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The worldwide decline in freshwater biodiversity due to rising anthropogenic pressures is of growing concern. Much evidence reveals that biodiversity loss and taxonomic homogenization results in loss of ecosystem functions. Understanding temporal and spatial patterns of biodiversity is, a major challenge in ecological conservation. Of all groups of threatened aquatic animals, freshwater mussels are responsible for critical trophic and non-trophic functions. Based on published inventories and field surveys, here we aim to evaluate whether freshwater mussel diversity, density and biomass has changed in the last 60 years, as well as the factors driving these patterns in different areas within the Poyang Lake basin, a global biodiversity hotspot in the middle reach of the Yangtze River. Results showed that alpha diversity has declined in the current period (2016–2020) as compared to diversity in the historical (1960–2003) and intermediate periods (2003–2014). Overall species richness declined by 28 % over 60 years. Density and biomass also declined by 79 % and 42 %, respectively. Population declines led to homogenization of freshwater mussel faunas. Additionally, there was a significant association between pH and alpha and beta diversity, suggesting that acidification related to intensive agriculture development may be one major factor behind mussel declines. In summary, this study provides new insights into the patterns and drivers of freshwater mussel population dynamics in the Poyang Lake basin. The results have implications for the design of freshwater protected areas to slow, and even reverse, current declines.

Abstract Accurate species identification is crucial for developing conservation strategies for freshwater mussels, one of the most imperiled faunas in the world. Traditionally, mussel species description primarily relied on conchological characters. However, shell morphology has great variability, which leads to the complexity of species delimitation. As endemic species to China, Lamprotula caveata was originally described by Heude (1877). Lamprotula quadrangulosus and Lamprotula contritus were considered for synonymization of L. caveata based on shell variants in the early 20th century, which has been long debated due to lack of rigorous molecular analysis. Moreover, great morphological variation caused doubt whether there are cryptic species. In this study, we used a combined phylogenetic and morphometric approach to verify the validity of the synonymization of L. caveata. The results of molecular species delimitation showed that two molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs) were identified in Lamprotula spp., including the L. leaii lineage and the complex lineage (L. quadrangulosa, L. cornuumlunae, L. contritus, and L. caveata). Phylogenetic analyses revealed that L. cornuumlunae formed a basal monophyletic clade, whose divergence time was relatively recent (4.26 Ma [95% HPD = 1.91–7.22 Ma]), and L. contritus, L. caveata, and L. quadrangulosa formed a large polytomy group with very shallow branches. In the previous study, we have demonstrated the validity of L. cornuumlunae. The molecular evidences supported that the complex (L. quadrangulosa + L. contritus + L. caveata) was a valid species; L. quadrangulosa and L. contritus were synonyms of L. caveata. In addition, three morphospecies (L. quadrangulosa, L. contritus, and L. caveata) were aggregated without clear differentiation based on shell morphometric analysis. We confirmed multiple phenotypes in L. caveata for species identification and presumed that the phenotypic plasticity was a response to specific habitats. This study clarified the diversity and phylogeny of the Lamprotula group, which is a crucial step for developing new conservation and management strategies for this imperiled group.

Abstract Freshwater mussels provide important functions and services for aquatic ecosystems, but populations of many species have been extirpated. Information on biodiversity plays an important role in the conservation and management of freshwater mussels. The Xin River Basin is a biodiversity hotspot for freshwater mussels in China, with more than 43 species known, but populations of which are decreasing. Here, we quantify the diversity of freshwater mussels in the middle and lower reaches of the Xin River Basin and study the correlation of habitat characteristics and freshwater mussel diversity. Compared to the historical period, the number of species, density, and biomass of freshwater mussels decreased 33%, 83%, and 82% in the current period, respectively. Fifty two percent of recorded species were empty shells, and 14 native freshwater mussels were not found in the study area. Four species are currently listed as vulnerable species using IUCN criteria and their global status. The assemblage structure of freshwater mussels exhibits significant spatial differences, and there was a correlation with substrate and physicochemical parameters. The main tributary of the Xin River with higher freshwater mussel diversity should be established as one large protected area because the nestedness component was the main pattern of beta diversity. These results indicated freshwater mussel diversity was declining rapidly, which can help focus conservation effort for freshwater mussel biodiversity.

The Yangtze River Basin (Changjiang Basin) hosts one of the most diverse freshwater mussel assemblages on Earth. However, due to human activities this fauna is dramatically imperiled in this region, highlighting the need for urgent conservation measures. To better protect and conserve these taxa, it is crucial to understand the main drivers that control the diversity patterns, as well as the anthropogenic influence on these patterns. Here, we estimated distinct diversity metrics (i.e. species richness and alpha, gamma, and beta diversity) to analyze the spatial freshwater mussel diversity changes across 16 tributaries and lakes from the middle and lower Yangtze River Basin, in two periods: past 1962–2012 and present. For the past, mussel records were compiled from previous studies, for the present, we surveyed 565 sites for freshwater mussel presence and abundance within the 16 selected areas. We also assessed several climatic and geographical parameters to try to identify the main factors that modulate species composition across the study area. We show that from the historical to the present periods, species diversity experienced a significant decrease, registering, per river/lake, an average of 5.4 extirpations of species native to China and 3.9 of the Yangtze River Basin endemics. The gamma diversity of the whole study area and the alpha diversity of each of the studied rivers and lakes have also decreased during this period. The beta diversity values indicated a significant trend towards taxonomic homogenization over the last decades. Poyang and Dongting Lakes should be considered for protection given due to their high diversity and species loss given that nestedness in these lakes represented the main component of beta diversity.