Changing Perspectives on Pearly Mussels, North America's Most Imperiled Animals

Strayer, David L.; Downing, John A.; Haag, Wendell R.; King, Timothy L.; Layzer, James B.; Newton, Teresa J.; Nichols, Jerrine S.

doi:10.1641/0006-3568(2004)054[0429:cpopmn]2.0.co;2

Cited by 543 publications

(437 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…construction of dams, and introduction of exotic species (Strayer et al 2004). The vast number of potential factors contributing to their decline makes it difficult to determine the key chemical contaminants or set of environmental conditions to target in a regulatory framework for protection and conservation (Cope et al 2008).…”

Section: Responsible Editor: Philippe Garriguesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transcriptomic responses of the endangered freshwater mussel Margaritifera margaritifera to trace metal contamination in the Dronne River, France

Bertucci

Pierron

Thébault

et al. 2017

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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The freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera is one of the most threatened freshwater bivalves worldwide. In this study, we aimed (i) to study the processes by which water quality might affect freshwater mussels in situ and (ii) to provide insights into the ecotoxicological significance of water pollution to natural populations in order to provide necessary information to enhance conservation strategies. M. margaritifera specimens were sampled in two close sites located upstream or downstream from an illegal dumping site. The renal transcriptome of these animals was assembled and gene transcription determined by RNA-seq. Correlations between transcription levels of each single transcript and the bioaccumulation of nine trace metals, age (estimated by sclerochronology), and condition index were determined in order to identify genes likely to respond to a specific factor. Amongst the studied metals, Cr, Zn, Cd, and Ni were the main factors correlated with transcription levels, with effects on translation, apoptosis, immune response, response to stimulus, and transport pathways.However, the main factor explaining changes in gene transcription appeared to be the age of individuals with a negative correlation with the transcription of retrotransposon-related genes. To investigate this effect further, mussels were classified into three age classes. In young, middle-aged and old animals, transcription levels were mainly explained by Cu, Zn and age, respectively. This suggests differences in the molecular responses of this species to metals during its lifetime that must be better assessed in future ecotoxicology studies.

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Section: Responsible Editor: Philippe Garriguesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transcriptomic responses of the endangered freshwater mussel Margaritifera margaritifera to trace metal contamination in the Dronne River, France

Bertucci

Pierron

Thébault

et al. 2017

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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“…The ancient bivalve fauna of European and North American rivers was dominated by freshwater mussels from the Margaritiferidae and Unionidae families and small clams from the Sphaeriidae family. For example, the freshwater mussel species were very common in stable substrates but nowadays this ancient bivalve fauna is at risk in the principal European rivers (Reis 2003, Geist & Kuehn 2005, being also of conservational concern in North American freshwater habitats (Lydeard et al 2004, Strayer et al 2004). In contrast, several worldwide freshwater ecosystems are now colonized by non-indigenous invasive bivalve species (e.g.…”

Section: Possible Ecological Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecology of the invasive Asian clam Corbicula fluminea (Müller, 1774) in aquatic ecosystems: an overview

Sousa

Antunes

Guilhermino

2008

Ann. Limnol. - Int. J. Lim.

292

232

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The Asian clam Corbicula fluminea is one of the most invasive species in freshwater aquatic ecosystems. The rapid growth, earlier sexual maturity, short life span, high fecundity and its association with human activities makes C. fluminea a non-indigenous invasive species likely to colonize new environments. This species, originally distributed in Asiatic ecosystems, is now a common inhabitant of American and European freshwater habitats. The present paper reviews the information related to the life cycle, ecology and potential ecological and economic impacts caused by C. fluminea in the invaded habitats. Furthermore, this paper also proposed future works that may be implemented in order to increase our general knowledge about the ecology of this bivalve.

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“…Increasing anthropogenic pressure worldwide results in habitat loss, habitat modification and fragmentation, overexploitation of natural resources (including water), pollution, introduction of invasive alien species (IAS) and climate change (Malmqvist & Rundle, 2002;Strayer & Dudgeon, 2010). Biodiversity crisis is one of the major consequences of steeply rising human demands, and among the animals with high extinction rates are freshwater bivalves (FB) (Strayer et al, 2004;Lydeard et al, 2004;Régnier et al, 2009;Lopes-Lima et al, 2014, 2017a. The future survival of FB is highly impaired and considering the large suite of ecosystem services they provide (Vaughn, 2017) scientists, managers, politicians and the general public need to strengthen their cooperation in order to conserve these species.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Conservation of freshwater bivalves at the global scale: diversity, threats and research needs

et al. 2018

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Bivalves are ubiquitous members of freshwater ecosystems and responsible for important functions and services. The present paper revises freshwater bivalve diversity, conservation status and threats at the global scale and discusses future research needs and management actions. The diversity patterns are uneven across the globe with hotspots in the interior basin in the United States of America (USA), Central America, Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Freshwater bivalves are affected by multiple threats that vary across the globe; however, pollution and natural system (habitat) modifications being consistently found as the most impacting. Freshwater bivalves are among the most threatened groups in the world with 40% of the species being near threatened, threatened or extinct, and among them the order Unionida is the most endangered. We suggest that global cooperation between scientists, managers, politicians and general public, and application of new technologies (new generation sequencing and remote sensing, among others) will strengthen the quality of studies on the natural history and conservation of freshwater bivalves. Finally, we introduce

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Changing Perspectives on Pearly Mussels, North America's Most Imperiled Animals

Cited by 543 publications

References 44 publications

Transcriptomic responses of the endangered freshwater mussel Margaritifera margaritifera to trace metal contamination in the Dronne River, France

Transcriptomic responses of the endangered freshwater mussel Margaritifera margaritifera to trace metal contamination in the Dronne River, France

Ecology of the invasive Asian clam Corbicula fluminea (Müller, 1774) in aquatic ecosystems: an overview

Conservation of freshwater bivalves at the global scale: diversity, threats and research needs

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