RT Journal Article
T1 Captive breeding of European freshwater mussels as a conservation tool : A review
T2 Revisión de la cría en cautividad de mejillones de agua dulce europeos como herramienta de conservación
A1 Geist, Juergen
A1 Thielen, Frankie
A1 Lavictoire, Louise
A1 Hoess, Rebecca
A1 Altmueller, Reinhard
A1 Baudrimont, Magalie
A1 Blaize, Christine
A1 Campos, Miquel
A1 Caroll, Paul
A1 Daill, Daniel
A1 Degelmann, Wolfgang
A1 Dettmer, Reiner
A1 Denic, Marko
A1 Duri, Pierrick
A1 De Eyto, Elvira
A1 Grunicke, Felix
A1 Gumpinger, Clemens
A1 Jakobsen, Per J.
A1 Kaldma, Katrin
A1 Klaas, Kunnar
A1 Legeay, Alexia
A1 Mageroy, Jon Hamner
A1 Moorkens, Evelyn
A1 Motte, Gregory
A1 Nakamura, Keiko
A1 Ondina Navarret, María Paz
A1 Österling, Martin
A1 Pichler-Scheder, Christian
A1 Spisar, Ondrej
A1 Reis, Joaquim
A1 Schneider, Lea D.
A1 Schwarzer, Arno
A1 Selheim, Heidi
A1 Soler, Joaquim
A1 Taskinen, Jouni
A1 Taylor, John
A1 Wengström, Niklas
A1 Zając, Tadeusz
K1 Aquaculture
K1 Captive breeding
K1 Conservation translocation
K1 Freshwater mussel culturing
K1 Margaritifera margaritifera
K1 Propagation
K1 Reintroduction
K1 Unio crassus
AB Freshwater mussels are declining throughout their range. Their important ecological functions along with insufficient levels of natural recruitment have prompted captive breeding for population augmentation and questions about the usefulness and applicability of such measures. This article reviews the current state of captive breeding and rearing programmes for freshwater mussels in Europe. It considers the various species, strategies, and techniques of propagation, as well as the different levels of effort required according to rearing method, highlighting the key factors of success. Within the last 30 years, 46 breeding activities in 16 European countries have been reported, mainly of Margaritifera margaritifera and Unio crassus. Some facilities propagate species that are in a very critical situation, such as Pseudunio auricularius, Unio mancus, and Unio ravoisieri, or multiple species concurrently. In some streams, the number of released captive-bred mussels already exceeds the size of the remaining natural population.Rearing efforts range from highly intensive laboratory incubation to lower intensity methods using in-river mussel cages or silos. Most breeding efforts are funded by national and EU LIFE(+) grants, are well documented, and consider the genetic integrity of the propagated mussels. Limited long-term funding perspectives, the availability of experienced staff, water quality, and feeding/survival during early life stages are seen as the most important challenges.Successful captive breeding programmes need to be combined with restoration of the habitats into which the mussels are released. This work will benefit from an evidence-based approach, knowledge exchange among facilities, and an overall breeding strategy comprising multiple countries and conservation units.
PB John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
YR 2023
FD 2023
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10347/31942
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10347/31942
LA eng
NO Geist, J., Thielen, F., Lavictoire, L.,Hoess, R., Altmueller, R., Baudrimont, M. et al. (2023). Captive breeding of European freshwater mussels as a conservation tool: A review. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and FreshwaterEcosystems, 33(11), 1321–1359.
NO This publication is based upon work from COST Action CA18239,supported by COST (European Cooperation in Science andTechnology)
DS Minerva
RD 23 abr 2026