From the Swiss Blue Community Eawag – Aquatic Research Institute:
Diversity beneath the shell
Native freshwater mussels are among the most endangered animal groups in the world. Their populations are also declining in Switzerland. Yet, as natural water filters, they play a vital role in our water bodies. To protect them, we need to study them more closely, but this is difficult as many species are almost impossible to distinguish morphologically. A study by the aquatic research institute Eawag shows that genetic data could provide a valuable basis for this.
