Modelling of resettlement habitats for the highly endangered freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) - model development
Abstract
As the freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) is a highly endangered and protected species, several working groups all over Europe have learned to conduct captive breeding in the recent past. An Austrian working group was established in 2011 and has succeeded in breeding several thousand juvenile mussels so far. Within a next step those cultured mussels has to be transferred into appropriate habitats in river systems of the granite/gneiss region, until, at long last, the establishment of unsupported reproductive mussel populations will have been achieved. Aim of the project is to define parameters on different scales that have to be considered in terms of freshwater pearl mussel habitat restoration. For the selected study sites investigations focussing on the hydro-morphological, physical and chemical situation will be conducted. The investigations will include the measurement of redox-potentials, pH-values, conductivity and several chemical elements that are relevant for freshwater pearl mussels, for example nitrate and calcium. Moreover, based on topographical cross sectional survey of each river stretch and its adjacent floodplains 1D hydrodynamic-numerical model will be implemented in the study design. The model will be used to study hydro-morphological characteristics (e.g. variance in depth, etc.) and instream hydraulics at low-flow as well as at high-flow conditions (e.g. bankful discharge). Based on the life circle and the limited mobility of the selected target species both discharge aspects are addressed; - the suitability at low flow as well as the stability (tolerance) at high flow conditions.
Ecohydraulics river restoration fresh water pearl mussel habitat modelling hydrodynamic-numerical modelling
Publikationen
Project staff
Christoph Hauer
Priv.-Doz. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.nat.techn. Christoph Hauer
christoph.hauer@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-81912
BOKU Project Leader
01.10.2013 - 01.06.2016
Michael Tritthart
Assoc. Prof. Priv.-Doz. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.techn. Michael Tritthart
michael.tritthart@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-81910
BOKU Project Leader
02.06.2016 - 30.11.2016
Helmut Habersack
Univ.Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.nat.techn. Dr.h.c. Helmut Habersack
helmut.habersack@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-81901, 81911
Sub Projectleader
01.10.2013 - 30.11.2016
Peter Flödl
Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Peter Flödl
peter.floedl@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-81928
Project Staff
01.10.2013 - 30.11.2016