The relationship between the freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) and its hosts

Taeubert, Jens‐Eike; Geist, Juergen

doi:10.1134/s1062359017010149

Cited by 38 publications

(53 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…In addition, the epithelial degeneration and erosion related to the parasite detachment could increase the epithelial permeability and consequently it might enable secondary infections or osmoregulatory disbalances, as described in other gill diseases (Hvas et al, ; Powell, Carson & van Gelderen, ). However, as a result of the early larval rejection, the parasitism was localized in clusters and below 300 glochidia/fish g, following the recommendations for artificial breeding of this naiad (Taeubert & Geist, ). Thus, the impaired respiratory function might be balanced and alleviated due to redistribution of blood flow to non‐affected gill regions (Booth, ) or other compensatory mechanisms (Filipsson et al, ; Powell, Nowak & Adams, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Early stages of Margaritifera margaritifera glochidiosis in Atlantic salmon: Morphopathological characterization

Castrillo

Varela‐Dopico

Ondina

et al. 2019

Journal of Fish Diseases

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Freshwater mussels of the order Unionida encyst into the fish mucosa to metamorphose and complete their life cycle, causing a parasitic disease known as glochidiosis. This parasitic stage represents a bottleneck for the survival of naiads, particularly for critically endangered species as Margaritifera margaritifera; however, little is known about the events occurring during this critical stage. Therefore, this study aimed to histologically characterize the development of M. margaritifera glochidiosis in Atlantic salmon to get insight into the pathogenesis of this interaction. Fish exposed to glochidia were sampled during the first 44 days post‐exposure, and organs were observed by stereomicroscopy and light microscopy. Glochidia attached to the gills by pinching the lamellar epithelium, whereupon an acute proliferative branchitis engulfed most of the larvae. However, during the first 14 days, a severe detachment of unviable glochidia occurred, associated with the presence of pleomorphic inflammatory infiltrate and epithelial degeneration. In the cases where larvae remained attached, a chronification of the lesions with none to scarce inflammation was observed. These results provide key information to better understand the complex host–parasite interaction during the early stages of glochidiosis and provide valuable information to optimize artificial rearing of naiads in conservation of threatened freshwater mussel populations.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Early stages of Margaritifera margaritifera glochidiosis in Atlantic salmon: Morphopathological characterization

Castrillo

Varela‐Dopico

Ondina

et al. 2019

Journal of Fish Diseases

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“…Although disentangling the effects of host fish use and geographic isolation is not easy, the observation that all of the western populations except for the IOA/B/C (where host fish use has not yet been confirmed) use salmon as a fish host is interesting. From an evolutionary perspective, host‐dependent adaptation and genetic differentiation in freshwater pearl mussels can be expected (Taeubert & Geist, ). In Norway, Karlsson et al () also found that the genetic structure of pearl mussels was largely determined by their use of either trout or salmon as hosts, but no such pattern was evident for pearl mussel populations in Sweden (Geist et al, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, it has a different shell morphology from M. margaritifera (Habitats Directive species code 1029), and is listed as a separate species (species code 1990) in Annex II of the Directive. Third, three different host‐fish situations are possible for Irish pearl mussel populations: the use of Salmo salar (Atlantic salmon), Salmo trutta (brown trout), or both, with potential consequences for the genetic population structure (Taeubert & Geist, ). For instance, Karlsson, Larsen, and Hindar () found a host‐dependent genetic structure of M. margaritifera in Norway, whereas no such picture was evident in Sweden (Geist et al, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic structure of Irish freshwater pearl mussels (Margaritifera margaritifera and Margaritifera durrovensis): Validity of subspecies, roles of host fish, and conservation implications

Geist

Moorkens

Killeen³

et al. 2018

Aquatic Conservation

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European freshwater pearl mussels are among the most critically threatened bivalve molluscs. Margaritifera margaritifera and Margaritifera durrovensis are endangered, and both occur in Ireland and are currently listed separately in Annex II of the European Habitats Directive. This study had the objective of guiding the conservation of freshwater pearl mussels in Ireland based on a genetic characterization of the most important Irish populations of both species using microsatellite and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analyses. Margaritifera durrovensis from the Nore was found to have the highest genetic divergence from all the populations studied; however, there was substantial relatedness between the genetic constitution of the Nore and of central–eastern M. margaritifera populations, placing the Nore pearl mussel within the M. margaritifera taxon (Habitats Directive species code 1029). Two main conservation units of pearl mussel were identified: a mostly salmon‐dependent western cluster and a trout‐dependent central–eastern cluster. The genetic diversity of western Irish freshwater pearl mussels, as expressed by allelic richness and observed heterozygosity, was greater by a factor of two than in central European and central–eastern Irish populations, suggesting a genetic diversity hot spot and low effects of genetic drift and selection. The trout‐dependent central and eastern populations had much lower genetic variability, but had the greatest differentiation and uniqueness. Conservation of freshwater pearl mussels in Ireland should recognize the existence of a minimum of two conservation units (western and central–eastern) that differ in their use of host fish and in geographic isolation. Low levels of genetic drift and inbreeding in western populations should be secured by sustaining optimal habitat conditions favourable for the recruitment of mussels and their migratory salmonid hosts. The small population sizes of central–eastern populations and problems with recruitment require urgent action, e.g. by captive breeding and augmentation, to prevent any further erosion of their genetic variability.

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“…Both species are therefore currently listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List (IUCN, ) and protected under EU law (Annex II and Annex IV of the EU Habitats Directive for U. crassus ; Annex II and Annex V for M. margaritifera ). Despite their shared conservation status, these species differ substantially in their habitat requirements (Denic, Stoeckl, Gum, & Geist, ; Geist & Auerswald, ) and host use (Taeubert & Geist, ; Taeubert, Gum, & Geist, ). Margaritifera margaritifera is often considered as a habitat specialist.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Three fish species that occur in the upper Danube drainage have been shown to be suitable hosts for U. crassus: Phoxinus phoxinus (Linnaeus, 1758) (the European minnow), Squalius cephalus (Linnaeus, 1758) (the common chub), and Gasterosteus aculeatus Linnaeus, 1758 (the three‐spined stickleback) (Taeubert, Gum, & Geist, ; Taeubert, Martinez, Gum, & Geist, ). Conversely, only Salmo trutta f. fario Linnaeus, 1758 (the brown trout) seems to be a suitable host for M. margaritifera in this area (Geist, Porkka, & Kuehn, ; Taeubert & Geist, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A spatially explicit approach to prioritize protection areas for endangered freshwater mussels

Dobler

Geist

Stoeckl

et al. 2018

Aquatic Conservation

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In spite of their conservation importance, only a fraction of lakes and streams globally – including their catchments – are currently covered by conservation areas. To identify conservation gaps, assessing the spatial distribution of biodiversity in relation to conservation areas is a promising approach. A gap‐analysis approach was used to evaluate the protection status of the habitats of two endangered freshwater mussel species, Margaritifera margaritifera (Linnaeus, 1758) and Unio crassus (Philipsson, 1788), in the Federal State of Bavaria, Germany. First, ecological niche models (ENMs) were developed for both mussel species based on presence‐only data in order to identify suitable habitats. Second, binary maps of suitable and unsuitable habitats for the species were used to compare different categories of currently protected areas in a gap analysis. The ENMs for M. margaritifera revealed a spatially restricted distribution with good model performance, whereas the spatial distribution of U. crassus was wider and the model performance was weaker. For M. margaritifera, a higher percentage of suitable habitat is already under some sort of protection, whereas for U. crassus only half of the suitable habitats are under protection. The results suggest that suitable habitats of both species are not sufficiently protected. More effective conservation of M. margaritifera and U. crassus requires separate management: increasing the respective protection categories of already protected habitats of M. margaritifera and incorporating an increased area of suitable habitats under legal protection for U. crassus.

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The relationship between the freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) and its hosts

Cited by 38 publications

References 31 publications

Early stages of Margaritifera margaritifera glochidiosis in Atlantic salmon: Morphopathological characterization

Early stages of Margaritifera margaritifera glochidiosis in Atlantic salmon: Morphopathological characterization

Genetic structure of Irish freshwater pearl mussels (Margaritifera margaritifera and Margaritifera durrovensis): Validity of subspecies, roles of host fish, and conservation implications

A spatially explicit approach to prioritize protection areas for endangered freshwater mussels

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