Benthic macrofauna associated to the invasive bivalve Mytilopsis leucophaeata (Dreissenidae) in a coastal lagoon in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Abstract

The invasion record for the estuarine bivalve Mytilopsis leucophaeata in Brazil is in Rio de Janeiro city, including the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, where high densities of this invader were registered. This work aimed to (1) assess the composition and structure of the benthic macrofauna associated with this invader in Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, ( 2) analyze the spatiotemporal variation of richness, density and diversity of the associated benthic community, and (3) correlate changes on the density of the associated benthic species with some water quality variables and the density of M. leucophaeata. Clusters of M. leucophaeata were collected monthly (two years) in four sites. Nine taxa associated with M. leucophaeata were found; Heleobia sp. (Gastropoda) and Melita mangrovi (Amphipoda) showed the highest densities. The structure of the benthic macrofauna slightly differed among sampling sites, but not between dry and wet seasons. The water quality parameters, specifi c patterns of each taxon and high densities of M. leucophaeata contribute to variations in density of the associated species. Oscillations in the densities of M. leucophaeata and the native bivalve Brachidontes darwinianus suggest some agonistic relationship between them, such as a competition for space.

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

“…Species MPs g w.w. − Non-native dreissenids may negatively impact local biodiversity, leading to reductions in populations of native species and changes in ecosystem structure and functioning [62][63][64][65][66][67][68]. Fluctuations in the population of the native bivalve Brachidontes darwinianus in Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon have been recorded after the dark false mussel's introduction in 2014 [12,13,16]. Considering our results, M. leucophaeata may be preferentially used as a bioindicator or sentinel species of microplastic contamination in Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, as well as in other invaded systems, instead of native and often threatened bivalves.…”

“…The dark false mussel Mytilopsis leucophaeata (Conrad, 1831) is native to the Gulf of Mexico and the United States of America but is currently recorded in Europe, Asia, North Africa, and Brazil [10]. In Brazil, M. leucophaeata was accidentally introduced in brackish systems, probably through adult individuals attached to ship hulls or larval dispersion in ballast water [11][12][13]. The first record of this non-native species was in 2004 in estuaries of the state of Pernambuco in the Northeast country's region [14] and, after a decade, M. leucophaeata was found in Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, Rio de Janeiro city, at the Southeastern region of Brazil [12].…”

“…The first record of this non-native species was in 2004 in estuaries of the state of Pernambuco in the Northeast country's region [14] and, after a decade, M. leucophaeata was found in Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, Rio de Janeiro city, at the Southeastern region of Brazil [12]. The dark false mussel M. leucophaeata became the most abundant epibenthic macrofauna in the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, being widely distributed throughout its littoral zone [13,15], concurrently with the report of a reduced density of the native bivalve Brachidontes darwinianus (Linnaeus, 1798) in this system [16]. Negative impacts of non-native bivalves on native species are associated with higher rates of seston filtration and food ingestion of the invaders, competition for space with native fouling species, shifts in habitat structure and refuge areas for benthic species, and changes in prey availability for higher trophic levels, altering community structure and food webs [8,13,[16][17][18].…”

“…The dark false mussel M. leucophaeata became the most abundant epibenthic macrofauna in the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, being widely distributed throughout its littoral zone [13,15], concurrently with the report of a reduced density of the native bivalve Brachidontes darwinianus (Linnaeus, 1798) in this system [16]. Negative impacts of non-native bivalves on native species are associated with higher rates of seston filtration and food ingestion of the invaders, competition for space with native fouling species, shifts in habitat structure and refuge areas for benthic species, and changes in prey availability for higher trophic levels, altering community structure and food webs [8,13,[16][17][18]. Moreover, the colonization of artificial substrates by Mytilopsis sp.…”

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

“…In Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, an urban coastal system in Southeastern Brazil (Rio de Janeiro city), the dark false mussel M. leucophaeata was first recorded in 2014 ( Rizzo et al, 2014 ). Currently this species is the most abundant epibenthic macrofauna in the lagoon, being widely distributed throughout its littoral zone ( Maia-Neto, Caetano & Cardoso, 2020 ; Rodrigues et al, 2021 ). The evaluation of historical data of Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon and results obtained from laboratory experiments evidenced that dark false mussels increased water transparency and reduced the density of fecal bacteria Escherichia coli ( Neves et al, 2020 ).…”