TY - JOUR
T1 - Review of the systematics and global diversity of freshwater mussel species (Bivalvia: Unionoida)
AU - Graf, Daniel L.
AU - Cummings, Kevin S.
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was supported by collaborative NSF-REVSYS grants to DLG (DEB-0316125) and KSC (DEB-0316488). Drafts of this article were read and critically appraised by Nancy Shefferly, Jon Gelhaus, Gary Rosenberg, Kevin Roe and two anonymous reviewers. Tim Hayes constructed the basic map elements of Figure 1 and helped us make our first pass at determining species distributions, and Mark Sabaj and John Lundberg helped us sort out Neotropical distribution patterns. Katie Vazquez provided invaluable assistance in numerous capacities. We thank them for their efforts to improve this paper, but we are alone responsible for any errors of proofreading or fact.
PY - 2007/11
Y1 - 2007/11
N2 - Freshwater mussels (Bivalvia: Unionoida) are interesting because of their unique life cycles, global aggregate distribution and ancient origin. They are also of practical importance due to their worldwide, imperiled status. Of utmost utility for their continued study are a modern assessment of global and regional species diversity and a natural classification that reflects phylogenetic patterns. The freshwater malacological community has taken steps toward satisfying the latter of these requirements, but a consensus census of mussel species has not been published since Fritz Haas's revisions of the late 1960s. We set out to describe the species-level diversity of the Unionoida by reviewing the secondary literature and developing a comprehensive taxonomic database. Each valid species was assigned to one or more geographical regions (i.e. Nearctica, Neotropica, Afrotropica, Palearctica, Indotropica and Australasia) and one or more subregions, and each valid genus was assigned to the lowest possible level in a classification derived from our own, recent phylogenetic analyses. Based upon a consensus of numerous regional works, our global estimate of freshwater mussel diversity is 840 species. Regional diversity was determined as follows: Nearctica: 302 spp., Neotropica: 172, Afrotropica: 85, Palearctica: 45, Indotropica: 219 and Australasia: 33. The largest family is the Unionidae, with 674 species. However, the classification of that taxon is currently in flux, and many genera (corresponding to 225 spp.) were assigned to incertae sedis geographical assemblages. Diversity patterns are discussed, and it is suggested that reevaluation of these faunas with modern methods will likely increase recognized species diversity, especially on the southern continents. Our checklist and classification of freshwater mussel species is included as an appendix and mirrored on the MUSSEL Project Web Site (http://www.mussel-project.net/).
AB - Freshwater mussels (Bivalvia: Unionoida) are interesting because of their unique life cycles, global aggregate distribution and ancient origin. They are also of practical importance due to their worldwide, imperiled status. Of utmost utility for their continued study are a modern assessment of global and regional species diversity and a natural classification that reflects phylogenetic patterns. The freshwater malacological community has taken steps toward satisfying the latter of these requirements, but a consensus census of mussel species has not been published since Fritz Haas's revisions of the late 1960s. We set out to describe the species-level diversity of the Unionoida by reviewing the secondary literature and developing a comprehensive taxonomic database. Each valid species was assigned to one or more geographical regions (i.e. Nearctica, Neotropica, Afrotropica, Palearctica, Indotropica and Australasia) and one or more subregions, and each valid genus was assigned to the lowest possible level in a classification derived from our own, recent phylogenetic analyses. Based upon a consensus of numerous regional works, our global estimate of freshwater mussel diversity is 840 species. Regional diversity was determined as follows: Nearctica: 302 spp., Neotropica: 172, Afrotropica: 85, Palearctica: 45, Indotropica: 219 and Australasia: 33. The largest family is the Unionidae, with 674 species. However, the classification of that taxon is currently in flux, and many genera (corresponding to 225 spp.) were assigned to incertae sedis geographical assemblages. Diversity patterns are discussed, and it is suggested that reevaluation of these faunas with modern methods will likely increase recognized species diversity, especially on the southern continents. Our checklist and classification of freshwater mussel species is included as an appendix and mirrored on the MUSSEL Project Web Site (http://www.mussel-project.net/).
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U2 - 10.1093/mollus/eym029
DO - 10.1093/mollus/eym029
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:36448943280
SN - 0260-1230
VL - 73
SP - 291
EP - 314
JO - Journal of Molluscan Studies
JF - Journal of Molluscan Studies
IS - 4
ER -