Species Of Freshwater Molluscs Research Articles

Mehkužci (polži in školjke) zgornjega toka Neretve

During a survey taking place from 29.6.2022–2.7.2022 in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the river-floodplain system of the upper Neretva River around Ulog, 51 species of molluscs were found at 12 sampling sites. Besides manual sampling in the water bodies, the main sampling technique consisted of sieving of river deposits, to maximise the coverage of species diversity. The majority of the species were terrestrial gastropods (45 out of 51), most of them common species of forests and moist areas, but also of grassland. In the Neretva River itself and in adjacent waterbodies, six species of freshwater molluscs were found. Among them, at least three species of spring snails of the taxonomically challenging genera Belgrandiella, Bythinella, and Paladilhiopsis were found, the latter one only in river deposits. Future research should focus on truncatelloidean snails in the groundwater system of the upper course of the Neretva River. Furthermore, a broader investigation of the mollusc fauna of Bosnia and Herzegovina would help to clarify taxonomically unresolved questions of species of the Balkan region and possibly reveal species new for science.

Some Components of the Serotonergic System in the Eyes of Two Species of Freshwater Molluscs

Some Components of the Serotonergic System in the Eyes of Two Species of Freshwater Molluscs

INVASION OF THE THIARID SNAIL Melanoides tuberculata (MOLLUSCA) IN A CONSERVATION AREA OF THE SEMIARID REGION OF BRAZIL

This paper records the invasive gastropod Melanoides tuberculata in a limnetic ecosystem located in integral protection area in the semiarid region of the state of Paraíba in northeast Brazil. Live individuals were collected and photographed along shallow margins of the Piranhas Reservoir associated with different types of substrates. Photographic quadrants were used to calculate the number of living individuals and empty shells on different substrates. Individuals of M. tuberculata were found at five sampling sites in the littoral zone on different types of substrates with densities ranging of 13 ind.(m2)-1 to 22 ind.(m2)-1. The average density of individuals was: 18 ind.(m2)-1 on thin sediment, 15 ind.(m2)-1 on gravel and 20 ind.(m2)-1 on rocks. Empty shells were extremely abundant in the terrestrial zone of the reservoir. We did not observe native species of freshwater molluscs in the marginal areas of the reservoir in which the specimens of M. tuberculata were found. Knowledge about the distribution, establishment and impact caused of M. tuberculata in limnetic ecosystems of the Brazilian semi-arid region needs to be better studied in order to ascertain the degree of impact on native species and environmental modifications that reflect negatively on ecosystems.

The molluscs of the Duddingston Loch area, Edinburgh, Scotland: comparison of the present with the 19th and 20th centuries

The molluscan fauna of Duddingston Loch, Edinburgh, Scotland and surrounding areas has been studied in recent years, and compared with earlier reports, particularly that of D.K. Kevan in 1929–1930. Ten freshwater mollusc species that were recorded in the past have not been found in recent years, while other species have arrived and flourished. Reasons for such changes may include adverse effects of algal blooms and the introduction of certain fish. The terrestrial mollusc fauna in the Duddingston Loch area has not changed in the same way, but several alien species that have become widespread in the Edinburgh area and in Scotland generally have also appeared here. As a result, a total of 76 species of mollusc has been recorded in the Duddingston Loch area, making this one of the richest sites for molluscs in Scotland.

Niche filtering, competition and species turnover in a metacommunity of freshwater molluscs

Metacommunity structure reflects the interplay of various processes, including niche filtering, extinction/colonization and interspecific interactions. Spatial patterns of species distributions are often analyzed to infer these processes. However, such inferences rely on often unrealistic equilibrium assumptions, and remain ambiguous, as different processes can produce similar patterns. Temporal data may improve these inferences. For example, stochastic species turnover may occur in local communities, while, on the long run, temporal changes are kept within limits set by locally available niches. Our objective is to explore how the joint analysis of spatial and temporal patterns can clarify the contribution of different processes to metacommunity structure. We recorded the occurrences of 21 freshwater mollusc species, and environmental data, in 250 sites over 17 successive years in a network of ponds in Guadeloupe (Lesser Antilles). We analyzed variation in α and β‐diversities in space and time, and used a joint‐species distribution mode to characterize species–environment and species–species relationships. Local communities showed pronounced temporal variation reflecting both imperfect species detection and true stochastic species turnover. On the long term however, local communities were largely controlled by niche filtering along two main environmental gradients, one driven by site connectivity, the other by hydrological stability and aquatic vegetation. Two gastropod clades, caenogastropods and pulmonates, showed contrasted spatio–temporal distributions resulting from different responses to these gradients, and these distributions seemed little altered by interspecific competition. Our study illustrates the benefit of using spatiotemporal metacommunity data to discern long‐term impacts of niche filtering and species interactions behind short‐term stochasticity.

Hydromalacological researches in the Siverskyi Donets River Basin (south of the Eastern European Plain): A review

An analytical review of literature sources is presented, it contains information about the freshwater malacofauna of the basin of the Siverskyi Donets River, the right, largest tributary of the Don River, south of the East European Plain. A scheme of conditional subdivision of hydromalacological studies into three historical periods is proposed. The characteristics of the contribution of each of the researchers to the study of the hydromalacological fauna of the region is given. A list of all species of freshwater mollusks found in the region over a 190-year period of research (1832–2022) is provided. The identification of the names of mollusks recorded in the historical literature for the mollusks of the Siverskyi Donets River Basin is given. The ways and methods of the current research of the hydromalacological fauna of the region are characterized. The entire history of the Siverskyi Donets River Basin freshwater mollusks study can be conventionally divided into three periods. During the first period (the1830s–1920s), information about the presence of 42 species of gastropods and 14 species of bivalve mollusks in the Siverskyi Donets River Basin was published for the first time. One species new to science was described. In the second period (the1920s–1950s), the regional malacofauna was replenished with five new species, and the total list had already reached 61 species. Between the 1950s and 1970s was the time of a big break in the history of the study of the regional malacofauna. The third period spans from the 1970s to the present time. This is the period of study of the composition and structure of the malacocenoses in the middle and upper part of the basin.

The Sabinas River in Coahuila – a new hotspot of molluscan biodiversity near Cuatro Ciénegas, Chihuahuan Desert, northern Mexico

The malacofauna of the Sabinas River, Don Martin basin, Coahuila, North Mexico, was studied conchologically at nine sites. In total, 23 species of freshwater molluscs, of which 21 are native and two invasive, were found. Nineteen species are gastropods and four species bivalves. One genus and two species of subterranean (interstitial) gastropods are endemic to the area and with Lyogyrus sp. we reported for the first time a member of the family Amnicolidae in Mexico. Mexithauma quadripaludium Taylor, 1966, and Juturnia coahuilae (Taylor, 1966) (Cochliopidae), previously known only as endemics from the neighboring Cuatro Ciénegas basin, were found for the first time living out of this basin.

Status of the Freshwater Molluscs from Krishna River, Satara, (MS) India

A total 18 freshwater mollusc species with all forms and varieties belonging to 04orders, under 10 families. the maximum diversity was found in order Mesogastropoda and minimum was from Basommatophora. The dominant species among these total molluscs belonged to the Unionidae family.The abundance of freshwater mollus can species in the Krishna River is described in an assessed checklist. Molluscs are widely regarded as the most diverse and dominant benthic fauna in both the lentic and lotic zones. Regional populations of malacofauna, on the other hand, may be attributable to the quantity of planktonic mass at different river sites, which reflects mollus can species diversity.

The freshwater molluscs of Serbia: Annotated checklist with remarks on distribution and protection status.

We present a checklist of 86 valid freshwater mollusc species of Serbia (65 gastropods and 21 bivalves) belonging to 19 families (15 gastropods and four bivalves). The list is based on our latest research and includes data from published sources and personal communications. The most diverse family among gastropods is Planorbidae (16 species), while Sphaeriidae are most diverse within the bivalves (10 species). Ten species are local endemics (all of them gastropods), while eight are introduced species (three gastropods and five bivalves). The Danube River and its smaller tributaries harbour the most diverse gastropod community, with a total of 61 species (41 gastropods and 20 bivalves). The snail Theodoxus transversalis (Pfeiffer, 1828) and the bivalve Unio crassus Philipson, 1788 are listed as EN (endangered) on the global (IUCN) level, while the snail Plagigeyeria gladilini Kuer, 1937 and the bivalves Pseudanodonta complanata (Rossmssler, 1835) and Sphaerium rivicola (Lamarck, 1818) are considered as VU (vulnerable) species. Of those IUCN taxa, only U. crassus is listed as protected on the national level (along with 12 mostly local endemic gastropod species). In comparison with the previous checklist of gastropods by Karaman Karaman (2007), a total of seven species are added here: Belgrandiella serbica Gler 2008, Bythinella istoka Gler Pei 2014, B. nonveilleri Gler 2008, B. pesterica Gler 2008, Acroloxus lacustris (Linnaeus, 1758), Melanoides tuberculata (O.F. Mller, 1774) and Armiger crista (Linnaeus, 1758). In view of global and regional trends in taxonomy, ecology and invasive biology, an even richer diversity of the Serbian freshwater malocofauna can be expected.

Freshwater molluscs of the Zrmanja and Krupa Rivers (Croatia) – the role of these rivers as a refuge of threatened and endemic species

The Balkan region is inhabited by hundreds of endemic species of freshwater molluscs but the information on their distribution, as well as that on the distribution of more common and widespread species, is still insufficient; most areas have no complete inventories of their mollusc faunas. The Zrmanja is one of the largest rivers in the Adriatic part of Croatia. Its freshwater molluscs were studied in the last decade, resulting in a substantial body of distributional data. The main objective of this study was to summarise and analyse the recent distributional information on its freshwater molluscs, with special reference to endemic or threatened species. In total 33 freshwater mollusc species were found in the Zrmanja River and its tributaries at 73 sites. The middle section of the Zrmanja River and its largest tributary, the Krupa River, were the richest studied parts. Dalmatinella fluviatilis Radoman, Tanousia zrmanjae (Brusina) and Islamia zermanica Radoman, endemic to the Zrmanja catchment area, were found in the middle and lower sections of the river. Their occurrence is scattered and limited in area; T. zrmanjae is probably on the verge of extinction. The occurrence of the endemic Belgrandiella kusceri (Wagner), Hadziella sketi Bole and Kerkia sp. in springs or underground waters and an abundant population of Unio elongatulus C. Pfeiffer in the Zrmanja and Krupa Rivers is also noteworthy. The area can be regarded as an important part of the Balkan region, one of world’s hotspots of global biodiversity. Although it is protected, there are still anthropogenic factors that are negatively affecting or may affect the mollusc assemblages.

FORMATION OF BIODIVERSITY OF THE FAUNA OF ECTO- AND ENDOPARASITES ON THE ARARAT PLAIN OF ARMENIA

Our studies were aimed at analyzing biodiversity of ecto- and endoparasites of sheep, cattle, rabbits, domestic birds and dogs in the lowland zone of the Republic, with semidesert climate and height of 850 m above the sea level. This is one of the warm regions of the Republic. The studies performed have established moderate and high degree of animal infection with parasites. We identified 33 parasite species, mostly helminths (15 species), including 10 species of nematodes (Trichocephalus ovis, Nematodirus spathiger, Haemonchus contortus, Chabertia ovina, Dictyocaulus filaria, Muellerius capillaris, Protostrongylus spp., Passalurus ambiqus, Ascaridia galli, Heterakis gallinarum), 4 species of trematodes (Fasciola hepatica, F. gigantica, Dicrocoelium dendriticum, Paramphistomum cervi), 1 species of cestodes (Moniezia expansa), 9 protozoan species (Piroplasma bigeminum, Babesia ovis, Eimeria perforans, E. magna, E. irresidua, E. tenella, E. acervulina), 7 species of ticks, 1 species of insects, and 1 species of leishmaniasis vector, the mosquitos from the genus Phlebotomus. We registered 5 species of freshwater molluscs (Lymnaea auricularia, L. stagnalis, L. ovata, L. truncatula, Planorbis planorbis), and 2 species of terrestrial molluscs (Helicella derbentina, Napaeopsis hohenackeri).

Nutritional evaluation of some economically important marine and freshwater mollusc species of Bangladesh

Molluscs are the most important resources among all the seafood items in South-East Asian countries. However, very little information available on nutritional value of molluscs in these regions. In this study, we evaluated the 7 economically important species of molluscs in terms of proximate composition, amino acids profile, fatty acids profile, cholesterol and heavy metal contents in the bivalves (mussels, oysters, clams and cockles) and univalve (snail) collected from freshwater and marine environments of Bangladesh. The results of the proximate analyses revealed that significantly higher amount of crude protein contents were present in marine water oysters, clams and cockles (59.3 ± 0.3 to 75.4 ± 0.2%) than the freshwater mussels and snail (36.9 ± 0.4 to 49.6 ± 0.6%) on dry matter basis. However, carbohydrate contents were significantly higher in freshwater mussels and snail (30.2 ± 0.9 to 57.3 ± 0.2%) compared to the marine water bivalves (8.1 ± 0.4 to 20.2 ± 0.6%). Crude lipid contents were ranged from 2.5 ± 0.2 to 11.2 ± 0.1% and ash from 11.4 ± 0.1 to 16.8 ± 0.6% among the bivalves and snail species. The amino acid contents were comparatively higher in marine water bivalves than their freshwater counterparts. Saturated fatty acid contents were found to be higher in marine water bivalves than the freshwater mollusc species. The results also show that the omega-3 (eicosapentaenoic acid, EPA and docosahexaenoic acid, DHA) fatty acids were comparatively higher in oysters, clams and cockles in marine water than those in freshwater mussels and snail. However, omega-6 fatty acids like linoleic acid (LA), α- linolenic acid (ALA) and arachidonic acid (ARA) were higher in freshwater mussels and snail than in the marine bivalves. The n-3/n-6 ratio were significantly higher in oysters and cockle species than the other groups of bivalves and snail. The index of atherogenicity and index of thrombogenicity of the mollusc species ranged from 0.74 ± 0.1 to 1.74 ± 0.2 and 0.5 ± 0.1 to 2.6 ± 0.2, respectively. The results show that marine water bivalves contained higher amount of potassium, sodium, iron, chlorine especially oyster species contained significantly higher iodine than the freshwater bivalves and snail. However, freshwater mussels and snail showed significantly higher amount of zinc contents than the marine bivalves. The heavy metal contents such as arsenic, chromium and mercury were absent or present in very tiny amounts among the mollusc species. Significantly higher amount of cholesterol was present in marine bivalves and freshwater snail species than the freshwater mussels. Overall, the results indicate that marine bivalves can be good sources of high quality protein and lipid especially EPA and DHA. On the other hand, freshwater mussels and snails also could be good sources of protein, LA and ARA but scarcity of EPA and DHA.

Nominal taxa of freshwater Mollusca from Southeast Asia described by Dr. Nguyen N. Thach: A brief overview with new synonyms and fixation of a publication date

In this correspondence, we present a summary of taxonomic names of freshwater Mollusca introduced by Dr. Nguyen N. Thach, an enthusiastic and productive malacologist from Vietnam. We show that this researcher described one new genus and 12 new nominal species of freshwater molluscs from Southeast Asia. Two of these nominal species, Sinanodonta hunganhi Thach, 2016 and Lanceolaria bogani Thach, 2016 (Bivalvia: Unionidae), were already considered junior synonyms of S. jourdyi (Morlet, 1886) and L. fruhstorferi (Dautzenberg, 1900), respectively (Do et al. 2018; Đặng and Hố 2019). Here, we propose one more synonym for the invasive Golden Apple Snail as follows: Pomacea canaliculata (Lamarck, 1822) [=Pomacea thachi Huber in Thach, 2020 syn. nov.] (Gastropoda: Ampullariidae). Furthermore, we establish the formal synonymy for the following taxa: Taia Annandale, 1918 [=Boganmargarya Thach, 2018 syn. nov.]; Taia shanensis (Kobelt, 1909) [=Boganmargarya huberi Thach, 2018 syn. nov.] (Gastropoda: Viviparidae); Brotia henriettae (Gray in Griffith & Pidgeon, 1833) [=Brotia frankhuberi Thach, 2020 syn. nov.; Brotia bogani Thach & Huber in Thach, 2020 syn. nov.] (Gastropoda: Pachychilidae); Pila pesmei (Morlet, 1889) [=Pila huberi Thach, 2020 syn. nov.] (Gastropoda: Ampullariidae); and Paludomus andersoniana Nevill, 1877 [=Paludomus huberi Thach, 2020 syn. nov.] (Gastropoda: Paludomidae). Additionally, four nominal species are treated here as taxa inquirenda: Melanoides thachi Huber in Thach, 2020 (Gastropoda: Thiaridae), Trochoita frankohleri Thach & Huber in Thach, 2020 (Gastropoda: Viviparidae), Paracrostoma huberi Thach, 2018 (Gastropoda: Pachychilidae), and Pseudodon artbogani Thach & Huber in Thach, 2020 (Bivalvia: Unionidae). We also show that the publication date written on the title page of the book “New Shells of South Asia. Volume 2” (Thach, 2020a) is a bit misleading and that this book appeared in the printed form on 23 June 2020. The latter date is fixed here as the date of availability of taxonomic names introduced in this work. Finally, we present an annotated checklist of freshwater Mollusca described by N. N. Thach with approximate coordinates of the type localities and reference to corresponding river drainage basins.

Сучасний стан та особливості таксономічної структури трематод прісноводних молюсків Українського Полісся

The paper presents results on the analysis of the taxonomic structure of the trematode fauna of the Ukrainian Polissia. It was found that the trematode fauna of freshwater molluscs in the Ukrainian Polissia is represented by 62 species. We supplemented the species composition of larvae of trematodes in the region with 23 species, 13 of which were first recorded in Ukraine. The results showed that the number of trematode species the definitive hosts of which are fishes have decreased. According to the obtained data, the most abundant trematode species of freshwater molluscs in the Ukrainian Polissia are those of the families Echinostomatidae, Plagiorchiidae, Diplostomidae, and Notocotylidae. The combined analysis of literature and original data revealed that in the basis of the regional trematode fauna of molluscs are species of the families Echinostomatidae (13 species) and Plagiorchiidae (10 species), which make up almost one-third of the total number of trematode larvae detected. A quite large portion of larvae belong to species of the families Notocotylidae (8 species), Strigeidae (7 species), Diplostomidae (5 species), and Haematolechidae (5 species). Most families (Diplodiscidae, Opisthorchiidae, Leucochloridiomorphidae, Prostogonimidae, Cathaemasiidae, Cyclocoelidae, Prohemistomatidae, and others) are represented only by 1–2 species. In freshwater molluscs of the studied region, we have found only 38 % of trematode species recorded in definitive hosts. Species found in vertebrate animals of the region potentially can also occur in intermediate hosts, but most of these species parasitize in birds that could be infected in other areas. When comparing the taxonomic structure of the trematode fauna of the Polissia with other well-studied regions of Ukraine (Northern Pryazovia and Crimea), some specifics were noted between them. In particular, it was found that the most abundant trematode species in the region as well as in the whole of Ukraine are those of the families Echinostomatidae, Plagiorchiidae, Diplostomidae, Notocotylidae, and Strigeidae. The obtained data allow considering that the trematode fauna of freshwater gastropods of the Ukrainian Polissia is an integral part of the Central European fauna of trematodes.

Annotated checklist of freshwater molluscs from the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia

The Tonle Sap Lake in Cambodia is a crucial freshwater biodiversity hotspot and supports one of the world’s largest inland fisheries. Within the Tonle Sap basin, freshwater molluscs provide vital ecosystem services and are among the fauna targetted for commercial harvesting. Despite their importance, freshwater molluscs of the Tonle Sap basin remain poorly studied. The historical literature was reviewed and at least 153 species of freshwater molluscs have been previously recorded from throughout Cambodia, including 33 from the Tonle Sap basin. Surveys of the Tonle Sap Lake and surrounding watershed were also conducted and found 31 species, 15 bivalves (five families) and 16 gastropods (eight families), in the Tonle Sap basin, including three new records for Cambodia (Scaphula minuta, Novaculina siamensis, Wattebledia siamensis), the presence of globally invasive Pomacea maculata and potential pest species like Limnoperna fortunei. This study represents the most comprehensive documentation of freshwater molluscs of the Tonle Sap basin, and voucher specimens deposited at the Inland Fisheries Research and Development Institute, Cambodia, represent the first known reference collection of freshwater molluscs in the country. In order to combat the combined anthropogenic pressures, including invasive species, climate change and dams along the Mekong River, a multi-pronged approach is urgently required to study the biodiversity, ecology, ecosystem functioning of freshwater molluscs and other aquatic fauna in the Tonle Sap basin.

До історії вивчення прісноводної малакофауни Закарпатської області

Прісноводна малакофауна Закарпаття до сьогоднішнього часу залишається маловивченою і наші дослідження спрямовані на вирішення цієї проблеми. Дана стаття представляє аналітичний огляд наявних літературних відомостей щодо вивченості прісноводної малакофауни Закарпатської області. У ній наведено перелік всіх видів прісноводних молюсків (черевоногих та двостулкових), які відмічались або були зібрані різними авторами на території дослідження впродовж 19-21 ст. Загалом перелік включає 86 видів прісноводних черевоногих молюсків з 13 родин та 33 види двостулкових, які належать до 2 родин. Один вид, Viviparus rossmaessleri (Bourguignat, 1880), вказується лише як можливий мешканець території дослідження. Решта видів, які згадуються у проаналізованій літературі потребують подальшого уточнення, як щодо видової самостійності, так і щодо реальної наявності їх у регіоні. Значна кількість назв (видів) перерахованих у цій статті, за сучасною системою (World Register of Marine Species), зводиться до синонімів загальноприйнятих видів, тому така їх кількість, яка зазначається в літературі на нашу думку є значно перебільшеною. У цій статті ми не ставимо перед собою мету скоротити цей перелік, а лише, спираючись на літературні матеріали, показуємо загальну картину щодо складу малакофауни регіону. Подальша наша робота буде спрямована на систематичне вивчення прісноводної малакофауни Закарпаття, опираючись на власні збори з території дослідження, які проводились впродовж 2016-2019 років. У подальшому це повинно додати наукової певності в оцінці видового складу прісноводної малакофауни Закарпатського регіону.

New species of freshwater molluscs from Gökçeada (northeastern Aegean Sea), Turkey (Gastropoda: Hydrobiidae, Bythinellidae)

New species of freshwater molluscs from Gökçeada (northeastern Aegean Sea), Turkey (Gastropoda: Hydrobiidae, Bythinellidae)

Potential of Leucas zeylanica extract to eliminate E. coli and S. aureus in Corbicula fluminea (“Etak”) tissue

“Etak” or Corbicula fluminea, is a freshwater mollusc species regularly consumed as a popular snack among the Kelantanese in Malaysia. The “etak” is usually heated with traditional smoking process which is considered as half cooked and the smoked C. fluminea is commonly known as “etak salai”. This study focuses on the potential of Leucas zeylanica leaves extract to eliminate the bacteria content in “etak salai”. Extraction of bacterial genomic DNA was performed and confirmed the existence of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) in “etak salai”. Antibacterial properties of L. zeylanica leaves extract was identified using disc diffusion assay and the result obtained exhibit that 70 μg/μL of L. zeylanica extract was the optimum concentration to give the effect of 11 mm inhibition zone for E. coli and 15 mm inhibition zone for S. aureus. This finding proof that L. zeylanica leaves could be the ingredients in the paste for “etak salai” preparation.

New Alien Species Mytilopsis Leucophaeata and Corbicula Fluminalis (Mollusca, Bivalvia) Recorded in Georgia and Notes on Other Non-Indigenous Molluscs Invaded the South Caucasus

Abstract First records of invasive bivalve freshwater mollusc species Mytilopsis leucophaeata (Conrad, 1831) and Corbicula fluminalis (O. F. Müller, 1774) in Georgia are reported. No native or alien extant dreissenid species have ever been recorded form this region so far. A finding of C. fluminalis in Georgia is also a new record for the country though this species inhabits the rivers of adjacent Azerbaijan. Apart from two mentioned bivalve molluscs three non-indigenous gastropod species are registered from Georgia: freshwater Ferrisia californica (Rowell, 1863) and Physella acuta (Draparnaud, 1805) and land snail Eobania vermiculata (O. F. Müller, 1774).

Potential impacts of agricultural development on freshwater biodiversity in the Lake Victoria basin

Abstract The Lake Victoria basin (LVB) and its tributary rivers are a major biodiversity hot spot, containing at least 234 native fish species, 135 native aquatic plant species, and 50 native freshwater mollusc species. Lake Victoria itself is home to around 500 fish species, most of which are haplochromine cichlids. The LVB is increasingly under threat from unsustainable land conversion and the intensification of agriculture. High population growth is driving the expansion of agriculture, urbanization, and freshwater abstractions, which have a profound impact on freshwater biodiversity. In addition, increased demand for agricultural crops from domestic and international markets are likely to lead to larger agricultural operations, further threatening freshwater biodiversity. This study explores these potential future impacts on the biodiversity found in freshwater rivers in the LVB as a result of projected future changes in land use. A newly developed database of land‐use impacts on freshwater biodiversity is introduced, with a focus on ecological community composition data from freshwater habitats under human pressures. Impacts on freshwater biodiversity are then projected under four different scenarios of land‐use change. Results show that land use has a significant impact on freshwater biodiversity. Freshwater biodiversity is projected to be at most risk in sub‐basins in the Tanzanian, Rwandan, and Burundian part of the LVB, such as the Kagera and Magoga/Isonga sub‐basins. Local species richness levels are particularly affected in the Magoga/Isonga sub‐basin in Tanzania, with an average loss of 10.8% across all scenarios. Model results show the potential to identify broad spatial patterns of likely threats and pressures on freshwater ecosystems under different socio‐economic futures. The analysis of these patterns, where they are consistent and where they differ, can support the production of policy that strives to find the optimal balance between development and conservation in an uncertain future.