres, S.H.; Vaughn, C.C.; Zajac, T.; Zieritz, A. (2023). Freshwater mussel conservation: A global horizon scan of emerging threats and opportunities. Glob. Chang. Biol. 29(3): 575-589. https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/gcb.16510
In: Global Change Biology. Blackwell Publishers: Oxford. ISSN 1354-1013; e-ISSN 1365-2486, more
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| Keywords |
Unionida [WoRMS]
Fresh water |
| Author keywords |
conservation; diversity; ecosystem services; freshwater mussel; horizon scan; mussel health; threats; unionid |
| Authors | | Top |
- Aldridge, D.C.
- Ollard, I.S.
- Bespalaya, Y.V.
- Bolotov, I.N.
- Douda, K.
- Geist, J.
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- Haag, W.R.
- Klunzinger, M.W.
- Lopes-Lima, M.
- Mlambo, M.C.
- Riccardi, N.
- Sousa, R.
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- Strayer, D.L.
- Torres, S.H.
- Vaughn, C.C.
- Zajac, T.
- Zieritz, A.
|
| Abstract |
We identified 14 emerging and poorly understood threats and opportunities for addressing the global conservation of freshwater mussels over the next decade. A panel of 17 researchers and stakeholders from six continents submitted a total of 56 topics that were ranked and prioritized using a consensus-building Delphi technique. Our 14 priority topics fell into five broad themes (autecology, population dynamics, global stressors, global diversity, and ecosystem services) and included understanding diets throughout mussel life history; identifying the drivers of population declines; defining metrics for quantifying mussel health; assessing the role of predators, parasites, and disease; informed guidance on the risks and opportunities for captive breeding and translocations; the loss of mussel–fish co-evolutionary relationships; assessing the effects of increasing surface water changes; understanding the effects of sand and aggregate mining; understanding the effects of drug pollution and other emerging contaminants such as nanomaterials; appreciating the threats and opportunities arising from river restoration; conserving understudied hotspots by building local capacity through the principles of decolonization; identifying appropriate taxonomic units for conservation; improved quantification of the ecosystem services provided by mussels; and understanding how many mussels are enough to provide these services. Solutions for addressing the topics ranged from ecological studies to technological advances and socio-political engagement. Prioritization of our topics can help to drive a proactive approach to the conservation of this declining group which provides a multitude of important ecosystem services. |
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