Chapter 3 North Carolina Species
3.6.4 Knowledge Gaps Species for which the Freshwater Mussel Taxa Team determined there are research priorities because of knowledge gaps are included in Table 3-4 Freshwater Mussel SGCN and Other Priority Species (see Appendix 3). There are 28 species identified as research priorities because there are knowledge gaps. Progress toward species recovery depends on knowledge about species distribution patterns as well as a clear understanding of habitat and life history requirements of species (Flebbe and Herrig 2000) . We have limited knowledge and data regarding freshwater mussels compared to other taxa. Accurate distribution information is still lacking for some species, as is work related to fish host identification, ecology (both of individual species and among communities of organisms), and basic systematics (genetics, taxonomy, and morphology). Extensive monitoring of populations is generally lacking. Since the first comprehensive list of freshwater mussels for North America was compiled by Turgeon et al. (1998) , rigorous phylogenetic studies based on quantifiable, heritable attributes, such as DNA sequence data, have been needed for scientifically defensible estimates of North American mussel diversity (Lydeard and Roe 1998) . Recent efforts have yielded departures from traditional classifications, and molecular studies have uncovered a high degree of cryptic variation not reflected by shell morphology. As noted by Williams et al. (2017) , classification and phylogenetic studies will evolve as more data are collected, and new genetic techniques are developed and accepted for research. A revised list of freshwater mussels for the Order Unionida, Families Margaritiferidae and Unionidae resulted from taxonomic studies reported by Williams et al. (2017). This work recognized several revisions to phylogeny, including recognition of new species and subspecies and elevation of numerous species and subspecies being elevated to species from synonomy. Some of the revisions were for species that occur in North Carolina. In summary, the study shows:
• Unionidae has 54 genera represented by 293 species. Revisions for species in North Carolina include the following:
o Three new genera ( Hamiota, Parvaspina, Reginaia ) (Roe et al. 2005, Campbell and Lydeard 2012, Perkins et al. 2017). Currently only Parvaspina occurs in North Carolina. o Four genera are elevated to species from synonomy ( Eurynia, Pleuronaia, Theliderma, Utterbackiana ). Of these, Eurynia, Pleuronaia , and Utterbackiana occur in the state.
These studies show that several currently recognized species include multiple evolutionary units (Mulvey et al. 1997; Roe and Lydeard 1998; King et al. 1999; Jones et al. 2006; Serb 2006, Williams et al. 2017) ,
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2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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