Effects of the Filter-Feeding Benthic Bivalve Corbicula fluminea on Plankton Community and Water Quality in Aquatic Ecosystems: A Mesocosm Study

Abstract

The influence of filter-feeding bivalves on plankton communities, nutrients, and water quality in a given aquatic ecosystem is so profound that they can be considered ecosystem engineers. In a 70-day mesocosm experiment, we tested the hypothesis that Corbicula fluminea would change plankton community structure by reducing small zooplankton and large phytoplankton and improve water quality by reducing nutrients. We monitored levels of nitrogen and phosphorus, organic suspended solids (OSS), and light at the sediment surface. Within the plankton, phytoplankton biomass (as Chl a, >0.45 μm), the biomass of microphytoplankton (>20 μm), nanophytoplankton (2–20 μm), picophytoplankton (0.2–2 μm), and zooplankton were determined. Compared with the controls, C. fluminea reduced the abundance of rotifers and the biomass of phytoplankton, and picophytoplankton, thereby modifying the plankton community structure. We did not observe reductions in TN and TP concentration, but OSS concentrations were reduced, and light intensity at the sediment surface was increased as a result of the improved water transparency. Our research shows that colonization by C. fluminea may modify plankton community structure and improve water quality of eutrophic shallow lakes, shedding further light on the ecological roles of filter-feeding bivalves in aquatic ecosystems.

The combined effects of filter-feeding bivalves (Cristaria plicata) and submerged macrophytes (Hydrilla verticillate) on phytoplankton assemblages in nutrient-enriched freshwater mesocosms

“…single celled, colonial, or filamentous), nutritional deficiency, and toxin production, can prevent them from being grazed by mussels ( White and Sarnelle, 2014 ; Boegehold et al, 2019 ). For example, Corbicula fluminea selectively filtered particles in the range of 0.2–2 µm ( Rong et al., 2021 ), Dreissena Polymorpha preferred food particles from 5 to 40 μm ( Sprung & Rose, 1988 ), and Venerupis corrugatus filtered out particles of 5 to 13 μm ( Stenton-Dozey and Brown, 1992 ). Although we did not consider selective grazing effects of C. plicata on phytoplankton the composition of phytoplankton assemblages significantly differed between the control and the bivalve treatments at the end of the experiment.…”

From responses of macroinvertebrate metrics to the definition of reference metrics and stressor threshold values

“…Low transparency (High-pressure level) corresponds to an increase in turbidity. The role of bivalves in increasing transparency is also noted (Rong et al 2021). Mussel recruitment was negatively impacted by water color and turbidity (Österling & Högberg 2014).…”

Limnoperna fortuneias an invasive biofouling bivalve species in freshwater: a review of its occurrence, biological traits, risks, and control strategies

“…The rapid expansion and great densities of L. fortunei, besides the caused fouling problems to various man-made structures and facilities, can greatly impact the native biota and ecosystems (Boltovskoy et al 2015a;Rong et al 2021). In particular, it poses a threat to the aquatic ecological environment, such as affecting the circulation of nutrients and the growth of aquatic • Widespread in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay,…”