Freshwater mussels across Europe exhibit physiological and behavioural adaptations to survive winter conditions. Climate change projections, including more frequent extreme weather events, are expected to intensify pressures on these ecosystems. In this study, we tested the temperature-size hypothesis, which posits that larger body size in ectothermic organisms is an adaptation to colder climates. We predicted that Anodonta anatina populations in northern regions would have larger shells than those in central and southern regions. Additionally, we hypothesised that harsher winters in northern regions require mussels to maintain higher glycogen levels as an energy reserve. We also explored whether shell size varies between lowland and upland populations, following the temperature-size rule, and whether supercooling (SCP) occurs primarily in northern populations as a complementary survival strategy. Northern populations had the highest glycogen levels, reflecting adaptations to colder conditions. SCP was rare (2.5%) and observed predominantly in northern mussels, suggesting limited reliance on freeze avoidance. Instead, it is likely that mussels employ mixed strategies, such as metabolic reduction and burrowing, to withstand winter. These findings link shell size, glycogen levels, and SCP to specific survival strategies, providing new insights into the cold tolerance mechanisms of freshwater mussels and their potential vulnerability to climate change.

• Klíčová slova
• Anodonta anatina, Climate change, Frost resistance, Overwintering, Supercooling point, Survival strategies,
• MeSH
• aklimatizace * MeSH
• ekosystém MeSH
• fyziologická adaptace * MeSH
• glykogen metabolismus   MeSH
• klimatické změny MeSH
• mlži * fyziologie   MeSH
• nízká teplota * MeSH
• roční období MeSH
• sladká voda MeSH
• velikost těla MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Evropa MeSH
• Názvy látek
• glykogen MeSH

We identified 14 emerging and poorly understood threats and opportunities for addressing the global conservation of freshwater mussels over the next decade. A panel of 17 researchers and stakeholders from six continents submitted a total of 56 topics that were ranked and prioritized using a consensus-building Delphi technique. Our 14 priority topics fell into five broad themes (autecology, population dynamics, global stressors, global diversity, and ecosystem services) and included understanding diets throughout mussel life history; identifying the drivers of population declines; defining metrics for quantifying mussel health; assessing the role of predators, parasites, and disease; informed guidance on the risks and opportunities for captive breeding and translocations; the loss of mussel-fish co-evolutionary relationships; assessing the effects of increasing surface water changes; understanding the effects of sand and aggregate mining; understanding the effects of drug pollution and other emerging contaminants such as nanomaterials; appreciating the threats and opportunities arising from river restoration; conserving understudied hotspots by building local capacity through the principles of decolonization; identifying appropriate taxonomic units for conservation; improved quantification of the ecosystem services provided by mussels; and understanding how many mussels are enough to provide these services. Solutions for addressing the topics ranged from ecological studies to technological advances and socio-political engagement. Prioritization of our topics can help to drive a proactive approach to the conservation of this declining group which provides a multitude of important ecosystem services.

• Klíčová slova
• conservation, diversity, ecosystem services, freshwater mussel, horizon scan, mussel health, threats, unionid,
• MeSH
• ekosystém * MeSH
• mlži * MeSH
• řeky MeSH
• sladká voda MeSH
• zachování přírodních zdrojů MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH