Distribution and current status of non-indigenous mollusc species in Lithuanian inland waters

Abstract

In the Laurentian Great Lakes, the invasive form of Phragmites australis (common reed) poses a threat to highly productive coastal wetlands and shorelines by forming impenetrable stands that outcompete native plants. Large, dominant stands can derail efforts to restore wetland ecosystems degraded by other stressors. To be proactive, landscape-level management of Phragmites requires information on the current spatial distribution of the species and a characterization of areas suitable for future colonization. Using a recent basin-scale map of this invasive plant's distribution in the U.S. coastal zone of the Great Lakes, environmental data (e.g., soils, nutrients, disturbance, climate, topography), and climate predictions, we performed analyses of current and predicted suitable coastal habitat using boosted regression trees, a type of species distribution modeling. We also investigated differential influences of environmental variables in the upper lakes (Lakes Superior, Michigan, and Huron) and lower lakes (Lakes St. Clair, Erie, and Ontario). Basin-wide results showed that the coastal areas most vulnerable to Phragmites expansion were in close proximity to developed lands and had minimal topographic relief, poorly drained soils, and dense road networks. Elevated nutrients and proximity to agriculture also influenced the distribution of Phragmites. Climate predictions indicated an increase in suitable habitat in coastal Lakes Huron and Michigan in particular. The results of this study, combined with a publicly available online decision support tool, will enable resource managers and restoration practitioners to target and prioritize Phragmites control efforts in the Great Lakes coastal zone.

Exploring species diversity of lissorchiid trematodes (Digenea: Lissorchiidae) associated with the gravel snail,Lithoglyphus naticoides, in European freshwaters

“…In Lithuania, L. naticoides was mainly found in running waters, mostly in sites at the Nemunas River and also at some of its tributaries not far upstream from their confluences. The lentic sites where this species was detected are located in the Curonian Lagoon, and Kaunas and Elektrėnai water reservoirs (Butkus et al ., 2014). In Hungary, L. naticoides is widely distributed in the Danube River and its main tributaries (Bódis et al ., 2012).…”

Primera cita en África del caracol del cieno de Nueva Zelanda Potamopyrgus antipodarum (J.E. Gray, 1843) (Tateidae, Mollusca)

“…It is expected that the species range will increase exponentially across the five continents. In European waters the species has been present for more than 100 years, and its further expansion in temperate freshwater ecosystems is still ongoing (Rakauskas et al, 2007;Butkus et al, 2014), which is already noted in the neighbouring invaded areas. Alonso et al (2019) have shown that the species has invaded the entire Iberian Peninsula and it is in a clear spreading phase, which makes its control very difficult, especially because of its non-water mediated dispersion mechanisms (e.g., mud or birds).…”

Decline of freshwater gastropods exposed to recurrent interacting stressors implying cyanobacterial proliferations and droughts

“…However, stress exposure may also lead to the disappearance of P. acuta as in Lithuanian inland waters (Europe) where the locally established snail was not recorded since 1950s, possibly due to long term application of herbicides and consequent depletion of oxygen and/or food resources (Buktus et al 2014).…”