A Global Invader Is Possibly Two: First Genetic Investigation of Native Populations of the Estuarine Bivalve Mytilopsis leucophaeata (Dreissenidae)

Do feeding responses of a non-native bivalve outperform the native one in a coastal lagoon? A possible explanation for the invasion success of the dark false mussel Mytilopsis leucophaeata

“…Several theories attempt to explain the success of non-native species, including the release of predators and pathogens, and the absence of competitors ( e.g ., Fagan et al, 2002 ; Simberloff et al, 2013 ). Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon provides optimal conditions of temperature and salinity for the establishment of the tropical lineage of M. leucopheata ( Fernandes, Salgueiro & Miyahira, 2022 ), in addition the lagoon has few native competitors ( e.g ., scorched mussels, barnacles; Rodrigues et al, 2021 ) and potential predators ( Moraes, Andreata & Oliveira, 2014 ), which seems to explain the massive colonization and distribution of dark false mussels in this coastal shallow lagoon. However, since no competitive advantage was detected in feeding behavior, other ecological interactions and biological responses ( e.g ., space competition, growth rates, reproductive rates, larval settlement) must be tested to confirm the successful mechanisms of M. leucophaeata in this introduced system to mitigate its negative impacts on native biota, especially the scorched mussel B. darwinianus .…”

“…Coastal marine ecosystems, including bays, estuaries, and lagoons, are often heavily impacted by human activities, including intentional and unintentional introduction of non-native species ( Crooks, 2001 ). One of the main reasons is the release of non-indigenous species through ballast water of ships affecting coastal environments with ports infrastructure, especially at large cities with intense commercial activity by navigation ( Minchin & Gollasch, 2002 ; Fernandes, Salgueiro & Miyahira, 2022 ). Impacts of non-native species in invaded systems often include the loss of native biodiversity induced by new-established ecological interactions in receiving community, the shifts in community structure and functioning, and possibly the changes in ecosystem physical and chemical properties ( e.g ., Anil, 2006 ; Florin et al, 2013 ; Kalchev et al, 2013 ; Ojaveer et al, 2018 ; Neves et al, 2020 ).…”

“…Dreissenid bivalves are among the most notable fresh- and brackish water invaders including, respectively, species of Dreissena ( D. polymorpha and D. bugensis ) and Mytilopsis ( M. leucophaeata and M. sallei ) ( e.g ., Vanderploeg et al, 2001 ; Verween, Vincx & Degraer, 2010 ; McLaughlan & Aldridge, 2013 ; Geda et al, 2018 ; Fernandes, Salgueiro & Miyahira, 2022 ). Most dreissenid studies are focused on the impacts of zebra mussels ( D. polymorpha ) and quagga mussels ( D. bugensis ) on freshwater systems, since these species are considered aggressive freshwater invaders that profoundly affect ecological and economic aspects of the introduced waterbodies (reviewed in Vanderploeg et al, 2001 ; Karatayev et al, 2021 ).…”

One more place to call home: the invasive bivalve Mytilopsis leucophaeata reaches the Maricá-Guarapina lagoon system (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)

“…DNA was extracted with a Qiagen DNeasy Blood and Tissue kit, with the quality of the extraction measured through a Nanodrop 2000 spectrophotometer. We followed the procedures of Fernandes et al (2021) for the partial amplification of the COI (cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1) gene, using primers HCO2198-LCO1490 (Folmer et al 1994) and the thermocycling profile: initial denaturation at 95°C (5′); 37 cycles of denaturation at 95°C (45″), annealing at 48°C (45″), extension at 72°C (1′30″), followed by a final extension at 72°C (5′). Sequences were merged in contigs using the software MEGA 7, and aligned with MUSCLE.…”

First Record of Microplastic Contamination in the Non-Native Dark False Mussel Mytilopsis leucophaeata (Bivalvia: Dreissenidae) in a Coastal Urban Lagoon

“…Coastal marine ecosystems are frequently impacted by anthropogenic activities, including the intentional and unintentional introductions of non-native species [1]. The most conspicuous cause of biological invasion in coastal systems is the introduction of nonnative species through the ballast water of ships in areas adjacent to ports and marinas [2,3]. Several consequences in coastal ecosystems could be attributed to bioinvasion, such as the establishment of new ecological interactions (e.g., competition, predation, parasitism) in invaded systems, loss of native biodiversity, changes in the structure and functioning of the biological community, and potentially, alterations in physical and chemical properties of the system [4][5][6][7][8].…”