Freshwater mussel conservation: A global horizon scan of emerging threats and opportunities

Aldridge, David C.; Ollard, Isobel; Bespalaya, Yulia V.; Bolotov, Ivan N.; Douda, Karel; Geist, Juergen; Haag, Wendell R.; Klunzinger, M.W.; Lopes‐Lima, Manuel; Mlambo, Musa C.; Riccardi, Nicoletta; Sousa, Ronaldo; Strayer, David L.; Torres, Santiago; Vaughn, Caryn C.; Zając, Tadeusz; Zieritz, Alexandra

doi:10.1111/gcb.16510

Cited by 40 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 206 publications

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“…Changes in temperature and light can lead to seasonal differences in the pool of food resources (Christian et al, 2004; Fogelman et al, 2022), and unionid physiological stress can also lead to changes in uptake and isotopic assimilation and overall trophic niche (Fogelman et al, 2023). Further work is required to better understand unionid feeding ecology, but also disentangle the role of spatial and temporal variability in mussel trophic niche partitioning (Aldridge et al, 2022; Galbraith et al, 2009).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite being in the same functional group, mussel species have different stoichiometric requirements that are linked to their growth rates (Atkinson et al, 2020; Hopper, Dickinson, & Atkinson, 2021), which could lead to differences in isotopic fractioning and signatures among species. Mussel responses to changes in food availability and other environmental stressors are understudied (Aldridge et al, 2022). Although we tried to characterize food resources at our sites at low flows to control for temporal variability, events such as droughts and floods can also limit the access to and type of resources that species and populations can obtain (Atkinson et al, 2009) over longer periods of time.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Niche specialization and community niche space increase with species richness in filter‐feeder assemblages

et al. 2023

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Ecological theory posits that higher species richness should be associated with greater exploitation of resources and niche packing resulting from either increasing species niche overlap or specialization of species' niches. Research evaluating niche theory in animals tends to focus on organisms among functional feeding guilds, while resource partitioning might be more critical within functional groups. Freshwater mussels (Family: Unionidae) are a diverse and imperiled group of animals that are ideal models to test niche occupancy due to their functional similarity as filter‐feeders and their occurrence in spatially and temporally stable multispecies aggregations. We evaluated the relationship between species richness and the trophic niche area for 25 mussel species occurring in 22 aggregations in the southeastern United States using stable isotope analysis (δ13C and δ15N) of soft tissue (n = 1057). Mean species standard ellipse area decreased with species richness, whereas ellipse overlap was not related to richness, indicating increased niche specialization may be the primary mechanism allowing coexistence in species‐rich communities. Total community isotopic area increased with richness, suggesting species‐rich communities also use a broader range of resources and may not be species‐saturated. Overall, our data support the niche‐packing hypothesis by illustrating the importance of niche partitioning within a species‐rich guild of aquatic animals.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Niche specialization and community niche space increase with species richness in filter‐feeder assemblages

et al. 2023

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“…Parasites are widespread among freshwater bivalves (Brian & Aldridge, 2019). Earlier, it was established that parasites could influence the population dynamics, life cycle, and food webs of their hosts (Taskinen & Valtonen, 1995;Jokela et al 2005;Müller et al 2015;Aldridge et al 2023). Hence, the significance of research on freshwater bivalve parasites is obvious (Ferreira-Rodríguez et al 2019;.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Infection of Corbicula clams by trematode cercariae in Myanmar

et al. 2023

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A few studies on parasites associated with Corbicula clams are currently available. Here, we report on the first DNA-based and histological identification of cercariae of the trematode Prosorhynchoides sp. (Digenea: Bucephalidae) in C. fluminea and C. leana from Myanmar. The cercariae of Prosorhynchoides sp. were discovered in the foot tissue of these clams. The mean body length of cercaria is 132.7 ± 10.0 µm, while the mean tail stem length is 26.1±1.4 µm.

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“…Recent reviews emphasise that significant knowledge gaps still exist in freshwater mussel conservation (Aldridge et al, 2022;Ferreira-Rodríguez et al, 2019;Sousa et al, 2022). Knowledge gaps make addressing these enigmatic declines difficult.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…

The threatened nature of freshwater mussels is well-documented.Over 45% of freshwater mussels are considered near threatened, vulnerable or endangered, a figure which rises to nearly 70% in North America (IUCN, 2022). Many causes of mussel declines are well established, but mussel populations and species are also subject to enigmatic declines: significant reductions in population size, or local extirpations of certain species, that do not have a clear cause.Recent reviews emphasise that significant knowledge gaps still exist in freshwater mussel conservation (Aldridge et al, 2022;Ferreira-Rodríguez et al, 2019;Sousa et al, 2022). Knowledge gaps make addressing these enigmatic declines difficult.

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confidence: 99%

Enigmatic freshwater mussel declines could be explained by the biodiversity‐disease relationship

Brian

Aldridge

2023

Journal of Applied Ecology

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The biodiversity‐disease relationship states that increased species richness leads to lower pathogen pressure (i.e. the dilution effect), an effect that erodes with biodiversity loss. However, whether losses of the dilution effect can trigger extinction cascades remains largely unexplored. To explore this idea, we consider declines in freshwater mussels, on average the most threatened non‐marine group of organisms in the world. We argue that anthropogenically stimulated declines in mussel richness amplify pathogens in remaining species. Pathogen amplification triggers further local losses in both mussel abundance and richness, explaining the observed so‐called “enigmatic” declines in freshwater mussels. Vulnerable communities could become trapped in cycles of pathogen amplification and host decline. We highlight knowledge gaps and provide key steps to assess the likelihood of this occurring; these key steps are applicable to any host group. Policy implications. Our argument constitutes a testable hypothesis that may explain richness or abundance declines in previously intact communities. We provide further impetus for the consideration and preservation of diversity at a local scale and show that effective conservation requires integration of both host and parasite ecology.

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Freshwater mussel conservation: A global horizon scan of emerging threats and opportunities

Cited by 40 publications

References 206 publications

Niche specialization and community niche space increase with species richness in filter‐feeder assemblages

Niche specialization and community niche space increase with species richness in filter‐feeder assemblages

Infection of Corbicula clams by trematode cercariae in Myanmar

Enigmatic freshwater mussel declines could be explained by the biodiversity‐disease relationship

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