Ecosystem services provided by freshwater mussels

Ecosystem services are the benefits that humans derive from ecosystems. Freshwater mussels perform many important functions in aquatic ecosystems, which can in turn be framed as the ecosystem services that they contribute to or provide. These include supporting services such as nutrient recycling an...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Hydrobiologia 2018-03, Vol.810 (1), p.15-27
Main Author: Vaughn, Caryn C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aquatic ecosystems
Biofilters
Biofiltration
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Ecology
Ecosystem services
Ecosystems
Environmental conditions
Environmental monitoring
Environmental quality
Food chains
Food sources
Food webs
Foods
Freshwater
Freshwater & Marine Ecology
Freshwater Bivalves
Freshwater ecosystems
Freshwater molluscs
Inland water environment
Jewelry
Life Sciences
Mineral nutrients
Mollusks
Mussels
Policies
Provisioning
Purification
Recycling
Service restoration
Storage
Substrates
Water purification
Watersheds
Zoology
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Summary:Ecosystem services are the benefits that humans derive from ecosystems. Freshwater mussels perform many important functions in aquatic ecosystems, which can in turn be framed as the ecosystem services that they contribute to or provide. These include supporting services such as nutrient recycling and storage, structural habitat, substrate and food web modification, and use as environmental monitors; regulating services such as water purification (biofiltration); and provisioning and cultural services including use as a food source, as tools and jewelry, and for spiritual enhancement. Mussel-provided ecosystem services are declining because of large declines in mussel abundance. Mussel propagation could be used to restore populations of common mussel species and their ecosystem services. We need much more quantification of the economic, social, and ecological value and magnitude of ecosystem services provided by mussels, across species, habitats, and environmental conditions, and scaled up to whole watersheds. In addition, we need tools that will allow us to value mussel ecosystem services in a way that is understandable to both the public and to policy makers.
ISSN:0018-8158
1573-5117
DOI:10.1007/s10750-017-3139-x