The current status and future challenges for the preservation and conservation of freshwater pearl mussel habitats

Gumpinger, Clemens; Hauer, Christoph; Scheder, Christian

doi:10.1016/j.limno.2015.01.001

Cited by 7 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…At the end of the 19 th century an area-wide loss of mussel populations started, in the course of which more than 98% of the original stocks have vanished to date [4]. Th e same situation is to be attested all over Europe [5].…”

Section: The Freshwater Pearl Mussel (Margaritifera Margaritifera)mentioning

confidence: 99%

The necessity of the rearing of non-commercial aquatic species in Austria, and prerequisites for the similar situation in Russia

Popov

Gumpinger²

2015

BioComm

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The general dramatic decline of biodiversity is progressing even faster in aquatic habitats. Highly specialized species living in a narrow ecological niche are on the edge of extinction or have already died out. But not only species with a complex life-cycle that often depend on host species, or animals and plants that need a pristine environment are at risk. In Austria and other European countries, even species that used to be common and abundant until recently have turned out to be endangered or even on the edge of extinction when subject of thorough investigation. This development has sped up in the past few decades because of various reasons. In most cases, there is not just a single reason for the decline, it is rather the combination of habitat loss, climate change and intensified utilization of the catchment areas that leads to combined effects that often actually intensify each other. In Austria the decline of freshwater mussels, all native crayfish species, lampreys and several small fish species is so dramatic that artificial rearing is required to prevent their extinction. In Russia such measures are not realized yet in most cases, though similar processes of environmental degradation and intensification of land use are taking place. The awareness of the latter has led to the knowledge that certain prominent and well-surveyed species like the freshwater pearl mussel do need serious conservation measures regardless of their still large numbers. The bigger part of the endangered species, however, still remain unexplored in the context of conservation biology. This paper presents a review of recent studies in this field. Refs 26.

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Section: The Freshwater Pearl Mussel (Margaritifera Margaritifera)mentioning

confidence: 99%

The necessity of the rearing of non-commercial aquatic species in Austria, and prerequisites for the similar situation in Russia

Popov

Gumpinger²

2015

BioComm

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“…The result of these changes is that riverbed conditions have become suboptimum for the freshwater pearl mussel ( Margaritifera margaritifera L.), an endangered species threatened throughout its Holarctic range (Young, Cosgrove, & Hastie, 2001) that is present in the Ehen (the river supports the largest population remaining in England, Killeen, 2006; O'Leary, 2013). Improving the suitability of bed conditions for mussels is essential for their conservation (Quinlan et al, 2015), both at the reach and catchment scales (Gumpinger, Hauer, & Scheder, 2015). Accordingly, over the last decade the River Ehen has benefitted from a catchment‐wide restoration scheme, which most notably includes the reconnection of a headwater tributary, Ben Gill.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geomorphological response to system‐scale river rehabilitation I: Sediment supply from a reconnected tributary

Marteau

Gibbins

Vericat

et al. 2020

River Research & Apps

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This paper is the first of a pair that report the findings of a river rehabilitation project centred on the reconnection of a formerly diverted headwater tributary (Ben Gill) to its main-stem river (the River Ehen). The present paper describes the geomorphic evolution of the tributary in the 2 years following its reconnection, with a particular focus on assessing the volumes of sediment now being supplied to the main-stem Ehen. Structure-from-Motion photogrammetry was used to produce Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) of the newly connected tributary, with successive DEMs compared to assess topographic changes in the channel and quantify volumes of material exported. 3D errors in the DEMs were small relative to the scour and fill observed in the channel (error 0.016-0.056 m compared to up to 1.7 m vertical change between consecutive surveys). Erosion was the dominant process in the tributary channel, though this varied spatially and temporally. Over the 2-year period, an estimated minimum of 384 m 3 of coarse sediment was exported from Ben Gill and delivered to the confluence zone, where a new bar feature developed as a result. This estimate is twice as high as earlier ones. Analysis of the growth of this bar suggested that much of the material supplied by Ben Gill remains here temporarily, with onward conveyance constrained by the competence of the regulated main-stem. The work shows that, thanks to the reconnection, this small (0.55 km 2) ephemeral tributary (flowing for only around 20% of the time) has become a key source of sediment for the main-stem Ehen. The second in the pair of papers focuses on the geomorphic responses of the main-stem to this renewed supply of sediment.

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“…Margaritifera margaritifera (L.1758) is among the most endangered freshwater species in Europe [1]. The population of this freshwater pearl mussel (FWPM) has been declining since the 20th century due to pearl fishing, an alteration in water quality, habitat degradation, decline of host fish and pollution [2][3][4][5][6][7][8]. In Europe, several programs have been set up in order to preserve this species by restoring habitats and by the application of captive breeding techniques for the reintroduction of M. margaritifera into its natural habitats [9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Otherwise, post-parasitic juveniles (also called freshly excysted juveniles) are suggested to be the most critical stage of the FWPM [12,13]. Since the first developmental stages of freshwater mussels are often more vulnerable than the adult stage [14][15][16], extensive investigation into assessing the sensitivity of the early life stages of the FWPM is, therefore, highly relevant for ecotoxicological study and in helping to find the best conservation strategies for this endangered species [5,15,17].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Acute Toxicity of Sodium Chloride, Nitrates, Ortho-Phosphates, Cadmium, Arsenic and Aluminum for Juveniles of the Freshwater Pearl Mussel: Margaritifera Margaritifera (L.1758)

et al. 2020

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The freshwater pearl mussel (FWPM) Margaritifera margaritifera (L.1758) is critically endangered in Europe and ecotoxicological studies on the species are scares. Here, 96 h acute toxicity tests were conducted at 16 °C with sodium chloride (NaCl), nitrates (NO3−), ortho-phosphates (PO43−), cadmium (Cd), aluminum (Al) and arsenic (As) on 13- to 28-month-old post-parasitic juveniles. The experimental protocol was developed according to conditions described in a standard guide and was modified in order to assess toxicity thresholds for the Dronne River. Results showed that juveniles were tolerant to concentrations of Al, Cd, As, PO43−, NO3− and NaCl, largely higher than those found in the Dronne river, since 96 h EC50s (effective concentrations) were >954 µg/L for Al; >110 µg/L for Cd; >127 µg/L for As; >5.01 mg/L for PO43−; between 1000 and 1500 mg/L for NO3− and were 1.19 and 1.33 g/L for NaCl. Moreover, the use of a substrate in experiments was found not to affect juvenile responses and younger juveniles seemed more sensitive than older individuals. This study thus provides new data about the tolerance of FWPM to environmental pollution and suggests that pollutant concentrations in the river are significantly lower than levels affecting them.

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The current status and future challenges for the preservation and conservation of freshwater pearl mussel habitats

Cited by 7 publications

References 16 publications

The necessity of the rearing of non-commercial aquatic species in Austria, and prerequisites for the similar situation in Russia

The necessity of the rearing of non-commercial aquatic species in Austria, and prerequisites for the similar situation in Russia

Geomorphological response to system‐scale river rehabilitation I: Sediment supply from a reconnected tributary

Acute Toxicity of Sodium Chloride, Nitrates, Ortho-Phosphates, Cadmium, Arsenic and Aluminum for Juveniles of the Freshwater Pearl Mussel: Margaritifera Margaritifera (L.1758)

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