USFWS Conservation Biology of Freshwater Mussels in West Virginia

[Marsha May]

The National Conservation Training Center and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will provide the 4th offering of Conservation Biology of Freshwater Mussels this summer (August 3 - 7, 2015). This course is team taught by Dr. Chris Barnhart and Heidi Dunn.

 

This is an introductory course on the biology and ecology of freshwater mussels and the conservation issues facing this highly endangered group of animals. Topics to be covered include anatomy, physiology, life history, health, ecosystem services, mussels as biomonitors, conservation status, population impacts, conservation measures (relocation, propagation, conservation genetics), legal issues (permits and the ESA, Section 7 consultations, critical habitat) and field techniques (survey techniques, sampling techniques, habitat assessment). This course will address key characters for identification of freshwater mussels and will provide opportunities in the laboratory to practice with dichotomous keys, however due to time constraints and the regional nature of mussel assemblages; this is NOT a mussel identification course.

 

For more information and instructions on how to register, please see the attached pdf.