Publication Details
Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1002/aqc.3619
Licence creative commons licence
Title (Primary) Stable isotopes reveal the importance of terrestrially derived resources for the diet of the freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera)
Author Brauns, M.; Berendonk, T.; Berg, S.; Grunicke, F.; Kneis, D.; Krenek, S.; Schiller, T.; Schneider, J.; Wagner, A.; Weitere, M.
Journal Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems
Year 2021
Department FLOEK
Volume 31
Issue 9
Page From 2496
Page To 2505
Language englisch
Topic T5 Future Landscapes
Keywords aquatic–terrestrial coupling; conservation; feeding ecology; mixing models; species conservation; stable isotope analysis
Abstract
  1. The freshwater pearl mussel (FPM) is among the most endangered freshwater species worldwide. The few remaining populations suffer from low recruitment rates and are subject to habitat fragmentation, pollution, siltation, decline or loss of host fish populations, and climate change.
  2. Successful conservation strategies for FPM require a holistic understanding of its ecological requirements, life history, population dynamics, and habitat prerequisites. Although habitat requirements are well described, food requirements at different life stages have received less attention.
  3. Stable isotope analyses of FPM and potential food resources in three German streams were combined with mixing model analysis to quantify organic matter resources assimilated by juvenile (first year after encystment from host fish) and semi-adult (10 years old, immature) individuals.
  4. There were only slight differences in dietary contributions between the two life stages, and terrestrial particulate organic matter and benthic organic matter contributed substantially to the diet. Tissue type was more important in explaining variation in dietary contributions than individual variation for semi-adult FPM. The strong reliance on terrestrial resources sheds new light on the functional role of unionid mussels and the connection of streams to their riparian area.
  5. The dependence of FPM on terrestrial resources also emphasizes the need for a stronger focus on the restoration and protection of intact riparian areas, including wetlands with their specific vegetation, when planning conservation and management strategies for threatened FPM populations.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=24757
Brauns, M., Berendonk, T., Berg, S., Grunicke, F., Kneis, D., Krenek, S., Schiller, T., Schneider, J., Wagner, A., Weitere, M. (2021):
Stable isotopes reveal the importance of terrestrially derived resources for the diet of the freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera)
Aquat. Conserv.-Mar. Freshw. Ecosyst. 31 (9), 2496 - 2505