Data from "Surveys that prioritize site number over time per site will result in better gastropod status assessments: a case study on the rediscovery of Big Black Rocksnail"

Freshwater gastropods are among the most imperiled organisms on earth. Yet, they are among the most understudied freshwater taxon. Many freshwater gastropod species have gone extinct in the last 100 years, but recent rediscoveries indicate that inadequate survey work has resulted in some species being prematurely declared extinct. Such premature declaration of extinction can remove legal protections for species, which could then actually cause extinction. Thus, research and policy recommendations are needed so surveys provide the best information possible for conservation. Here, we examined the case of <i>Lithasia hubrichti</i>, a freshwater gastropod endemic to the Big Black River in Mississippi that was last seen in 1965. In 2022, a freshwater mollusk survey resulted in finding <i>L. hubrichti</i> alive. An additional survey effort in 2023 that prioritized sampling as many sites as possible in a single day clarified the current range of <i>L. hubrichti</i>.<i> </i>Genomic analyses indicated that the species has persisted with a large population size for thousands of years, rather than ever falling below a survey detection limit. When considering the case of <i>L. hubrichti </i>and other recent freshwater gastropod rediscoveries, we conclude that freshwater gastropod surveys should emphasize sampling as many sites as possible when targeting rare species, rather than expending high sampling effort at a small number of sites. We also advocate for policies that encourage partnerships with landowners, which was required to rediscover <i>L. hubrichti</i>.