Details of Award
NERC Reference : NER/A/S/2000/00549
Is the freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera a keystone engineer
Grant Award
- Principal Investigator:
- Dr M Young, University of Aberdeen, Inst of Biological and Environmental Sci
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor D Raffaelli, University of York, Environment
- Grant held at:
- University of Aberdeen, Inst of Biological and Environmental Sci
- Science Area:
- Freshwater
- Overall Classification:
- Freshwater
- ENRIs:
- Natural Resource Management
- Biodiversity
- Science Topics:
- Conservation Ecology
- Community Ecology
- Abstract:
- Like many bivalves, the freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera has the potential to play a significant role in community organisation by coupling water column and benthic processes through its filter-feeding activity. Filtration reduces suspended material while the consequent deposition of faeces and pseudofaeces enhances the organic content of the substrate, thereby coupling planktonic and benthic food webs. Here, we specifically address the hypothesis that freshwater pearl mussel extinctions have cascading effects on benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages by modulating seston transport in rivers, through a reduction in water clarity and depletion of organic matter in sediments in line with the reported effects of mussels in lentic and marine intertidal systems.
- NERC Reference:
- NER/A/S/2000/00549
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- Standard Grants Pre FEC
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Standard Grant
This grant award has a total value of £153,283
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - T&S | Total - Staff | Total - Other Costs | Total - Indirect Costs | Total - Equipment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £15,666 | £82,463 | £15,222 | £37,932 | £2,000 |
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