Scientists in Parks intern for the Midwest Regional Office
North American native freshwater mussels have experienced sustained population declines and numerous regional extirpations due in part to habitat loss, overexploitation, and fragmentation. Mussel conservation has traditionally focused on individual species and singular water bodies. However, large-scale projects to address catchment-wide issues are in development and primarily focused on habitat restoration. To identify Midwest parks for inclusion in regional collaborations, species occurrence records were collated from regional archives and international biodiversity databases. Summaries of relevant output were targeted toward park managers and interpretive staff, for the purposes of guiding mussel protection and restoration, and informing public outreach and understanding.
