Editing Mussel (section)

===Freshwater mussels===
Out of 511 species assessed globally, 44% of freshwater mussels listed on the [[IUCN Red List]] are classified at some level of threatened.<ref name=lopes>{{cite journal |author=Manuel Lopes-Lima |title=Conservation status of freshwater mussels in Europe: state of the art and future challenges |journal=Biological Reviews |date=2017 |volume=92 |issue=1 |pages=572–607 |doi=10.1111/brv.12244|pmid=26727244 }}</ref>

There are 297 known freshwater mussel taxa in the United States and Canada, which are home to the most diverse freshwater mussel fauna in the world, especially in the southeastern United States.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Haag |first=Wendell |title=North American Freshwater Mussels: Natural History, Ecology, and Conservation |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2012 |isbn=9780521199384 |pages=}}</ref> Of the 297 known species, 213 (71.7%) taxa are listed as endangered, threatened, or of special concern.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Williams |first1=James D. |last2=Warren |first2=Melvin L. Jr. |last3=Cummings |first3=Kevin S. |last4=Harris |first4=John L. |last5=Neves |first5=Richard J. |date=1993-09-01 |title=Conservation Status of Freshwater Mussels of the United States and Canada |journal=Fisheries |volume=18 |issue=9 |pages=6–22 |doi=10.1577/1548-8446(1993)018<0006:CSOFMO>2.0.CO;2|bibcode=1993Fish...18i...6W }}</ref> Approximately 37 North American species were considered extinct in 2004.<ref name=lopes />

Out of 16 recognized freshwater mussel species in Europe, 12 are considered threatened, with varying statuses from Near Threatened to Critically Endangered.<ref name=lopes /> 8 species are protected by the European Union [[Habitats Directive]] across all annexes.<ref name="eu">{{Cite web|url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:31992L0043&from=EN|title=Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora |website=Eur-Lex |access-date=9 March 2020}}</ref>

There are approximately 85 known species in Africa, 102 in Central America, 74 in South America, 228 in Asia (with the highest species diversity in Southeast Asia), and 33 in Australasia. The species in these areas are not as well researched as in North America and Europe. Approximately 61% of freshwater mussels in Asia had not been assessed and conservation efforts were almost non-existent. No Asian mussels were protected internationally under legislation such as [[CITES]].<ref>{{cite journal |author=Daniel Graf |title=Review of the systematics and global diversity of freshwater mussel species (Bivalvia: Unionoida) |journal=Journal of Molluscan Studies |date=2007 |volume=73 |issue=4 |pages=291–314 |doi=10.1093/mollus/eym029}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author=Alexandra Zieritz |title=Diversity, biogeography and conservation of freshwater mussels (Bivalvia: Unionida) in East and Southeast Asia |journal=Hydrobiologia |date=2017 |volume=810 |pages=29–44 |doi=10.1007/s10750-017-3104-8|hdl=1822/72332 |hdl-access=free }}</ref>

The main factors contributing to the decline of freshwater mussels include destruction by dams, increased siltation, channel alteration and the introduction of invasive species such as the [[zebra mussel]].<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{cite book |author=Wendell R. Haag |title=Past and future patterns of freshwater mussel extinctions in North America during the Holocene |date=2009 |publisher=Oxford University Press |pages=107–128}}</ref>