The effect of temperature and body size on filtration rates of Limnoperna fortunei (Bivalvia, Mytilidae) under laboratory conditions

Abstract

The golden mussel (Limnoperna fortunei, Mollusca: Bivalvia) is an invasive species that has been causing considerable environmental and economic problems in South America. In the present study, filtration rates of L. fortunei were determined in the laboratory under different temperatures (10, 15, 20, 25, 28, and 30 ºC)

Ecosystem Engineering Impact ofLimnoperna fortuneiin South America

“…Specimens can fulfill their energetic requirements using only phytoplankton and seston. According to estimates by Sylvester et al (2005), abundance of phytoplankton in the lower Paraná River is not high enough to cover such energy demands, which vary by season and specimen size (Pestana et al, 2009). Therefore, L. fortunei must filter particulate organic matter.…”

Assessment of inorganic contaminants in golden mussel (Limnoperna fortunei) in Southern Brazil

“…23, No. 5, 2012 high filtration power (133 to 350 mL h -1 per individual), 16 these mussels can be used as sentinels 17 of chemical distribution and levels of elements in aquatic ecosystems. 5 The characterization of this biomarker in different locations can simultaneously provide information on the pollution status of the region and better comprehension of response mechanisms that these organisms use against the pollutants.…”

Modeling potential impacts of three benthic invasive species on the Lake Erie food web

“…The observed decrease in dreissenid mussels after the peak may be partially attributed to food limitations associated with their filtering activity . The higher prey vulnerabilities to golden mussels (2-40) compared to dreissenid mussels (= 1) in our model may be supported by (1) golden mussels having a much higher clearance rate (Pestana et al 2009), and (2) being able to exploit food resources in habitats not available to dreissenid mussels in Lake Erie, such as in hypoxic waters of Lake Erie's central basin (Karatayev et al 2007b;Patterson et al 2005) that may comprise up to one-third of the total lake area (Zhou et al 2013).…”