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In Southeast Asia, freshwater mussel diversity, distribution and conservation status is very poorly understood, with limited data and studies available on its functional ecology as compared to freshwater mussels in temperate regions. The present thesis aims to investigate the functional ecology of freshwater mussels in Peninsular Malaysia. Firstly, the effects of mussels on the water column were investigated in a filtration experiment combining mesocosm in natural habitat and laboratory experiment involving river mussel community and lake mussel community. Second, the effects of mussel presence on benthic macroinvertebrates were investigated through biodiversity survey in 28 sites with and without mussel presence across Peninsular Malaysia. \ud \ud While in situ clearance shown no significant differences between mussel treatments and controls, ex situ clearance experiment suggest that both river and lake mussel communities affect the ecosystem through different ways. River mussel have significant significantly reduces Soluble Reactive Phosphorus (SRP) (P=0.048), indicating removal of nutrient from the water column. Inversely, lake mussel community significantly increase Total Phosphorus (TP) (P |
