DEPRESSED RIVER MUSSEL (PSEUDANODONTA COMPLANATA)
LOCAL BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN

OBJECTIVES

Carry out surveys to establish the distribution of the species and the location of key populations.

NATIONAL TARGETS

1. Identify and maintain key populations by the year 2000
2. Research the ecology and habitat preferences of this species

LOCAL TARGETS

Targets awaited

CURRENT STATUS

This mussel is seriously threatened throughout its European range. In the UK since 1950 it has been recorded from 63 ten km squares in England and Wales - from Somerset through the Welsh borders to south Yorkshire. However, the species is easily overlooked and may be more common than thought. The UK probably has the healthiest populations in Europe, with the possible exception of Finland.

In 1999 Cambridge University found one site in the Cheshire region on the Shropshire Union Canal that has depressed river mussels.

The species has a national BAP included in the Biodiversity Steering Group Report (1995).

THREATS

The threats to this species are not fully known.

Water pollution.
Physical disturbance of river banks and channels.
Drought.
Collection of individuals for garden ponds and aquaria.

CURRENT ACTION

None

ACTION REQUIRED IN 2006+

Seek to identify key sites throughout the region and ensure that suitable habitat is maintained within them.
Seek to ensure that flood defence and dredging activities take account of the requirements of the species.
Identify water quality requirements for the mussel and seek to maintain favourable water quality at key sites.
Pass information gathered during survey and monitoring of the species to JNCC or BRC so that it can be incorporated in national databases.

ACTION COMPLETED PREVIOUSLY

Cambridge University have produced a report on the 1999 survey for this species across the country.
CWT have made contact with British Waterways over proposed dredging of sections of the Shropshire Union Canal.
CWT carried out limited searches of the dredgings from the Wardle straights area to no avail.

ACTUAL LBAP IMPLEMENTERS

British Waterways	Cheshire Wildlife Trust	rECOrd
Cambridge University

OTHER POTENTIAL IMPLEMENTERS

BRC	JNCC	Local groups and individuals
Cheshire County Council	Landowners ands managers
Environment Agency	Life ECOnet Project

CONTACT

Cheshire Wildlife Trust
Phone: 01270 610180
Fax: 01270 610430

REFERENCES

HMSO (1995): Biodiversity: The UK Steering Group Report, Volume 1: Meeting the Rio Challenge, London.
HMSO (1995): Biodiversity: The UK Steering Group Report, Volume 2:Action Plans, London.

Date compiled - 2000
Date reviewed - 2001, 2002