3.6 Freshwater Mussels
biomass and exert control over the structure of an aquatic community (Vaughn and Hakenkamp 2001) , as demonstrated in locations that have large populations of the nonnative Asian Clam.
Most mussel species have a complex life history that includes a reproductive pro- cess dependent on an obligate larva para- site on fsh called a glochidium, which has important ramifcations for many aspects of mussel ecology and conservation (Layzer and Scott 2006) . Recolonization is dependent on the successful parasitizing of a host fsh and subsequent movement of the infected host fsh into water that provides suitable habi- tat for the mussel (Layzer and Scott 2006) . Many freshwater mussels have undergone dras-
Brook Floater (Brena Jones, NCWRC)
tic declines and many are predicted to go extinct in the next few decades (Eckblad and Lehtinen 1991; Bogan 1993; Neves 1993; Shannon et al. 1993; Wilson et al. 1995; Neves et al. 1997; Vaughn and Taylor 1999; Vaughn and Hakenkamp 2001) . A list of freshwater mussel SGCN is provided in Table 3.16 and the Mussell Taxa Team eval- uation results can be found in Appendix G. River basin and habitat associations for these species can be found in Appendix H. Conservation recommendations for the associated habitats have been incorporated into the natural community descriptions in Chapter 4. Additional recommendations can be found in the river basin descriptions (Section 4.5). Te following paragraphs provide infor- mation about species identifed by the Mussel Taxa Team as SGCN or a priority species for research or management, and for which work has been conducted to implement conserva- tion and management recommendations. 3.6.2 Comparison of 2005 and 2015 Priority Species Te 2015 evaluation identifed a total of 49 species as conservation concern, knowledge gap, or management concern priorities. Some species may be considered a priority in more than one of the evaluation categories (see Appendix G). Of those species, 31 were identifed as SGCN and another 12 were designated research priorities. In comparison, the 2005 WAP listed 43 freshwater mussels as priority species, which may have included species for which there were knowledge gaps. However, the 2005 Taxa Team evaluations did not identify knowledge gaps or management concerns as separate priorities.
103
2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online