Impact of invasive quagga mussel (Dreissena rostriformis bugensis, Bivalva: Dreissenidae) on the macroinvertebrate community structure of a UK river

Mills, Daniel N.; Chadwick, Michael A.; Francis, Robert A.

doi:10.3391/ai.2017.12.4.08

Cited by 6 publications

(9 citation statements)

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“…Roy et al, (2014) for example, concluded the potential impact, risk of arrival and risk of establishment of quagga mussels, Dreissena rostriformis bugensis, in the UK to be the highest out of 93 species examined. As predicted, the quagga mussel was detected in the UK later the same year (Mills et al, 2017). Quagga mussels are one of a number of Ponto-Caspian INNS that are currently spreading throughout Europe, including the UK.…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 56%

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Supplemental Information 5: Supplementary Information V

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Early detection is paramount for attempts to remove invasive non-native species (INNS). Traditional methods rely on physical sampling and morphological identification, which can be problematic when species are in low densities and/or are cryptic. The use of environmental DNA (eDNA) as a monitoring tool in freshwater systems is becoming increasingly acceptable and widely used for the detection of single species. Here we demonstrate the development and application of standard PCR primers for the detection of four freshwater invasive species which are high priority for monitoring in the UK and elsewhere: Dreissenid mussels; Dreissena rostriformis bugensis (Andrusov, 1987) and D. polymorpha (Pallas, 1771), and Gammarid shrimps; Dikerogammarus villosus (Sowinsky, 1984) and D. haemobaphes (Eichwald, 1843). We carried out a rigorous validation process for testing the new primers, including DNA detection and degradation rate experiments in mesocosm, and a field comparison with traditional monitoring protocols. We successfully detected all four target species in mesocosms, but success was higher for mussels than shrimps. eDNA from single individuals of both mussel species could be detected within four hours of the start of the experiment. By contrast, shrimp were only consistently detected at higher densities (20 individuals). In field trials, the two mussel species and D. haemobaphes were detected at all sites where the species are known to be present, and eDNA consistently outperformed traditional kick sampling for species detection. However, D. villosus eDNA was only detected in one of five sites where the species was confirmed by kick sampling. These results demonstrate the applicability of standard PCR for eDNA detection of freshwater invasive species, but also highlight the importance of differences between taxa in terms of the detection ability.

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 56%

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Supplemental Information 5: Supplementary Information V

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“…The abundance of net building caddisfly was positively associated with quagga mussel density in the Wraysbury River (Hydropsyche spp. ; Mills et al, 2017). This effect may also be non-linear; Albertson et al (2014) found that at high densities, the stabilization of river gravels by polycultures of multiple caddisfly species was greater than the expected additive effects…”

Section: Quagga Mussels Increase Critical Entrainment Shear Stressmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…(2) the density of mussels present in the Wraysbury River (determined by a preliminary survey; 135 mussels m À2 ), and (3) a likely invasion scenario (270 mussels m À2 ). Quagga mussel density at the time of collection (135 mussels m À2 ; August 2021) had increased by 150% since 2016 (mean 54 mussels m À2 ; Mills et al, 2017), with invasive population densities frequently exceeding 1000 mussels m À2 (Nalepa et al, 2009;Strayer et al, 1999). Therefore, 270 mussels m À2…”

Section: Experimental Treatmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stabilization of fluvial bed sediments by invasive quagga mussels (Dreissena bugensis)

Sanders

Mason

Mills³

et al. 2022

Earth Surf Processes Landf

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River gravel mobility is an important control on river behaviour, morphology, and ecosystem processes. Gravel stability is dependent on abiotic flow and sediment properties, alongside less widely acknowledged biotic processes. The quagga mussel (Dreissena bugensis), a highly invasive bivalve, frequently occurs at high population densities in rivers and lakes. Quagga mussels attach to benthic sediments using byssal threads, which might affect sediment stability and thereby broader river geomorphology. We aimed to (1) characterize controls of quagga mussel sediment attachment by conducting a field survey in an invaded river, (2) investigate resultant changes in the critical shear stress needed to entrain fluvial bed materials via an ex situ flume experiment, for measured average (135 m À2 ) and potential future (270 m À2 ) mussel densities, and (3) model how this may affect sediment transport rates. From field surveys, mean quagga mussel density was 122 m À2 , attaching to an average of 591 g m À2 of mineral bed sediments. Across the survey reach, mussels attached to all grain sizes available, with attachment driven by grain availability, rather than active selection of particular grain sizes. In the ex situ flume experiment, densities of 135 mussels m À2 did not significantly increase the critical shear stress of fluvial bed materials, but a density of 270 mussels m À2 significantly increased critical shear stress by 40%. Estimates of the proportion of time these critical stresses are exceeded at the field site indicated high densities of quagga mussels may reduce the occurrence of a geomorphically active flood event from Q 30 to Q 2 . These results present feasible invasion scenarios, as quagga mussels frequently reach benthic densities orders of magnitude greater than observed here. This study indicates that substantial alterations to bedload sediment transport may occur following quagga mussel invasion. Future geomorphic modelling should include biology to better understand rates and processes of landscape development.

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“…Where this occurs in natural environments, change to invertebrate community structure beyond that observed directly via crayfish predation may result. This is because bivalves can comprise over 50% of total benthic invertebrate biomass (Burlakova, Karatayev, & Padilla, 2005;Mills, Chadwick, & Francis, 2017) and are considered a keystone group for community function (Geist, 2010;Lopes-Lima et al, 2014;Lydeard et al, 2004).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Predation preference of signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) on native and invasive bivalve species

Sanders

Mills²

2022

River Research & Apps

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Predatory, non‐native fauna can influence biodiversity and trophic dynamics in invaded ecosystems. Signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) are a highly successful invader, which have altered freshwater benthic communities, including bivalve populations. Bivalves are a keystone freshwater group in global in decline, partly due to invasion by alien bivalve and crayfish species. However, little is known about the predatory impacts of invasive crayfish within co‐occurring native and invasive bivalve populations. Mesocosm predation choice experiments considered relative signal crayfish predation rates between paired native (Anodonta anatina and Unio tumidus) and invasive (Dreissena polymorpha, D. bugensis, and Corbicula fluminea) bivalves, and between paired invasive bivalves. All bivalves were actively predated, but there was no consistent difference in the biomass of invasive versus native bivalves consumed. However, the effects of consumption were consistently different; 18.2% of invasive bivalves were lethally predated, with 100% of surviving individuals remaining undamaged, whereas 1.1% of native bivalves were lethally predated, but 100% of surviving individuals received nonlethal damage in the form of shell chipping, which could reduce long‐term bivalve fitness in natural environments. In experiments considering paired invasive species, D. polymorpha was more resistant to predation when compared to other invasive taxa tested. The majority of field research considering aquatic invasions considers purely lethal predation effects inferred from invertebrate presence/absence. These experiments demonstrate the need to better understand both the processes and impacts of predation by invasive species, which may include substantial nonlethal effects on the fitness and life history of endangered taxa.

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Impact of invasive quagga mussel (Dreissena rostriformis bugensis, Bivalva: Dreissenidae) on the macroinvertebrate community structure of a UK river

Cited by 6 publications

References 0 publications

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Stabilization of fluvial bed sediments by invasive quagga mussels (Dreissena bugensis)

Predation preference of signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) on native and invasive bivalve species

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