Biological control of the invasive Asian clam, Corbicula fluminea: can predators tame the beast?

Pereira, Joana Luísa; Pinho, Sónia; Re, Ana Denisse; Costa, Patrícia; Costa, Raquel; Gonçalves, Fernando; Castro, Bruno B.

doi:10.1007/s10750-016-2816-5

Cited by 13 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 63 publications

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“…However, a few studies demonstrated that P. clarkii was able to prey on this invasive clam (e.g. Covich et al, 1981;Pereira et al, 2016). These earlier results on P. clarkii differ from the ones reported here that suggested that neither crayfish species was able to prey C. fluminea.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 85%

“…Indeed, shell morphology and size may also affect the predation of C. fluminea. For example, Pereira et al (2016) showed that P. clarkii was only able to prey on Asian clams with b10 mm, as demonstrated earlier by Covich et al (1981). In our study, the smallest C. fluminea individuals used in the laboratory experiments measured 15 mm, which may explain why no crayfish was able to prey this species.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 75%

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Invasive crayfishes as a threat to freshwater bivalves: Interspecific differences and conservation implications

Meira

Lopes‐Lima

Varandas

et al. 2019

Science of The Total Environment

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Freshwater bivalves have suffered major global declines, being the introduction of invasive alien species (IAS) an important, but not well studied, mechanism of threat. This study assessed the predator-prey relationship between two non-native crayfish species (Procambarus clarkii and Pacifastacus leniusculus) and three native (Anodonta anatina, Potomida littoralis and Unio delphinus) and one non-native (Corbicula fluminea) freshwater bivalve species through experiments in laboratory and validation under natural conditions (Sabor River basin, Portugal). All native bivalve species were preyed both in laboratory and in the field; however, both crayfish species were unable to prey C. fluminea. Predation was dependent on crayfish and bivalve species but was not affected neither by crayfish nor bivalve sizes. In the laboratory, the most preyed species by both crayfishes was A. anatina. On average, this species was preyed at least 12% more than other species, when crayfishes had a choice. Similar results were found in the field. We also found signs of competition between both crayfishes, being P. clarkii more dominant and aggressive as this species, on average, manipulated the bivalves 63.6% more times and 24:33 min longer than P. leniusculus, and initiated 55.8% more agnostic bouts. Our results support the idea that P. clarkii and P. leniusculus can affect native freshwater bivalves, but clear interspecific differences were detected. Both crayfishes may have direct and indirect impacts on bivalve populations by increasing mortality or by reducing their fitness. In addition, since both crayfishes do not prey C. fluminea, they offer this IAS another advantage over native bivalves. Given the widespread distribution of both P. clarkii and P. leniusculus and the threatened status of many freshwater bivalves, the dynamics and impacts of this relationship should be taken in account in the implementation of management measures devoted to the conservation of native freshwater bivalves.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 85%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 75%

Invasive crayfishes as a threat to freshwater bivalves: Interspecific differences and conservation implications

Meira

Lopes‐Lima

Varandas

et al. 2019

Science of The Total Environment

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“…These observations reinforce the relevance of pest management measures focused at preventing new human‐driven introduction of invasive bivalves (see Tricarico et al () for a review on the European policy and recommendations for alien species management). They also raise the possibility of developing biological control strategies based on predation on young populations (Pereira et al, ) that might be especially applicable downstream of dikes. There were only mild associations of Asian clam distribution with the environmental variables, and the patterns observed were often inconsistent with reported ecological preferences of the species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Invasive Asian clam distribution pattern reveals minimal constraints to downstream dispersal and imperceptible ecological impacts

Pereira

Vidal

Mendes

et al. 2017

Aquatic Conservation

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1. The Asian clam Corbicula fluminea is an invasive freshwater species that can cause adverse ecological and economic impacts. Information on its dispersal abilities, ecological preferences and impacts may contribute towards the improvement of management strategies, including those relating to regulatory demands such as the European Water Framework Directive (WFD).2. Both the above perspectives were addressed through inspection of environmental constraints to C. fluminea dispersal and impacts in a semi-natural drainage catchment (interconnected system of ditches). Forty sites were surveyed in 2014 to describe the species distribution and to characterize benthic macroinvertebrate communities, water column and sediment physico-chemistry, as well as the hydromorphological conditions. 3. Clams were unevenly distributed in the study area and artificial barriers (dikes) did not prevent downstream dispersal of juveniles. Large variation in clam density (0-3077 clams m −2 ) could not be explained by physico-chemical or hydromorphological gradients. Although typical clam preference ranges reported in the literature were often exceeded, dense populations were nevertheless observed. 4. Macroinvertebrate community structure suggested associations between the Asian clam and some functional feeding groups. However, the impacts of clams on macroinvertebrate assemblages and ecological quality were negligible, suggesting that contemporary methods designed to comply with the WFD bioassessment scheme may fail to detect important drivers of ecological change in freshwater ecosystems.5. This study demonstrated the reduced ecological impacts and broad ecological competence of the Asian clam, but also that its spread depends on human vectors. These findings highlight the need to rethink prediction tools supporting preventive measures against the introduction and spread of this invasive bivalve.

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“…Macrobiofouling of infrastructures by invasive mollusks often results in extensive economic costs (Aldridge et al 2006;Mackie and Claudi 2009;Rosa et al 2011Rosa et al , 2015Pereira et al 2016) and proposed mitigative treatments include consideration of costs and environmental feasibility. Because of the simplicity of elevating water-system pH with NaOH, its potential use in confined pipes and in channels and tanks infested with nuisance mollusks may hold promise.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Various biocides have been proposed and tested as tools to control or prevent the spread of mollusks (e.g., Claudi and Mackie 1994;Edwards et al 2000;Mackie and Claudi 2009;McMillin and Trumbo 2009;Guardiola et al 2012;Layhee et al 2014;Oplinger and Wagner 2015). Bivalves and prosobranch snails can be especially difficult mollusks to control since they can avoid exposure to many chemicals when closed inside their shells (Checa and Jiménez-Jiménez 1998;Pereira et al 2016;Comeau et al 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toxicity of Aqueous Alkaline Solutions to New Zealand Mudsnails, Asian Clams, and Quagga Mussels

Barenberg

2017

Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management

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We modeled the toxicity response of three important aquatic nuisance species to alkaline solutions of pH 12 to explore the potential use of chemical treatments for decontaminating infested water distribution systems, tanks, and other facilities in confined freshwater environments. Groups of quagga mussels Dreissena bugensis, New Zealand mudsnails Potamopyrgus antipodarum, and Asian clams Corbicula fluminea were tested in temperatures from 19 to 22°C in aqueous solutions adjusted to pH 12 with NaOH. The predicted 99% lethal exposure time (LT99) for adult-sized quagga mussels and New Zealand mudsnails respectively was 31.3 and 35.1 h. Longer exposures were needed to kill adult-sized Asian clams (LT99 = 208.9 h). Because of the worldwide use of NaOH as an alkaline reagent in a variety of industrial and pesticide applications, and its ease of neutralization with CO2, elevating the pH of freshwater solutions with NaOH may be a practicable management tool to remove nuisance species in biofouled canals, pipes, hatchery tanks, and other confined structures.

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Biological control of the invasive Asian clam, Corbicula fluminea: can predators tame the beast?

Cited by 13 publications

References 63 publications

Invasive crayfishes as a threat to freshwater bivalves: Interspecific differences and conservation implications

Invasive crayfishes as a threat to freshwater bivalves: Interspecific differences and conservation implications

Invasive Asian clam distribution pattern reveals minimal constraints to downstream dispersal and imperceptible ecological impacts

Toxicity of Aqueous Alkaline Solutions to New Zealand Mudsnails, Asian Clams, and Quagga Mussels

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