Europe has a long history of human pressure on freshwater ecosystems. As pressure
continues to grow and new threats emerge, there is an urgent need for conservation
of freshwater biodiversity and its ecosystem services. However, whilst some taxonomic
groups, mainly vertebrates, have received a disproportionate amount of attention and
funds, other groups remain largely off the public and scientific radar. Freshwater mussels
(Bivalvia, Unionida) are an alarming example of this conservation bias and here we point
out six conceptual areas that need immediate and long-term attention: knowledge, threats,
socioeconomics, conservation, governance and education. The proposed roadmap aims to
advance research, policy and education by identifying the most pressing priorities for the
short- and long-term conservation of freshwater mussels across Europe.
This article is derived from COST Action CA18239, supported by COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology).
