Oyster Mussel
© Arthur E. Bogan, North Carolina State Museum of Natural Sciences
Species of the Day: Oyster Mussel The Oyster Mussel, Epioblasma capsaeformis, is listed as ‘Critically Endangered’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™. Once widespread across four southeastern US states, this freshwater mussel is now found only in a small number of streams and rivers in Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia. Geographical range
www.iucnredlist.org Help Save Species www.arkive.org
Human modifications to rivers and streams, including channel modifications, pollution, and water impoundments, have had a serious impact on this species and its habitat. In addition to affecting water flow and quality, they have produced barriers to dispersal, and by the year 2000 the Oyster Mussel had undergone an estimated 80% population decline. The small, isolated populations that remain are also under increased risk of being wiped out by isolated events such as chemical spills. A Recovery Plan in place for the Oyster Mussel recommends protecting remaining populations and habitat, establishing additional populations, improving habitat quality, and undertaking further research into the species. Techniques are also being developed for artificial rearing, with the ultimate aim of reintroducing the species into parts of its historical range.
Species of the Day is sponsored by
The production of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is made possible through the IUCN Red List Partnership: IUCN (including the Species Survival Commission), BirdLife International, Conservation International, NatureServe and Zoological Society of London.
Species of the Day: Oyster Mussel The Oyster Mussel, Epioblasma capsaeformis, is listed as ‘Critically Endangered’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™. Once widespread across four southeastern US states, this freshwater mussel is now found only in a small number of streams and rivers in Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia. Geographical range
www.iucnredlist.org Help Save Species www.arkive.org
Human modifications to rivers and streams, including channel modifications, pollution, and water impoundments, have had a serious impact on this species and its habitat. In addition to affecting water flow and quality, they have produced barriers to dispersal, and by the year 2000 the Oyster Mussel had undergone an estimated 80% population decline. The small, isolated populations that remain are also under increased risk of being wiped out by isolated events such as chemical spills. A Recovery Plan in place for the Oyster Mussel recommends protecting remaining populations and habitat, establishing additional populations, improving habitat quality, and undertaking further research into the species. Techniques are also being developed for artificial rearing, with the ultimate aim of reintroducing the species into parts of its historical range.
Species of the Day is sponsored by
The production of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is made possible through the IUCN Red List Partnership: IUCN (including the Species Survival Commission), BirdLife International, Conservation International, NatureServe and Zoological Society of London.
