3.6 Freshwater Mussels
Research. Research topics that facilitate appropriate conservation actions include habitat use and preferences, reproductive behavior, fecundity, population dynamics and genetics, feeding, competition, and food web dynamics. Increased understanding of life histories and status helps determine the vulnerability of priority species to further imperilment, in addition to identifying possibilities for improved management and conservation. All stud- ies should provide recommendations for mitigation and restoration. Formal descriptions for known or putative undescribed species and investigations aimed at resolving taxo- nomic status are needed. • Support taxonomic resolution with completion of species descriptions for undescribed taxa and resolution of species complexes using DNA research. • Conduct research to facilitate appropriate conservation actions. Research should focus on life history studies of priority species. • Make pea clam species a research priority because there is little knowledge about them in North Carolina.
• Determine appropriate areas of suitable habitat for augmentation or restoration activities.
• Develop propagation techniques and protocols.
• Investigate host fsh relationships for all SGCN and priority species.
• Research into the impact of chemicals, especially pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and agrochemicals and their interaction, to all mussel life stages. Test chem- ical selection should be guided by chemical occurrence and class (representative com- pounds from various classes of pharmaceuticals, for example) (2015 email from T Augspurger to the authors; unreferenced, see “Notes”) . • Evaluate the infuence of suspended sediment and its associated contaminants, espe- cially metals, on mussels. Develop a standard test method for evaluating the quality of sediment on mussel survival, growth, and reproduction (2015 email from T Augspurger to the authors; unreferenced, see “Notes”) . • Investigate the interactions of pollutants and temperature (climate change), salinity (sea level rise), and lower dilution (altered fows) (2015 email from T Augspurger to the authors; unreferenced, see “Notes”) .
• Support genetic studies to help improve our understanding of the mussel genus Elliptio.
• Determine vulnerability of SGCN to guide permit regulations (moratoria).
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2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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