A new report focuses on freshwater mussels: researchers have carefully studied this particular species, but the work
Mussels play an important role in cleaning the waters of many rivers and lakes around the world, but are under threat. One of the new methods for their conservation is to relocate populations that are under threat.
Parasitic worm that feeds on gonadsRhipidocotyle campanula has proven to be very dangerous for mussels. And when they move to other larger groups, the parasite can move to the rest: one infected mussel is enough to spread this parasite.
We need to be much more careful when moving animals to new locations for conservation purposes because the costs may outweigh the benefits.
David Aldridge, a doctor from the Department of Zoology at the University of Cambridge, is the senior author of the report.
In extreme cases, pathogens can lead to a complete collapse of the mussel population.
The report recommends that the views moveonly when absolutely necessary, and quarantine periods specifically designed to stop transmission of the most likely transmitted pathogens were used.
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