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Meeting ID: 996 9575 7809 | Password: INHS1858
Freshwater mussels are among the most imperiled groups of animals worldwide. However, mussel conservation efforts are hindered by limited understanding of their ecology, distributions, and habitat requirements. Here we developed models for 85 mussel species, estimated species richness, identified important predictors influencing their occurrences, and characterize spatial patterns in mussel biodiversity across 11 Midwestern states. Our findings increase understanding of mussel ecology and distributions, as well as environmental drivers of their occurrences in the study region. Together, our results will inform the development of regional initiatives for conserving freshwater mussel biodiversity in the Midwestern US.
