Webinar – February 14 – Native Freshwater Mussel Research

USGS Science Vision for Native Freshwater Mussel Research in the United States
Wednesday, February 14, 2024
2:00 pm Eastern Time

Registration is now open!

North America is a global center for native freshwater mussel diversity. Mussels are among the most imperiled fauna on the planet. Over the past three decades, there has been substantial research on mussels, however, there are still substantial information gaps that limit conservation and management efforts. We developed a science vision to identify research that is relevant to the USGS mission and meets the needs of resource partners. We identified three focal research themes that will inform conservation and management decisions and make efficient use of available resources. Research on biodiversity seeks to enhance the diversity of mussel species and populations to support healthy aquatic ecosystems. Research on emerging stressors seeks to improve the understanding of how mussel species, populations, and communities respond to emerging stressors, including contaminants and climate change. Research on conservation seeks to enhance the recovery of species and populations and to identify data gaps limiting the conservation of mussels and their habitats. Given the breadth and scope of the issues facing mussels, this research can only be accomplished through extensive collaborations between USGS and the full spectrum of natural resource partners, including other federal agencies, state agencies, tribal organizations, universities, industry, non-governmental organizations, and the public. In our FY24 rollout of the science vision, we are looking to develop new collaborative opportunities across USGS and our partners.

Presented by:
David Hu
USGS Ecosystems Mission Area

Nathan Johnson
USGS Wetland & Aquatic Research Center

Teresa Newton
USGS Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center