Freshwater mussels are declining globally, and effective conservation requires prioritizing research and actions to identify and mitigate threats impacting mussel species. Conservation priorities vary widely, ranging from preventing imminent extinction to maintaining abundant populations. Here, we develop a portfolio of priority research topics for freshwater mussel conservation assessment. To address these topics, we group research priorities into two categories: intrinsic or extrinsic factors. Intrinsic factors are indicators of organismal or population status, while extrinsic factors encompass environmental variables and threats. An understanding of intrinsic factors is useful in monitoring, and of extrinsic factors are important to understand ongoing and potential impacts on conservation status. This dual approach can guide conservation status assessments prior to the establishment of priority species and implementation of conservation management actions.

中文翻译：

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淡水贻贝保护评估的研究重点

淡水贻贝在全球范围内正在减少，有效的保护需要优先研究和采取行动，以确定和减轻影响贻贝物种的威胁。保护优先事项差异很大，从防止即将灭绝到维持丰富的种群。在这里，我们为淡水贻贝保护评估制定了一系列优先研究主题。为了解决这些主题，我们将研究重点分为两类：内在因素或外在因素。内在因素是有机体或种群状况的指标，而外在因素则包括环境变量和威胁。了解内在因素有助于监测，而了解外在因素对于了解对保护状况的持续和潜在影响很重要。