High tolerance to abiotic stressors and invasion success of the slow growing freshwater snail, Melanoides tuberculatus

Abstract

Considerable research has been conducted to determine traits common to invasive species with the goal of predicting, preventing, or managing invasions. The importance of physiological tolerance to abiotic stressors in the ability of invasive species to establish and displace native species has been hypothesized to be important although there are few actual tests of the hypothesis in the literature. In freshwater molluscs it has been suggested that high fecundity is the most important trait for invasion success and that physiological tolerance to abiotic conditions is unlikely to play a significant role. We examined the tolerance to abiotic stressors using a known invasive snail species (Melanoides tuberculatus) that has a much slower growth rate and fecundity than a native species it has displaced (Biomphalaria glabrata). We tested the hypothesis that M. tuberculatus would have significantly greater tolerance to natural and anthropogenic abiotic stressors (cadmium, malathion, temperature extremes, and desiccation) which may provide a mechanism for displacement of B. glabrata. A time-to-event analysis was used to determine relative tolerance between species. M. tuberculatus was significantly more tolerant to the tested abiotic stressors than B. glabrata with the exception of low temperature (5°C). Stress tolerance may partly explain the ability of M. tuberculatus to displace B. glabrata despite having a much lower growth rate and fecundity. These results also suggest that M. tuberculatus is likely to have a strong advantage in disturbed or polluted habitats. Identifying those traits most important for the invasion success of particular species could be used to better inform removal strategies and may allow for improved predictions of invasion potential.

Combined and interactive effects of global climate change and toxicants on populations and communities

“…Moreover, species interactions and other stressors in the receiving community will influence the success of escapers in a new community. For example, the invasive snail species Melanoides tuberculata was able to displace the native Biomphalaria glabrata in spite of having a lower growth rate and fecundity, possibly because of its higher tolerance to both toxicants and climatic stressors (Cd, malathion, temperature extremes, and desiccation) 82. Populations that eventually become successful invaders may have a considerable impact on their new community.…”

Muddied waters: suspended sediment impacts on gill structure and aerobic scope in an endangered native and an invasive freshwater crayfish

“…Understanding the mechanisms underpinning the success of an invader is key for predicting future invasions and devising effective control measures (Davis, 2009). Greater tolerance to environmental stressors such as fluctuating temperatures and degraded water quality has been proposed as a factor in the success of aquatic invasive species (Karatayev et al, 2009;Crooks et al, 2011;Weir & Salice, 2012).…”

Effects of 17α‐ethynylestradiol, fluoxetine, and the mixture on life history traits and population growth rates in a freshwater gastropod

“…The life cycle graph is 7 nodes and therefore corresponds to a 7 Â 7 matrix model. [41]). In short, we used the logrank Mantel-Cox test to compute expected and observed time to first reproduction at each time point for each treatment.…”