Channels and ditches as the last shelter for freshwater mussels: the case of Margaritifera auricularia and other naiads inhabiting the mid Ebro River Basin, Spain.

The article presents a study on the channel or ditch habitat as a sanctuary for naiads and its significance of this habitat for the long-term conservation of these bivalves. Several waterways fed by the mid Ebro River in Spain were sampled for naiad populations monitoring. Corresponding stretches of the waterways were meticulously inspected for mussel richness and density and the number of specimens per square meter were calculated. Results show that channel or ditch habitat harbour significant colonies of freshwater mussels.