Nature Conservation 2/2009 — 21. 4. 2009 — Research, Surveys and Data Management — Print article in pdf
Notes on the Thick Shelled River Mussel (Unio crassus) Conservation in the Czech Republic – Problems
současný stav, problémy a aktuality
The Thick Shelled River Mussel (Unio crassus) is a declining European species listed in ...
The Thick Shelled River Mussel (Unio crassus) is a declining European species listed in Annexes II and IV of the European Community’s Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, commonly known as the Habitats Directive. Thirteen Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) were identified for its protection in the Czech Republic. Results of the monitoring coordinated by the Agency for Nature Conservation and Landscape Protection of the Czech Republic, however, showed inadequate or bad status of the species. Populations are isolated, dispersed and inhabit only small fraction of its former distribution range. Moreover, extensive die-offs (attributed probably to water pollution), habitat destruction and severe predation pressure by invasive mammals have been documented in recent years. It seems to be evident that the present approach to water quality protection, fish stock management and stream channel maintenance works at the SACs will not lead to achieving the Unio crassus favourable conservation status in the Czech Republic and even there is a high extirpation risk at some sites. Despite of increasing knowledge of the species ecology and requirements of this species, general conservation strategy is lacking and no management measures have been carried out. There is an urgent need to prepare management plans, which will help to improve the Unio crassus conservation status in the Czech Republic.