New mussel species discovered amidst rising threat to North America’s freshwater mussels
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Researchers from Shedd Aquarium, Arkansas State University, and the U.S. Geological Survey identified five new species of freshwater mussels in the rivers and streams of the Mississippi Embayment and Gulf coastal regions of North America.
The team spent 20 years collecting genetic samples from mussel beds, then analyzed the DNA to confirm the new species. These newly identified mussels, found in Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Missouri, Louisiana, and Texas, are Obovaria sipseyensis, Obovaria neeskaensis, Obovaria pinetorum, Obovaria tallahattae, and Obovaria lumbo.
Mussels play a crucial role in water quality by filtering water and removing carbon, and they create habitats for other marine life. Mussel farms increase species abundance around them by 3.6 times and diversity by 1.1 times. However, North America’s native freshwater mussels face increasing threats from invasive species like zebra mussels, which smother native colonies, as well as habitat loss and declining river health. Currently, approximately 70% of native North American mussel species are considered vulnerable, threatened, or endangered.
Identifying new species is important because it enables targeted conservation efforts. Researchers emphasize that protecting biodiversity requires recognizing all species, even those unknown to science.
