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Imminent extinction of the Nore freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera durrovensis Phillips: A species unique to Ireland
Author(s) -
Moorkens Evelyn A.,
Costello Mark J.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
aquatic conservation: marine and freshwater ecosystems
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.95
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1099-0755
pISSN - 1052-7613
DOI - 10.1002/aqc.3270040407
Subject(s) - margaritifera , fishery , population , pearl , habitat , mussel , ecology , habitats directive , biology , geography , demography , archaeology , sociology
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.