Publication
Refuge in the sāqya: Irrigation canals as habitat for one of the world's 100 most threatened species
| dc.contributor.author | Sousa, Ronaldo | |
| dc.contributor.author | Teixeira, Amílcar | |
| dc.contributor.author | Benaissa, Hassan | |
| dc.contributor.author | Varandas, Simone | |
| dc.contributor.author | Ghamizi, Mohamed | |
| dc.contributor.author | Lopes-Lima, Manuel | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2018-02-19T10:00:00Z | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2020-01-06T14:09:48Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2018-01-19T10:00:00Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2020-01-06T14:09:48Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2019 | |
| dc.description.abstract | Anthropogenic habitats may function as a refuge for some species, including freshwater mussels (Bivalvia, Unionida). In this study we assessed possible differences in density, size and condition index of the Moroccan freshwater pearl mussel Pseudunio marocanus (Pallary, 1918), formerly Margaritifera marocana, colonizing anthropogenic (sāqya=irrigation canal) and natural (Bouhlou River) habitats in Morocco. Results showed that the individuals colonizing the irrigation canal located on the left bank have a significantly higher density and condition index when compared to natural conditions, but no differences were found regarding size. Since this species is listed as critically endangered by the IUCN, being also considered among the 100 most endangered organisms in the planet, the presence of P. marocanus in anthropogenic habitats has high conservation importance. In fact, and despite no Moroccan freshwater pearl mussels were found on the irrigation canal located in the right bank, the one located on the left bank present stable conditions for the settlement of juveniles and, if managed carefully, for the future survival of the species. However, local authorities reported frequent dredging and cleaning activities by local farmers on this sāqya without any special attention devoted to Moroccan freshwater pearl mussels (or any other species) conservation. Therefore, the results reported here can be used by scientists, managers, politicians and local people to promote future management actions that enhance the Moroccan freshwater pearl mussel protection and guarantee their future survival, including on anthropogenic habitats. | |
| dc.description.sponsorship | This study was conducted within the scope of project «Biodiversity and conservation of the critically endangered freshwater mussels in Morocco: ecogeographic, genetic and physiological information», funded by Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund (Reference 15256799) and project «Breeding the most endangered bivalve on Earth: Margaritifera marocana», funded by IUCN SOS save our species fund (Reference 2015B-015). MLL was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) grant number SFRH/BD/ 115728/2016. We acknowledge Joana Garrido Nogueira for the help preparing the Figures. We also acknowledge the editor Dr. Amanda Bates and three anonymous referees for the helpful suggestions. | |
| dc.description.version | info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion | en_EN |
| dc.identifier.citation | Sousa, Ronaldo; Teixeira, Amílcar; Benaissa, Hassan; Varandas, Simone; Ghamizi, Mohamed; Lopes-Lima, Manuel (2019). Refuge in the sāqya: Irrigation canals as habitat for one of the world's 100 most threatened species. Biological Conservation. ISSN 0006-3207. 238, p. 1-6 | en_EN |
| dc.identifier.doi | 10.1016/j.biocon.2019.108209 | en_EN |
| dc.identifier.issn | 0006-3207 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10198/20249 | |
| dc.language.iso | eng | |
| dc.peerreviewed | yes | en_EN |
| dc.subject | Anthropogenic ecosystems | en_EN |
| dc.subject | Climate change | en_EN |
| dc.subject | Condition index | en_EN |
| dc.subject | Freshwater mussels | en_EN |
| dc.subject | Unionida | en_EN |
| dc.title | Refuge in the sāqya: Irrigation canals as habitat for one of the world's 100 most threatened species | en_EN |
| dc.type | journal article | |
| dspace.entity.type | Publication | |
| person.familyName | Teiga Teixeira | |
| person.givenName | Amilcar António | |
| person.identifier | 2153193 | |
| person.identifier.ciencia-id | 9510-3CF3-0393 | |
| person.identifier.orcid | 0000-0001-5336-1174 | |
| person.identifier.scopus-author-id | 7202385393 | |
| rcaap.rights | openAccess | en_EN |
| rcaap.type | article | en_EN |
| relation.isAuthorOfPublication | 4f0753fd-4b4f-46f6-8e2f-20c7f835a32a | |
| relation.isAuthorOfPublication.latestForDiscovery | 4f0753fd-4b4f-46f6-8e2f-20c7f835a32a |