New video tells the story about the freshwater pearl mussel and LIFE Revives -project

The animated character ’Maggie’ tells the freshwater pearl mussel’s (FPM) and LIFE Revives project’s story on a new video. Even though Maggie is just a small mollusc animal, it maintains good water quality by filtering up to 50 litres of water a day. It remains vital for many species and ecosystems, for that reason it’s vital to protect this endangered mussel. This protection also advances the preservation of other species and nature’s diversity. A good status for FPM waters and vitality for salmonid populations bring positive impacts to the area along camping and fishing, which further support local economies.
Maggie raakku (Kuva: Kuvitustaikurit (Tussitaikurit Oy / Marker Wizards Ltd).
LIFE Revives gives hope to freshwater pearl mussel. Picture: Kuvitustaikurit (Tussitaikurit Oy / Marker Wizards Ltd).
Published
13.11.2023

Learn more on the important little freshwater pearl mussel and LIFE Revives -project on a new video at  (in english),  (in swedish),  (in estonian),  (in finnish). 

Human actions a threat to freshwater pearl mussels

Pearl hunting was going to be the fate of the freshwater pearl mussel, or FPM, (Margaritifera margaritifera). As per its name, a small number of freshwater pearl mussels produce inside of them a pearl which builds around a sand fragment over decades. FPM populations are luckily recovering from past pearl hunting, but environmental changes have been fateful for the species. Damming for hydropower, clearing rivers, and bottom siltation caused by swamp- and forest draining have also periled salmonid fish which are important for the FPMs. Even though the species can live up to 200-years old, it can before long disappear entirely.

-  The story of the FPM however is not finished yet. The LIFE Revives -project, coordinated by the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥, attempts to improve the current status of freshwater pearl mussels. The project restores catchment areas to secure the FPMs’ recruitment. Gravel areas are being built into rivers for salmonid fish to spawn in and migration barriers are being removed, explains the head of project Jouni Taskinen from the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥â€™s department of biological and environmental science. 

Research effort at the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ saving the FPM

A total of five doctoral dissertations have been made, and are being made, at the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ on the freshwater pearl mussel and its conservation. Through research protecting the species has advanced considerably. In conditions where the reproduction of FPM is not possible, the FPM’s reproduction is helped in laboratory conditions. FPMs are being cared for at the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥â€™s Konnevesi Research station with daily serving of phytoplankton, 12 degree Celsius running water and seasonally appropriate lighting. The spa-like conditions are meant to rehabilitate the endangered, even over 100-year-old FPMs, to be capable of reproduction. 

- In addition to captive breeding one of the research focus points has been the rehabilitation of older individuals and FPM habitat requirements. For example, how juveniles behave and how they tolerate low oxygen or high temperatures. We have been able to establish these foundational issues with the LIFE Revives -project, says Taskinen joyfully. 

The European Commission funded LIFE Revives -project improves freshwater pearl mussel (FPM) and its host fish (salmon and trout) habitats in Finland, Sweden and Estonia. The 6-year LIFE Revives -project (2021-2027) is coordinated by the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ and its budget is almost 16 million euros. 

Additional information: 

YouTube -videos: 

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