Impacts of native and invasive crayfish on three native and one invasive freshwater mussel species

Dobler, Andreas; Geist, Juergen

doi:10.1111/fwb.13849

Cited by 13 publications

(7 citation statements)

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“…This can only be achieved by improving the environmental conditions (hydrological and biological) that mussels, trout and the rest of the native benthic community need. This is a priority for the conservation of these species at risk of extinction, especially considering the increasing hydrological pressure from the consequences of climate change (O'Briain, 2019) and the critical threat from the signal crayfish, as demonstrated in experimental and field studies in Iberian (Meira et al, 2019;Sousa et al, 2019) and European rivers (Dobler and Geist, 2022). Over the past decades, the loss of integrity in the biological communities of these rivers and the consequent absence of trout fry when glochidia are present in the water has exacerbated the difficulty for M. margaritifera to complete its life cycle.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The most negative effect on these almost sessile mollusks is direct predation, with crayfish being the only predator in the rivers studied, as occurs in other rivers (Meira et al, 2019;Sousa et al, 2019;Dobler and Geist, 2022). Colonization of P. leniusculus is positively related to winter temperature and positive connectivity of gravel beds (Nyström et al, 2006;Olsson,…”

Section: Mussel Populations Trendmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…In this way, they reduce the viability of host populations and cause the medium-and long-term decline of pearl mussels by changing the structure of the community and trophic networks (Vaughn et al, 2008;Inoue et al, 2017). They also prey on mussels (Machida and Akiyama, 2013;Meira et al, 2019;Dobler and Geist, 2022) and on the other benthic macroinvertebrate communities (Stenroth and Nyström, 2003;Ercoli et al, 2015), destabilizing trophic networks at various levels (Dorn and Wojdak, 2004). The signal crayfish can occur in high densities and its greater activity than that of native crayfish can further exacerbate problems for native species (Wutz and Geist, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Assessment of endangered freshwater pearl mussel populations in the Northern Iberian Plateau in relation to non–native species: xenodiversity as a threat

Morales

2022

Anim. Biodiv. Conserv.

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In the last two decades, small populations of freshwater pearl mussels, Margaritifera margaritifera, have been recorded in Mediterranean rivers of the Iberian Northern Plateau. A survey was carried out in Castilla and León in 2018 to assess the development of populations of this species in all the rivers of known distribution and to update the threat classification. Thirty sections in the rivers Negro, Tera, Alberche and Águeda were positive for its presence, and another 50 stretches of seven rivers were negative. The species is currently distributed over about 22.5 km. Águeda and Tera populations have decreased dramatically in the last 14 years and are on the threshold of extinction. The Negro river supports the largest population, although the species has now disappeared in at least 61 % of the stretches that were inhabited in 2004. All populations showed very low densities and an ageing population structure, with no recruitment for decades. The presence of non-native invasive alien species (NIS) was higher than in a previous regional survey, with the signal crayfish representing the greatest threat. We observed changes in benthic microhabitats and direct predation of adults and glochidia conglutinates. In the Alberche River, in strict syntopy with M. margaritifera and two other mussel species, 10 NIS were detected. The current hydrological and ecological conditions in the Duero watershed support the settlement of exotic species to the disadvantage of native mollusks, which are more demanding in terms of microhabitats.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Mussel Populations Trendmentioning

confidence: 94%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Assessment of endangered freshwater pearl mussel populations in the Northern Iberian Plateau in relation to non–native species: xenodiversity as a threat

Morales

2022

Anim. Biodiv. Conserv.

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“…For example, several known predators other than the Round Goby have been widely introduced beyond their native ranges that have affected unionid mussel populations in other regions of the world. These include muskrats in Europe 33 , the black carp in North America 34 , and non-native crayfish in North America and Europe 35 . Important questions remain about how populations of unionid mussel species and their host fish species will fare as invasive Round Goby populations increase and expand their range in the stream and river network.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Freshwater unionid mussels threatened by predation of Round Goby (Neogobius melanostomus)

Clark

Iwanowicz

et al. 2022

Sci Rep

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Indigenous freshwater mussels (Unionidae) are integral to riverine ecosystems, playing a pivotal role in aquatic food webs and providing ecological services. With populations on the decline worldwide, freshwater mussels are of conservation concern. In this study, we explore the propensity of the invasive Round Goby (Neogobius melanostomus) fish to prey upon indigenous freshwater mussels. First, we conducted lab experiments where Round Gobies were given the opportunity to feed on juvenile unionid mussels and macroinvertebrates, revealing rates and preferences of consumption. Several Round Gobies consumed whole freshwater mussels during these experiments, as confirmed by mussel counts and x-ray images of the fishes. Next, we investigated Round Gobies collected from stream habitats of the French Creek watershed, which is renowned for its unique and rich aquatic biodiversity. We developed a novel DNA metabarcoding method to identify the specific species of mussels consumed by Round Goby and provide a new database of DNA gene sequences for 25 indigenous unionid mussel species. Several of the fishes sampled had consumed indigenous mussels, including the Elktoe (non-endangered), Creeper (non-endangered), Long Solid (state endangered), and Rayed Bean (federally endangered) species. The invasive Round Goby poses a growing threat to unionid mussels, including species of conservation concern. The introduction of the invasive Round Goby to freshwaters of North America is shaping ecosystem transitions within the aquatic critical zone having widespread implications for conservation and management.

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“…In addition, the negative effects of invasive alien species (IAS) can be important. For instance, predation of invasive muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) can cause considerable damages to mussel populations (Zahner-Meike and Hanson 2001) and also invasive freshwater crayfish appear to have negative impacts on native mussel populations (Dobler and Geist 2022;Meira et al 2019;Schmidt and Vandré 2012;Sousa et al 2019). Also, the spread of invasive freshwater bivalves can lead to increasing competition pressures (Urbańska et al 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distribution and potential impacts of non-native Chinese pond mussels Sinanodonta woodiana (Lea, 1834) in Bavaria, Germany

2022

Self Cite

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The Chinese pond mussel, Sinanodonta woodiana, is non-native to European freshwater systems. Originating from Asia, it was brought to Europe in the 1970s and is now spreading across many countries. Management of the species is currently limited by a lack of information on the actual distribution and population characterisation of S. woodiana as well as on the co-occurrence of native mussels potentially resulting in competition. For this paper, we examined nine water systems in the German federal state of Bavaria with randomly observed and anecdotally reported S. woodiana occurrences. We recorded the density and biomass of S. woodiana and of the co-existing mussel species as well as the habitat characteristics. We found S. woodiana in eight water systems, co-existing with other native and invasive mussel species in seven of them. The distribution of S. woodiana was geographically widespread throughout Bavaria, indicating great invasion potential. In one fish pond, S. woodiana was the only mussel species occurring with the highest mean biomass (1286.0 ± 1067.7 g m−2) and with the biggest specimen (25.0 cm and 1616.0 g). The wide range of habitat variables matched the expectation of a wide ecological niche for the species. This study provides evidence that S. woodiana has already become established in many water systems in Bavaria, with fish ponds and fisheries management practises being a likely vector. To counteract this species and to conserve native mussel species, it is important to implement effective legislation, to take measures to eradicate this invasive mussel transnationally, and to raise public awareness.

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Impacts of native and invasive crayfish on three native and one invasive freshwater mussel species

Abstract: This is an open access article under the terms of the Creat ive Commo ns Attri bution-NonCo mmercial License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes.

Cited by 13 publications

References 103 publications

Assessment of endangered freshwater pearl mussel populations in the Northern Iberian Plateau in relation to non–native species: xenodiversity as a threat

Assessment of endangered freshwater pearl mussel populations in the Northern Iberian Plateau in relation to non–native species: xenodiversity as a threat

Freshwater unionid mussels threatened by predation of Round Goby (Neogobius melanostomus)

Distribution and potential impacts of non-native Chinese pond mussels Sinanodonta woodiana (Lea, 1834) in Bavaria, Germany

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