Poster Presentation Freshwater Sciences 2023

Australian Freshwater Molluscs: A forthcoming book on their biology, ecology, diversity & conservation (#652)

Michael Klunzinger 1 2 , Anders Hallan 3 , Winston Ponder 3
  1. Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Nathan, QUEENSLAND, Australia
  2. Department of Aquatic Zoology, Western Australian Museum, Welshpool, WESTERN AUSTRALIA, Australia
  3. Australian Museum, Sydney, NEW SOUTH WALES, Australia

Despite its arid interior, Australia's freshwater environments are diverse, from underground aquifers, springs, swamps, floodplains and wetlands to streams, large rivers, billabongs, and lakes. These habitats support a diversified, and unique, variety of freshwater molluscs. Extant taxa include more than 400 described native species from 23 families of gastropods and bivalves, 99 of which occur nowhere else. Our online Lucid key to the genera and species (https ://keys lucidcentral org/keys/v 3 /freshwater_molluscs) will be complimented by the forthcoming book. We have assembled expert teams of authors to address an extensive collection of topics involving the study of this highly endemic and varied fauna. Topics covered in the book include study methods, habitat types, ecology, genetics, life history and dispersal, food and feeding, physiology, parasitology, conservation, archaeology, economics, fossil history, biogeography, toxicology and bioindicators, fauna diversity and the history of taxonomy. The book will include full colour images, maps and illustrations, fully referenced up to date information, as well as novel research. We anticipate the book will be an indispensable resource to anyone interested in Australian freshwater molluscs. The book is in the editing phase with an anticipated 2024-2025 release through CSIRO Publishing and CRC Press.