Science Advisory Report  2010/068

Recovery Potential Assessment for Atlantic Mud-piddock (Barnea truncata)

Summary

• The population of Barnea truncata in Canada is a small disjunct relic population restricted to a single type of substrate, red-mudstone, within the intertidal zone of the Minas Basin, Nova Scotia. The limited occurrence of this habitat results in an area of occupancy of less than 0.6 km2.
• The population appears to be stable and is not expected to increase beyond current levels.  There is no current estimate of abundance.  Given the limited habitat available, a reasonable "recovery target" would be to maintain the current population status.
• Threats include natural (storm events) or human-induced changes in habitat quality and sediment deposition that can smother existing populations.
• Maintaining the Atlantic Mud-piddock population will be directly dependent on sustaining the exposed red-mudstone habitat within the Minas Basin.

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