International freshwater mussel workshop in Dresden

Freshwater mussels: Search for resettlement habitats and evaluation of protection measures

Monday 25th March – Wednesday 27th March 2019, Dresden, Germany

Freshwater mussels were previously abundant species in the waters of Germany. For several decades mussel stocks decreased dramatically. Some of the current mussel stocks are immediately threatened. The remaining populations are isolated, overaged relict populations with low genetic diversity due to lack of reproduction.

The workshop is organized within the joint project ArKoNaVera (Implementation of regional protective measures and development of a new national conversation program for priority species: Freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) and Painter's mussel (Unio pictorum). For further information: http://www.flussmuscheln.de/en/). The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety.

The workshop aims to present latest techniques and methods for identification and characterization of suitable mussel habitats, identifying indicators for optimal habitats for resettlement of endangered freshwater mussels. To develop a more generalized decision tool it is very important to identify best habitats or analyze efficient and cost effective restoration measures to improve potential habitats. For the prospects of success to establish functional mussel stocks in natural waters suitable methods for evaluation of both, protective and resettlement measures are essential. During the workshop different approaches of a decision tool as well as evaluation methods are to be presented and discussed. see conference web page for details