This new assessment indicates that slightly more non-marine mollusc species are at threat now than in 1991, but most species are doing reasonably well.
The first widely-available British molluscan red data list was published about 25 years ago (Bratton 1991). It listed 17 threatened British non-marine mollusc species: 10 Endangered and 7 Vulnerable, and also listed 13 as Rare and 3 as Insufficiently Known.
Review has been long overdue, especially in view of the improved data available from the Society's recording (and especially our 1999 Atlas), and from targeted recording undertaken in response to the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP) and the EU Habitats and Species Directive (EUH&SD). JNCC approached the Society in 2009, and then commissioned Mary Seddon and Ian Killeen to produce a report to which many members, especially Robert Cameron and Martin Willing, made important contributions; Adrian Fowler played an important role in the later stages, revising and expanding the first draft.
The new assessment, A Review of the Non-Marine Mollusca of Great Britain: Species Status No. 17, by Mary Seddon, Ian Killeen and Adrian Fowles, has recently been published by Natural Resources Wales, and is available on their website through this link.
As the detailed evidence set out in the review shows, the status of a number of vulnerable and endangered species has changed over the past 25 years. Categories have been changed and refined; there are now 29 British non-marine mollusc species at significant risk (4 Critically Endangered, 2 ; Endangered, 13 Vulnerable and 10 Near Threatened 10); and 11 for which we do not have good data. Most species, however, are doing reasonably well: 152 species are classified as Least Concern. (The review also listed 23 non-native species, to which the review is not applicable.)
An article giving more details and comments is planned for publication soon in Mollusc World.
Martin Willing