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The Freshwater Mollusks of Mexico: Can We Still Prevent Their Silent Extinction?

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Mexican Fauna in the Anthropocene

Abstract

In this chapter, we provide an overview of the diversity of the Mexican freshwater mollusks (gastropods and bivalves). We outline their current status as one of the most imperiled group of animals in Mexico and we discuss necessary changes to stop their decline. The Mexican freshwater molluscan fauna is composed of 292 species, of which 195 are gastropods and 97 bivalves. Like many other aquatic invertebrates worldwide, members of both molluscan classes are rapidly declining in most regions of Mexico. These losses constitute a silent extinction during the Anthropocene resulting from water pollution, large diversions for irrigation of arid regions, hydropower production, and introductions of non-native species. The lack of historical data about molluscan distributions, especially of bivalves, makes it difficult to determine the full extent of these local and regional extinctions. However, a few case studies that include the methods of conservation paleobiology are used to show an alarming picture: the comparison of local sub-fossil records with recent data documents a dramatic loss of freshwater snail diversity of more than 80% in only a century. In light of this, it is becoming increasingly clear that current conservation efforts alone will not be enough to stop more extinctions. Climate change, especially increased frequency and intensity of regional drought, is known to decrease habitat quality. Dam removal along with more and larger protected areas and ecosystem restorations can reverse the trend of some of these potential species losses. We advocate a shift in consciousness so that natural scientific efforts are part of an integrated holistic solution that includes the ecological, economic, philosophical, and theological values for society.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Gómez Palacio, Durango, México

    Alexander Czaja, Jorge Luis Becerra-López, Diana Gabriela Cordero-Torres & José Luis Estrada-Rodríguez

  2. Institute of Ecology, Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA

    Alan P. Covich

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  1. Alexander Czaja
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  2. Alan P. Covich
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  3. Jorge Luis Becerra-López
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  4. Diana Gabriela Cordero-Torres
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  5. José Luis Estrada-Rodríguez
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Correspondence to Alexander Czaja .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Querétaro, Juriquilla, Mexico

    Robert W. Jones

  2. Colección Nacional de Peces, Instituto de Biologia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México, Mexico

    C. Patricia Ornelas-García

  3. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Juriquilla, Querétaro, Mexico

    Rubén Pineda-López

  4. Colección Nacional de Peces, Instituto de Biologia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México, Mexico

    Fernando Álvarez

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Czaja, A., Covich, A.P., Becerra-López, J.L., Cordero-Torres, D.G., Estrada-Rodríguez, J.L. (2023). The Freshwater Mollusks of Mexico: Can We Still Prevent Their Silent Extinction?. In: Jones, R.W., Ornelas-García, C.P., Pineda-López, R., Álvarez, F. (eds) Mexican Fauna in the Anthropocene. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-17277-9_5

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