Mantle displays of freshwater mussels elicit attacks from fish

Abstract

1. Gravid females of some North American freshwater mussel species (Bivalvia: Unionidae) display highly modified mantle margins and other reproductive structures which mimic small fish, terrestrial insects, or aquatic macro‐invertebrates. We report the responses of fish to these lures, based on the results of laboratory encounters between the following pairs of displaying mussels and fishes: Lampsilis cardium and Micropterus coosae; L. perovalis and M. coosae; and Villosa nebulosa and Percina nigrofasciata. In all three encounters, the lures elicited attacks from fish. 2. Encounters between Lampsilis spp. and M. coosae resulted in gill infestations of the fish by larval mussels, which are obligate parasites on fish. An encounter between V. nebulosa and P. nigrofasciata did not result in infestation. 3. The use of these lures to attract fish may greatly increase the chances of parasite/host encounters and may also reduce the chances of infestation of unsuitable hosts.

Environmental occurrence and reproductive effects of the pharmaceutical fluoxetine in native freshwater mussels

“…Two of the major subfamilies of North American unionid mussels use distinct strategies to successfully attach to host fish. Mussels of the tribe Lampsilini use elaborate and highly specialized mantle tissue displays (lures) that resemble prey items such as minnows or insect larvae to attract potential host fish [21,22]. As the fish strikes the mantle flap lure, hundreds to thousands of glochidia are released into the buccal cavity of the fish where they attach to gills and undergo metamorphosis into juvenile mussels, before releasing from the fish and settling into the sediment to become free-living adults.…”

Studies on the plasma composition offish hosts of the freshwater mussel,Hyriopsis myersiana, with implications for improvement of the medium for culture of glochidia

“…Chemical or physical contact with the fish may induce glochidial release from the mussel, sometimes in a specific way (Jokela and Palokangas, 1993;Haag and Warren, 1999;Haag and Warren, 2000). Host specificity is known to be an important factor influencing glochidia infestation and metamorphosis (Haag and Warren, 1999) with respect to specific immunological reactions from the host fish (Meyers and Millemann, 1977;Meyers et al, 1980;O'Connell and Neves, 1999;Rogers et al, 2001).…”

“…Upon being discharged from the gravid mussel, glochidia become encysted on fish or amphibians (ectoparasitism) for transformation into juveniles (Lefevre and Curtis, 19 10;Seshaiya, 194 1 ;D' Eliscu, 1972;Haag and Warren, 1999;Yang et al, 2000;Saenko et al, 2001). The identification of appropriate hosts for glochidial transformation is an important step in the conservation and management of freshwater mussels (Watters and O'Dee, 1998;Haag and Warren, 1999;Haag et al, 1999).…”

“…The identification of appropriate hosts for glochidial transformation is an important step in the conservation and management of freshwater mussels (Watters and O'Dee, 1998;Haag and Warren, 1999;Haag et al, 1999). The degree of host specificity of glochidia varies among mussel species, ranging from those which can use a wide variety of fish to those which can use only one or a few closely related species (Haag and Warren, 1999;Hastie and Young, 2001;Rogers et al, 2001;Gray et al, 2002). Panha (1 990,1992) reported several species of fish that serve as host to glochidia of H. (L.) myersiana including Cyprinus carpio, Oreochromis niloticus, and Pangasius pangasius.…”

Biodiversity Loss in Freshwater Mussels: Importance, Threats, and Solutions

“…Because glochidia are heavy, short-lived, non-motile, and poorly carried in currents, facultative dispersal by fish species is necessary for the spread and maintenance of most Unionid populations (Strayer et al, 2004 In many mussel species, the gill, mantle margin, or other tissue has evolved into a lure that very realistically mimics a small minnow or invertebrate prey item used to attract a host fish. When a host fish nips at the lure, the glochidia are released into the vicinity of the fish's mouth, thus greatly increasing the odds of the glochidia attaching onto the fish's gills (Haag and Warren, 1999). Other species release large packages of glochidia called conglutinates, which often mimic prey items themselves, that rupture and release glochidia upon being bitten by potential hosts (Grabarkiewicz and Davis, 2008).…”