Economic costs of invasive bivalves in freshwater ecosystems

Abstract

Aim To assess spatio‐temporal and taxonomic patterns of available information on the costs of invasive freshwater bivalves, as well as to identify knowledge gaps. Location Global. Time period 1980–2020. Taxon studied Bivalvia. Methods We synthesize published global economic costs of impacts from freshwater bivalves using the InvaCost database and associated R package, explicitly considering the reliability of estimation methodologies, cost types, economic sectors and impacted regions. Results Cumulative total global costs of invasive macrofouling bivalves were $ 63.7 billion (2017 US$) across all regions and socio‐economic sectors between 1980 and 2020. Costs were heavily biased taxonomically and spatially, dominated by two families, Dreissenidae and Cyrenidae (Corbiculidae), and largely reported in North America. The greatest share of reported costs ($ 31.5 billion) did not make the distinction between damage and management. However, of those that did, damages and resource losses were one order of magnitude higher ($ 30.5 billion) than control or preventative measures ($ 1.7 billion). Moreover, although many impacted socio‐economic sectors lacked specification, the largest shares of costs were incurred by authorities and stakeholders ($ 27.7 billion, e.g., public and private sector interventions) and through impacts on public and social welfare ($ 10.1 billion, e.g., via power/drinking water plant and irrigation system damage) in North America. Average cost estimates over the entire period amounted to approximately $ 1.6 billion per year, most of which was incurred in North America. Main conclusions Our results highlight the burgeoning economic threat caused by invasive freshwater bivalves, offering a strong economic incentive to invest in preventative management such as biosecurity and rapid response eradications. Even if the damages and resource losses are severely understated because economic impacts are lacking for most invaded countries and invasive bivalve species, these impacts are substantial and likely growing.

The faunal Ponto-Caspianization of European waterways

“…The relationship could re ect direct antagonistic interactions, such as predating an existing alien species by a new arrival (Platvoet et al, 2009). Boom-bust dynamics are also commonly observed in alien invasive species (Haubrock et al, 2022a;Strayer et al, 2017), characterized by exponential population growth, followed by a moderate decline in abundance (Sofaer et al, 2018).…”

“…Kobak et al, 2014;Ricciardi, 2001;Ricciardi & Macisaac, 2000). Noteworthy macroinvertebrate species in this context are the zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha and the D. villosus, which can individually and interactively alter communities, change ecosystem functioning, impact economies (Haubrock et al, 2022a;Kouba et al, 2022) and diminish native biodiversity ( Aldridge et al, 2014;Rewicz et al, 2014;Water eld, 2009). For example, mussel patches of D. polymorpha provide shelter and suitable habitat structure for amphipods, including D. villosus ( Devin et al, 2003;Ricciardi et al, 1997), which at the same time offer abundant food sources for Ponto-Caspian gobies (Polačik et al, 2009).…”

A global synthesis of ecosystem services provided and disrupted by freshwater bivalve molluscs

“…by reducing the recreational value of waterbodies by causing cyanobacterial blooms (Vanderploeg et al ., 2001; Jones, 2019). Furthermore, invasive FBs are known to cause a range of other ecological and economic impacts, including the complete alteration of ecosystem structure and functioning, and the fouling of industrial intakes and boats (Strayer, 1999; Sousa, Gutiérrez & Aldridge, 2009; Sousa et al ., 2014), with massive economic costs (63.8 billion US$ between 1980 and 2020 according to Haubrock et al ., 2022). On the other hand, there is evidence for invasive FBs providing ESs, most notably through biomonitoring and nutrient removal in eutrophicated ecosystems (Richman & Somers, 2010; McLaughlan & Aldridge, 2013).…”

“…These species often displace or replace native FB species in invaded regions, which has resulted in severe population losses of Unionida in, for example, the Laurentian Great Lakes and large stretches of European mainland river basins (Strayer, 1999; Sousa et al ., 2014). Owing to their different life histories and ecology, invasive FBs often attain much greater biomass than native FBs and can cause severe ecological and economic damage (Strayer, 1999; Sousa et al ., 2014; Haubrock et al ., 2022).…”

Overwinter survival of Corbicula fluminea in a central Minnesota lake

“…Additionally their introductions can result in threats to agricultural resources [9], alterations to hydrology [10], and economic impacts [11][12][13]. Haubrock et al [14] note that invasive freshwater bivalves, in particular, have had substantial economic impacts globally with an estimated cost of $63.7 billion USD from 1980-2020.…”