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<p>Freshwater mussels (Order Unionoida) are widespread across intermittent to perennial waterbodies on every continent except Antarctica. Their aquatic ecosystem roles span filtration, nutrient cycling, linking food webs, and habitat provision. They alter energy exchange between water column and sediments and enhance benthic productivity, which has led to them being described as ‘ecosystem engineers.’ They are also a significant food and cultural resource to many communities globally. Freshwater mussels are threatened by climate change and anthropogenic alteration of aquatic ecosystems, undergoing drastic population declines and at least 21 species extinctions. It remains uncertain how the decline of this important invertebrate filter feeder may affect aquatic ecosystems. We conducted a broad examination of the literature using a text mining and topic modelling approach to identify key research themes within freshwater mussel ecology, knowledge gaps and areas of taxonomic and geographical bias. Our current understanding of freshwater mussels as ecosystem engineers draws heavily from studies on taxa from North America and Europe, namely Unionidae and Margaritiferidae. However, our case study on Hyriidae, which inhabit Australasia and South America, found compelling evidence that Hyriid mussels also function as ecosystem engineers. They are powerful filter feeders, modulate water quality, alter planktonic and benthic community composition and productivity, and add physical structure to habitats. They exhibit remarkable flexibility in diet and habitat, leaving many questions on ecological roles in different contexts. Managing aquatic systems to benefit freshwater mussels would be an important step to safeguard populations and associated ecosystem benefits, particularly in Australia and other regions where mussels have infrequently been considered.</p>

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Ecology of freshwater mussels, ecosystem engineers: a global review with focus on Hyriidae

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2026年6月19日

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  • Michelle J. Hobbs,
  • Songyan Yu,
  • Mark J. Kennard,
  • Fran Sheldon

摘要

Freshwater mussels (Order Unionoida) are widespread across intermittent to perennial waterbodies on every continent except Antarctica. Their aquatic ecosystem roles span filtration, nutrient cycling, linking food webs, and habitat provision. They alter energy exchange between water column and sediments and enhance benthic productivity, which has led to them being described as ‘ecosystem engineers.’ They are also a significant food and cultural resource to many communities globally. Freshwater mussels are threatened by climate change and anthropogenic alteration of aquatic ecosystems, undergoing drastic population declines and at least 21 species extinctions. It remains uncertain how the decline of this important invertebrate filter feeder may affect aquatic ecosystems. We conducted a broad examination of the literature using a text mining and topic modelling approach to identify key research themes within freshwater mussel ecology, knowledge gaps and areas of taxonomic and geographical bias. Our current understanding of freshwater mussels as ecosystem engineers draws heavily from studies on taxa from North America and Europe, namely Unionidae and Margaritiferidae. However, our case study on Hyriidae, which inhabit Australasia and South America, found compelling evidence that Hyriid mussels also function as ecosystem engineers. They are powerful filter feeders, modulate water quality, alter planktonic and benthic community composition and productivity, and add physical structure to habitats. They exhibit remarkable flexibility in diet and habitat, leaving many questions on ecological roles in different contexts. Managing aquatic systems to benefit freshwater mussels would be an important step to safeguard populations and associated ecosystem benefits, particularly in Australia and other regions where mussels have infrequently been considered.