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Imminent extinction of the Nore freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera durrovensis Phillips: A species unique to Ireland

Imminent extinction of the Nore freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera durrovensis Phillips: A... The last population of the Nore freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera durrovensis was surveyed each year from 1990 to 1994 in the River Nore, southern Ireland. The population has fallen from a ‘flourishing colony’ in the 1920s to an estimated 2000 in 1990 and 420 in 1994. No juvenile mussels were observed in any of the surveys. If life history data for Margaritifera margaritifera are applicable to M. durrovensis, the population would need to be 20 times greater for successful recruitment. Although given special mention in the Bern Convention, M. durrovensis was omitted from the European Union Habitats Directive, perhaps due to uncertainty regarding its taxonomic status as it shares characteristics with both M. margaritifera and M. auricularia. Immediate measures are required to prevent the extinction of M. durrovensis including, (a) a captive breeding programme, (b) habitat restoration, and (c) formal recognition of its priority status within the Habitats Directive. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems Wiley

Imminent extinction of the Nore freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera durrovensis Phillips: A species unique to Ireland

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References (3)

Publisher
Wiley
Copyright
Copyright © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
ISSN
1052-7613
eISSN
1099-0755
DOI
10.1002/aqc.3270040407
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

The last population of the Nore freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera durrovensis was surveyed each year from 1990 to 1994 in the River Nore, southern Ireland. The population has fallen from a ‘flourishing colony’ in the 1920s to an estimated 2000 in 1990 and 420 in 1994. No juvenile mussels were observed in any of the surveys. If life history data for Margaritifera margaritifera are applicable to M. durrovensis, the population would need to be 20 times greater for successful recruitment. Although given special mention in the Bern Convention, M. durrovensis was omitted from the European Union Habitats Directive, perhaps due to uncertainty regarding its taxonomic status as it shares characteristics with both M. margaritifera and M. auricularia. Immediate measures are required to prevent the extinction of M. durrovensis including, (a) a captive breeding programme, (b) habitat restoration, and (c) formal recognition of its priority status within the Habitats Directive.

Journal

Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater EcosystemsWiley

Published: Dec 1, 1994

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