The invasive freshwater bivalve Limnoperna fortunei in South America: multiannual changes in its predation and effects on associated benthic invertebrates

Duchini, Daniela; Boltovskoy, Demetrio; Sylvester, Francisco

doi:10.1007/s10750-018-3561-8

Cited by 18 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…Mollusks were by far the most commonly studied facilitators. Their sensitivity to anthropogenic change and status as prolific invaders perhaps has driven the extensive interest in this particular group (Ram et al ., 1992; Lydeard et al ., 2004; Duchini et al ., 2018). Mollusks often facilitate submerged macrophytes by reducing algal blooms that might otherwise hinder macrophyte growth by limiting light availability (He et al ., 2014).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Uncovering patterns of freshwater positive interactions using meta‐analysis: Identifying the roles of common participants, invasive species and environmental context

et al. 2020

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Positive interactions are sensitive to human activities, necessitating synthetic approaches to elucidate broad patterns and predict future changes if these interactions are altered or lost. General understanding of freshwater positive interactions has been far outpaced by knowledge of these important relationships in terrestrial and marine ecosystems. We conducted a global meta‐analysis to evaluate the magnitude of positive interactions across freshwater habitats. In 340 studies, we found substantial positive effects, with facilitators increasing beneficiaries by, on average, 81% across all taxa and response variables. Mollusks in particular were commonly studied as both facilitators and beneficiaries. Amphibians were one group benefiting the most from positive interactions, yet few studies investigated amphibians. Invasive facilitators had stronger positive effects on beneficiaries than non‐invasive facilitators. We compared positive effects between high‐ and low‐stress conditions and found no difference in the magnitude of benefit in the subset of studies that manipulated stressors. Future areas of research include understudied facilitators and beneficiaries, the stress gradient hypothesis, patterns across space or time and the influence of declining taxa whose elimination would jeopardise fragile positive interaction networks. Freshwater positive interactions occur among a wide range of taxa, influence populations, communities and ecosystem processes and deserve further exploration.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Uncovering patterns of freshwater positive interactions using meta‐analysis: Identifying the roles of common participants, invasive species and environmental context

et al. 2020

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“…For example, Boltovskoy and Cataldo () analysed the settlement of L. fortunei in PVC monitors in the Paraná de las Palmas River, and after 182 days of colonization, they recorded a density of 3,924 ind.m −2 . Similarly, Duchini et al (), also using PVC monitors, found a mean density of 7,344 ind.m −2 at the end of a colonization period of 12 months in the lower Paraná River. Here, we found experimental evidence showing that, at least on exposed substrates, fish are able to control the L. fortunei growth rate, since they eliminated c. 70% of mussel cover.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 70%

“…Additionally, the accrual of benthic organic matter increases in L. fortunei colonies due to their faeces and pseudofaeces and the increased roughness of surfaces that reduces flow‐scouring (Martin & Darrigran, ). This increased siltation seems to modify macroinvertebrate assemblages, favouring the abundance of many groups like annelids and nematodes (Duchini, Boltovskoy, & Sylvester, ). However, the effect of L. fortunei over macrobenthic communities remains largely unknown, although many authors have suggested potential risks for native mollusc biodiversity (Martin & Darrigran, ; Scarabino & Verde, ; Spaccesi & Rodrigues Capitulo, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating the role of predatory fish controlling the invasion of the Asian golden mussel Limnoperna fortunei in a subtropical river

González‐Bergonzoni

Silva

Mello

et al. 2020

Journal of Applied Ecology

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The invasive Asian golden mussel Limnoperna fortunei is continuously expanding through South America, altering aquatic ecosystem structure and functioning. While several native fish species predate on this mussel, these interactions, and their consequences for the food web, have not been studied in depth. We combine a survey of the fish assemblage trophic structure using gut contents and stable isotope analysis with an in situ exclusion experiment in order to: (a) determine the main fish species predating on L. fortunei; (b) estimate the contribution of L. fortunei to the biomass of fish assemblage; and (c) evaluate the role of fish on the density and maximum shell length of L. fortunei in the lower Uruguay River (the Río de La Plata Basin). We found that about one third of fish species in the assemblage (28 out of 81 species) consumed L. fortunei, which was an important food item (>10% of the dietary volume and >30% of frequency of occurrence) for 11 fish species. Stable isotope mixing models consistently suggested that >14% of the total biomass of the fish assemblage was derived directly from carbon derived from L. fortunei tissues. In addition, the exclusion experiment demonstrated that fish predation reduces the mussel density by c. 70% and the mussel maximum shell length by c. 40%. Synthesis and applications. Our research suggests a top‐down effect of fish on the invasive Asian golden mussel's abundance. This work highlights the need to preserve the native fish communities, particularly in South America, where many vulnerable migratory fish are of key relevance as Limnoperna fortunei consumers. In the light of these findings, actions such as implementing efficient fish passage technologies in the actual (and projected) dams of the Uruguay River basin and elsewhere become essential to avoid local extinctions of these natural invasion controls upstream of the dams.

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“…Enhancement of toxic cyanobacterial blooms in South America by the freshwater invasive bivalve Limnoperna fortunei (Cataldo et al, ) is clearly a negative impact which, among many others, is often responsible for massive fish mortalities. However, since its introduction around 1990, the planktonic larvae of this invasive mussel are widely consumed by indigenous fish larvae, for which they represent an abundant, easily available and more nutritious prey than native zooplankton (Paolucci, Thuesen, Cataldo, & Boltovskoy, ), and adult mussels are grazed upon by at least 50 South American fish species (Cataldo, ), which eliminate up to over 90% of the mussel's yearly production (Duchini, Boltovskoy, & Sylvester, ; Sylvester, Boltovskoy, & Cataldo, ). The increase in Argentine freshwater fish landings from ~10,000 metric tons in 1950–1990, to ~20,000 tons after 1995, has been tentatively attributed to the presence of this new trophic resource (Boltovskoy, Correa, Cataldo, & Sylvester, ).…”

Section: Dissent Debate and Denialismmentioning

confidence: 99%

Invasive species denialism: Sorting out facts, beliefs, and definitions

Boltovskoy

Sylvester

Paolucci

2018

Ecology and Evolution

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In the last decades, thousands of investigations confirmed the detrimental effects of species translocated by man outside of their native ranges (nonindigenous species, or NIS). However, results concluding that many NIS have null, neutral, or positive impacts on the biota and on human interests are as common in the scientific literature as those that point at baneful impacts. Recently, several scholars confronted the stand that origin per se is not a reliable indicator of negative effects, suggesting that such conclusions are the expression of scientific denialism, often led by spurious purposes, and that their numbers are increasing. When assessed in the context of the growing interest in introduced species, the proportion of academic publications claiming that NIS pose no threats to the environment and to social and economic interests is extremely low, and has not increased since 1990. The widely prevailing notion that many NIS are effectively or potentially harmful does not conflict with the fact that most have mixed (negative, neutral, and positive) impacts. When based on solid grounds, reports of positive or neutral impacts should not be labeled as manipulative or misleading unless proven otherwise, even if they may hamper interest in‐ and funding of research and control bioinvasion programs.

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The invasive freshwater bivalve Limnoperna fortunei in South America: multiannual changes in its predation and effects on associated benthic invertebrates

Cited by 18 publications

References 42 publications

Uncovering patterns of freshwater positive interactions using meta‐analysis: Identifying the roles of common participants, invasive species and environmental context

Uncovering patterns of freshwater positive interactions using meta‐analysis: Identifying the roles of common participants, invasive species and environmental context

Evaluating the role of predatory fish controlling the invasion of the Asian golden mussel Limnoperna fortunei in a subtropical river

Invasive species denialism: Sorting out facts, beliefs, and definitions

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