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News

Last update: 30.11.2012

Electric fishing at the Kenzelbaach

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Late November an electric fishing event took place at three locations at the Kenzelbaach. Main intent was to check if three transformed migrating obstacles (transformed during the LIFE-Project) are meanwhile passable for fish.

At all three sites brown trout were caught above the former obstacles. So the tranformations were a success.

Rearing success with larger mussels

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The scientist from the mussel rearing facility Kalborner Mühle were this year able to rear mussels with new methods and had a good success:

Mussels (freshwater pearl mussels and thick shelled river mussels) which were placed in baskets with gravel in river water showed a survival rate of 89%. The mussels grew from a length of approximately 6 mm to 1,5 cm which is quite good.

Mussels in aquaria (with a continious adding of water drops) grew from a length of approximately 4 mm to 1,6 cm in one year and the survival rate was 100 %.

Culture of algae

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In a "Travail de candidature" project, Bob Bathelmé and Thierry Muller isolated seven unicellular algae from river water and grew them in different media, to find out the best growing conditions.

This hopefully helps to optimize the mussel food.

 Feeding experiments are taking place at the moment.

Winter at the river Our

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Season's Greetings

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Layman Report

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The Layman Report can be downloaded by using the following link:

German Version

French Version

TV-Station SWR3 at the mill

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A TV-Team from SWR3 was mid October at the mill. Transmission is on the 25th  of October (18:10) within the TV-Program "Im Grünen".

 http://www.swr.de/im-gruenen-rp/-/id=100810/did=8787038/pv=video/nid=100810/1ggnosa/index.html

Young mussel in gravel cages

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Infestation of host fishes

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Since a few days the adult mussels release thier larvae (Glochidia). Already 5000 fish (Brown trout) could be infested.

 

Video-Clip with moving glochidia

 

Children visit the rearing facility

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In July three groups of children were informed about the habitat of freshwater mussels in the river Our.

Project movie is online

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Movie Part 1

Movie Part 2

International Seminar / Habitat restoration

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The 13th May, the last international seminar organized within the Life Nature Project took place in Heinerscheid.

Overall 60 people from 7 countries participated (L/D/B/F/CZ/IRL/GB).

President Frantz Charles Muller welcomed everybody and thanked all the partner who participated in the project. The Life Freshwater Pearlmussel Team presented the results acheived during the project runtime. 5 presentations all dealing with freshwater habitat restoration followed. After the presentations, a field trip to the Kenzelbaach took place. Here several measures to improve the habitat (fences, cattle bridges, watering places and transformed migration obstacles) done during the Life Project could be shown.

Most of presentation can be found online under:

Seminar 2011

Seminar LIFE

Seminar 2009

Seminar 2008

 

 

 

Two new fleyers available

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Two new fleyers are available unter downloads.  However only unter German and French.

- The Freshwater Pearl Mussel in the Natura 2000 zone "Our-Valley"

-Fishing in the Natura 2000 zone "Our-Valley"

Publication concerning the rearing of freshwater mussels published

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Ferrantia - Travaux scientifiques du MNHN

no. 64 (Ferrantia)

Rearing of unionoid mussels
(with special emphasis on the Freshwater Pearl Mussel Margaritifera margaritifera)

Auteur(s): Frank Thielen (editor)
Année de publication: 2011
ISSN: 1682-5519
Prix: 10
.- €
commande: diffusion@mnhn.lu

Flooding

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Rain and the melting of snow at the beginning of January raised the water level in the river Our above 2m.

The rearing facility was however never in danger.

Electric fishing in the river Our and its tributaries

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The fish population in the river Our and its tributaries was analyzed by electric fishing in October. Nine different species were detected in the river Our (see diagramm above). In the tributaries bullhead (Cottus gobio) and young brook trout (Salmo trutta f. fario) were caught. Fruther more on some sites we checked if the transformation of former migration obstacles was successful and if the sites are now passable for fish again. In the following brooks, trouts were again observed in the section upstream of the former migarting obstacle:

Schelsbaach
Kenzelbaach
Stroumbaach
Feierbesch

June 24-26 2010. Visit of the nature conservation project at the river Lutter

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A really successful nature conservation project focusing on the freshwater pearl mussel took place in Germany on the river Lutter.  This is the only river in central Europe which shows an increase in numbers for the freshwater pearl mussel.

The fedaral state of lower saxony and the environmental authorities from the cities of Celle and Gifhorn supported the project. The most important steps of the project were:

* The purchase of the surrounding flood plains and bog land in the whole catchment area,

* renaturation of bog land

* installation of sand and sediment retaining basins

* removing of dams

* introduction of gravel into the river

June 10 Removing a migrating obstacle at teh Scheelsbaach

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Electric fishing results showed, that a large stretch of the Scheelsbaach was not reachable for fish due to a migrating obstacle close to the confluence with the river Our. The Life Project gave us the possibility to remove this obstacle by removing pipes and replacing them by a bridge, which guarentees the access from Lieler to the three border point.

Further upstream another pipe was removed.

may 2010: Transformation of a pipe construction at the Stroumbaach

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April 2010: Search for mussels

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The development of the mussel population in the river Our is checked by a scientific monitoring. The mussel search is normaly done with the help of aquascopes. This year however we also tried searching the the riverbed for mussels by snorkeling. This was possible in spring as the water level was still not to low. In the summertime the waterlevel could however be to low for this method.

April 2010: Construction of a cattle bridge at the Kenzelbaach

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Several farmers agreed to build a fence on the riverbank to protect the river from direct cattle access. On a few places, like the Kenzelbaach, a cattle bridge needed to be contructed for the reason that the cattle could reach the part of the  meadow on the other site of the river.

Freshwater mussel videos

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Kaalbermillen /Lux

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNHT_RsVkIw

Monte McGregor Lab Kentucky / USA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaKjXGbgazo

Virginia / USA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URHTrAAkpr0

Chris Barnhart Lab Missouri / USA

http://mdc4.mdc.mo.gov/tv/video.asp?mediaID=i__19984392_1000

10.02.10 Meeting of the "Comité de pilotage" at Kockelscheuer

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The project surrounding committee (Comité de pilotage) meets once or twice a year. The main task of the committee is:

* control the advances within the project

* ensure the coordination between different actions within the project

* have a global view over the project

01.02.10: Muller Thierry became a new mamber of the Life Team

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Lukas Masura left the Life Nature Team as he found a new job. We wish him all the best for the future.

Thierry Muller and environmental technician will continue the work from Lukas Masura at the rearing station.

November 2009: International Seminar

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The second international seminar organized by the LIFE Nature Team Freshwater Pearl Mussel took place in Clervaux (Luxembourg) from November the 25th - November the 28th. With around 50 participants from 12 counties the seminar was well attended. Mr. Frantz Charles Muller, president of the Foundation “Hellef fir d’Natur” welcomed everybody and thanked all the Project partners for the good work during the last years (European Commission, Ministère du Développment durable et des Infrastructures, Ministère de l’Intérieur et à la Grande Région, Natur Musée Letzebuerg, Fond National de la Recherche). He highlighted the importance of the seminar which was focused on the problem of increased sedimentation in river systems and the consequences this has for freshwater organisms.

Overall 17 oral presentations and 9 Poster could be presented. In the discussions it emerged, that especially the populations of freshwater mussels suffer dramatically from too much fine sediments input in river systems all over Europe. This input is caused by erosion often resulting from changes in the land use done during the last decades. But also methods on how to improve the conditions and positive restoration projects were presented. Taken as a whole, the scientific exchange during the seminar was a success. All the information gained will surely help the Life Nature Team in Luxembourg to protect the last remaining population of Freshwater Pearl Mussels.

Most of the presentations and poster presented during the seminar can be downloaded by using the links below:

Seminar LIFE

Seminar 2009

Seminar 2008

October 2009: Dumping of clean gravel into the river

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To improve the habitat of the Freshwater Pearl Mussel in the river Our about 80m3 cleaned gravel were tipped into the river at three selected sites. Areas with clean gravel in the river provide suitable habitats for the young mussels.

October 2009: Electric fishing in the river Our

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January 2009: Our during wintertime

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September-October 2009: Fencing activity at the "Kenzelbaach"

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June 2009: Removal of a fish migartion obstacle at the Langbaach

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A lot of land at the Langbaach could be bought by the Life Nature Project. At this location the brook was completely buried and flowing thru 9 large concrete pipes. The pipes were removed and the brook was bypassed to develop a new streambed. As soon as vegetation has stabilized the new streambed the brook will use it again.  A new constructed fence prevents the direct access of the cattle to the brook and reduces the erosion. Furthermore a stabilized passage of the brook was realized. This gives the farmer full access of the land located on both sites of the brook.

June 2009: Removing of a fish migration obstacle at the Feierbaach

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A fish migration obstacle located at the camping ground of the Tintesmühle was removed and replaced by a new bridge. The new bridge provides access to the meadow for the lawn-mower.

06.01.2009: Collection of juvenile Mussels has started

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At the beginning of January 110 infected Brown Trout were transferred into two Mussel Seed Winning Stations. The water temperature is now increased continuously until 18 degree Celsius are reached. Soon after having reached this temperature the first juvenile mussels start to drop off the fish. The young mussels are retained in a fine sieve from where they can be collected.

December 2008: Check of the mussel survival in the hole gages

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The survival and growth of the mussels in the hole gages is checked twice a year. All hole gages were collected in the field and the mussel alive were counted.

26.09.2008: Official Inauguration of the Freshwater Pearl Mussel Rearing Station

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It was a great honor for the Fondation "Hellef fir d'Natur" to welcome the Grand Duc of Luxembourg and the Interior Minister (J. M. Halsdorf) on the occasion of the official Inauguration of the Freshwater Pearl Mussel Rearing Station at the Mill of Kalborn. On a wonderful sunny automn day all partners of the project were able to see the fully functional rearing station. 

Construction of the Freshwater Pearl Mussel Rearing Station

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The different constructions steps of the Rearing Sation can be downloaded at the Download Section.

Pictures.

Left: Historic picture

Middle: 2005

Right: September 2008

August 2008: Infection of Brown Trout with Glochidia (1)

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The search for gravid mussels in the river Our was successful in August 2008. Mature Glochidia could be collected and were used to infect Brown Trout. The three steps of the semi natural infection are the following (see Pictures above):

1 left: Search for gravid mussels.

2 middle: Collecting fish for infection at the state pisciculture in Lintgen.

3 right: The Glochidia wich are spit out by the mussels are collected with a pipette.

August 2008: Infection of Brown Trout with Glochidia (2)

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Pictures:

4 left: The development stage of the Glochidia is checked and the number of infectious Glochidia in the Infection Fluid is determined.

5 middle: The infection fluid and the fish are brought together.

6 right: Control of success: The number of Glochidia attached to the gills of a Brown Trout is counted.

July-August 2008: Checking the maturation of the adult mussels

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The reproduction of Freshwater Pearl Mussels starts at the age of 15-20 years. The male relase sperm into the river which is inhaled by the female where the fertilization takes place. In August the female can release up to 1 million of small larvae (0,05mm), called glochidia which have to find a Brown Trout as fish host. Here the further development of the mussles takes place on the gills.

For the semi-natural infection of Brown Trout the larvae of the female mussels have to be collected. Therefore the maturation of the adult female mussels in the river has to be checked regulary during the Summer period. With a special forceps, which does not harm the mussels, the shell of the animal is opened slightly. The coloration and aspect of the mussel gills shows if any larvae are present and if these are ready for infection.

Underwater pictures of Freshwater Pearl Mussels in the River Our

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Many visitors at the Mill of Kalborn

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Left picture: Visit within the monthley market held at the Cornelyshaff (26.04.2008)

Center picture: Student from the "Athénée de Luxembourg" visited with their teacher Claude Meisch the project (02.05.08)

Right picture: The "Foyer scolaire" from Bonnevoie (Luxembourg City) visited the project (06.05.08)

Habitat restoration measures along tributaries

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The aim of the Life Project is not only to rear young mussels, but a very important aspect is also to improve the habitat. Most habitat restoration action will take place on the tributaries of the river Our. Fisrt actions started in Winter 2007-2008.

Here some examples of measures already done:

-Removal of Spruce along the tributaries Jansschleederbaach and Nivelsbaach (left picture)
-Removal of a pipe constrution at the Langbaach and transformation of a pipe construction at the Scheelsbaach
-Construction of a fence along the border of the Jansschleederbaach with installation of a watering place for cattle.
-Different lots of land along tributaries were bought by the Fondation Hellef fir d'Natur

14.11.2007: Geschiebedepots zur Lebensraumentwicklung für Jungmuscheln

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To improve the habitat of the Freshwater Pearl Mussel in the river Our about 60m3 cleaned gravel were tipped into the river at three selected sites. Areas with clean gravel in the river provide suitable habitats for the young mussels.

Impressum