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

Sousa, Ronaldo; Antunes, Carlos; Guilhermino, Lúcia

doi:10.1051/limn:2008017

Cited by 282 publications

(246 citation statements)

References 89 publications

(113 reference statements)

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“…Applying such findings to our results it was also possible that the higher river flows during 2009/2010 resulted in higher mortalities, negatively affecting bivalve populations and possibly imposing a serious threat to some species. C. fluminea, has a typical opportunistic life cycle (Sousa et al, 2008b(Sousa et al, , 2008d giving this species an advantage over the four native species concerning extreme climatic events, since it recovers more rapidly (Sousa et al, 2008a(Sousa et al, , 2008cIlarri et al, 2011). Extreme events are predicted to increase over the next few decades as a result of climate change.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Massive die-offs of freshwater bivalves as resource pulses

Sousa

Varandas

Cortes

et al. 2012

Ann. Limnol. - Int. J. Lim.

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-The winter of 2009/2010 was particularly severe in Northern Portugal resulting in higher river flow levels. A study was undertaken to assess the impact of this situation on several populations of freshwater bivalves (e.g., Anodonta anatina, Corbicula fluminea, Margaritifera margaritifera, Potomida littoralis and Unio delphinus) in the catchments of the Rivers Minho, Douro, Taˆmega, Tua and Sabor. Massive die-offs occurred for all species in all rivers, resulting in the removal of great numbers and biomass from the riverbed to the adjacent riverbanks, reaching maximum values of 2280 individuals.m x2 and 10 225 g wet weight.m x2 , respectively. The invasive Asian clam C. fluminea had both highest density and biomass (however, this invasive bivalve is not dominant in several surveyed sites, and some rivers are still not colonized by this species). Results show that the quantitative and qualitative importance of this carrion transfer to the riverbank should be incorporated in future studies on the assessment of ecosystem function, contributing to a better understanding of the role of freshwater bivalves as resource pulses in adjacent terrestrial habitats. Some of the affected species have conservational importance and these extreme climatic events are predicted to increase in the future. These massive die-off events should be incorporated into management plans and selected restoration measures such as rapid relocation of endangered native mussels back to the riverbed can be easily applied to lessen possible impacts.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Massive die-offs of freshwater bivalves as resource pulses

Sousa

Varandas

Cortes

et al. 2012

Ann. Limnol. - Int. J. Lim.

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“…This is a filtering species, and its biomass consists basically of carbon from phytoplankton (Vaughn and Hakenkamp, 2001). This species lacked natural enemies (e.g., parasites and predators) in the invaded areas and can filter huge amounts of water (Sousa et al, 2008), which probably explains its high biomass even in an environment with limited productivity.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of flow reduction and spillways on the composition and structure of benthic macroinvertebrate communities in a Brazilian river reach

Maroneze¹,

Tupinambás²,

França³

et al. 2011

Braz. J. Biol.

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Dams are a major threat to aquatic biological diversity. By altering the natural flow of rivers, dams modify fluvial habitats, making them unsuitable for the growth and reproduction of many aquatic species. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a reduced flow reach (RFR) on benthic macroinvertebrate communities. Benthic macroinvertebrates were collected at six sites downstream of the Amador Aguiar Power Plant I before (lotic phase) and after (semi-lentic phase) Araguari River mean flow was reduced from 346 to 7 m 3 .s -1. Changes in macroinvertebrates richness, diversity and total biomass were not observed. Ablabesmyia, Tanytarsus (Chironomidae, Diptera), Leptoceridae and Polycentropodidae (Trichoptera) densities significantly increased the first year after flow reduction and the construction of spillways (t-test; p < 0.05). An analysis of similarity (ANOSIM) showed statistical differences in taxonomical composition despite considerable overlap in communities between the lotic and semi-lentic phases (R = 0.3; p < 0.01). In both phases, the macroinvertebrates were characterised by the dominance of groups tolerant to human disturbance (e.g., Chironomidae, Ceratopogonidae and Oligochaeta) and by the presence of the alien bivalve species Corbicula fluminea (Veneroidae), suggesting that the river was already degraded before the hydraulic modifications. Since the 1980s, the Araguari River has been continuously subjected to human pressures (e.g., cascade dams, urbanization and replacement of native vegetation by pasture and crops). These activities have led to impoverishment of biological communities and have consequently altered the ecosystem.Keywords: spillways, reduced flow, dams, benthic, anthrophic impacts.Efeitos da redução de vazão e construção de soleiras vertentes sobre a composição e estrutura de comunidades de macroinvertebrados bentônicos em um trecho de rio brasileiro ResumoAs represas constituem uma das principais ameaças à diversidade biológica. Ao alterarem a vazão natural de um rio, modificam os habitats fluviais tornando-os inadequados para o crescimento e reprodução de diversas espécies aquáticas. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os efeitos de um trecho de vazão reduzida sobre as comunidades de macroinvertebrados bentônicos. Os organismos foram coletados em seis estações amostrais à jusante da UHE Amador Aguiar I antes (fase lótica) e após (fase semilêntica) a vazão média do rio Araguari (MG) ter sido reduzida de 346 para 7 m 3 .s -1. Não foram registradas mudanças na riqueza, diversidade e biomassa total dos macroinvertebrados. As densidades (ind.m -2 ) de Ablabesmyia, Tanytarsus (Diptera), Leptoceridae e Polycentropodidae (Trichoptera) aumentaram significativamente no primeiro ano após a redução da vazão e construção das soleiras vertentes (t-test; p < 0,05). Uma análise de similaridade (ANOSIM) apontou diferenças significativas na composição taxonômica, porém houve sobreposição das comunidades entre as fases lótica e semilêntica (R = 0,3; p < 0,01). Em ambas as fases a ma...

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“…In freshwater ecosystems, Corbicula fluminea sensu lato (a designation that certainly contains several species; see for example, Hillis and Patton, 1982) has been reported as one of the most invasive species because of its wide geographic distribution and high invasive success (reviewed in Sousa et al, 2008). This latter was mainly attributed to biological characteristics such as early maturation, high fecundity and excellent dispersal capacities through passive transportation of juveniles in water current or via aquatic birds.…”

Section: Polyploidy and Nuclear Capturementioning

confidence: 99%

Androgenesis: a review through the study of the selfish shellfish Corbicula spp.

et al. 2012

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Among the asexual reproductive modes, androgenesis is probably one of the most astonishing and least studied mechanisms. In this 'paternal monopolization', the maternal nuclear genome fails to participate in zygote development and offspring are paternal nuclear clones. Obligate androgenesis is known in only a few organisms, including multiple species of clam in the genus Corbicula. Corbicula is a good system to review the evolutionary consequences of this 'all-male asexuality' because the cytological mechanisms of androgenetic reproduction have been described. In Corbicula, sperm are unreduced and, after fertilization, the maternal nuclear chromosomes are extruded as two polar bodies. Hermaphroditic lineages of Corbicula have a worldwide distribution and seem to reproduce through androgenesis, whereas their sexual relatives have restricted ranges. The invasive success of these androgenetic Corbicula lineages may be linked to their asexual mode of reproduction. We review the phenomenon of androgenesis, focusing on evolutionary perspectives, using the genus Corbicula as an exemplar system.

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

Cited by 282 publications

References 89 publications

Massive die-offs of freshwater bivalves as resource pulses

Massive die-offs of freshwater bivalves as resource pulses

Effects of flow reduction and spillways on the composition and structure of benthic macroinvertebrate communities in a Brazilian river reach

Androgenesis: a review through the study of the selfish shellfish Corbicula spp.

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