Artificial habitats provide refuge for a threatened freshwater mussel in south-western Australia

Context Worldwide modifications of river systems, closely tied to human development, has led to a proliferation of artificial waterbodies. Their associated artificial habitats can support various aquatic taxa, including freshwater mussels, one of the most threatened animal groups worldwide. An endemic threatened species of freshwater mussel (Westralunio carteri) has been sporadically observed in artificial habitats across south-western Australia. However, the viability of these populations remai