POPULATION SIZE, STRUCTURE AND DISTRIBUTION OF AN UNEXPLOITED FRESHWATER PEARL MUSSEL MARGARITIFERA MARGARITIFERA (L.) POPULATION IN SCOTLAND

摘要

All published studies into Scottish populations of the globally threatened and endangered freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritffera have taken place on exploited (pearl fished) populations. In 2013, detailed studies took place on a large and unexploited freshwater pearl mussel population present in a small, remote Scottish river. This paper outlines the results of this study and compares the size, structure and distribution of this unexploited population with those from exploited Scottish populations.