Microcondylaea bonellii, a Testimonial for Neglected Endangered Species

Riccardi, Nicoletta; Bo, Tiziano; Bogan, Arthur E.; Douda, Karel; Froufe, Elsa; Gonçãlves, Duarte V.; Lajtner, Jasna; Modesto, Vanessa; Moro, Giuseppe A.; Prié, Vincent; Sousa, Ronaldo; Shumka, Spase; Teixeira, Amílcar; Urbańska, Maria; Varandas, Simone; Lopes‐Lima, Manuel

doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-821139-7.00180-x

Cited by 4 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Present results evidenced, on average, lower parasite pressure in the invasive bivalves than in the native ones. Since parasitism is costly, such unbalanced parasite attack can favor invasive species and further strengthen the observed decline of native freshwater mussels (Nogueira et al 2021;Riccardi et al 2022) and aid the observed establishment and dominance of the invasive bivalves (Kamburska et al 2013a, b) in this threatened biodiversity hotspot region (Cuttelod et al 2009).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therefore, the aim of the present study was to extend the approach of Taskinen et al (2021) to the Mediterranean area, to investigate the ERH in southern Europe by comparing the parasite loads of sympatric invasive and native bivalves. The target lakes were Lake Maggiore, Lake Varese and Lake Lugano in Italy, where the native mussel populations are rapidly declining (e.g., Riccardi et al 2022). Importantly, sharp declines of native freshwater mussels in these lakes can be attributed to invasion by exotic bivalves.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Lower parasite pressure in invasive freshwater bivalves than in sympatric native Unionidae mussels in southern European lakes

Deng,

Nicoletta,

Urbańska

et al. 2024

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Enemy Release Hypothesis (ERH) proposes that the success of bioinvasions is contributed by lower enemy pressure on invasive species compared to native ones, giving a competitive advantage for invaders. In line with EHR, we earlier observed that the invasive bivalves had a lower parasite pressure than the sympatric native freshwater mussels in northern European waterbodies. Here, we investigated ERH in three southern European lakes, where the native mussels are rapidly declining and replaced by exotic bivalves. Examination of 679 bivalves (n of individuals per species per lake varying from 12 to 187) collected 2016-18 revealed in total 11 parasite taxa. On average, 2.6 times higher number of parasite taxa and 3.4 times higher sum of infection prevalences was observed per lake among the native mussels (Anodonta exulcerata, A. cygnea, A. anatina and Unio elongatulus) than in the sympatric invasive bivalves (Dreissena polymorpha, Corbicula fluminea and Sinanodonta woodiana). Notable was the complete lack of parasites from C. fluminea. Thus, results supported ERH and were in accordance with previous results from northern Europe, suggesting, on average, a lower parasite pressure in invasive bivalves than in sympatric native mussels. This may contribute to the observed successful invasion of exotic freshwater bivalves in Europe.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lower parasite pressure in invasive freshwater bivalves than in sympatric native Unionidae mussels in southern European lakes

Deng,

Nicoletta,

Urbańska

et al. 2024

Preprint

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“…However, all these admittedly speculative hypotheses can only be verified by a comparison between different species and between populations from different habitats. Unfortunately, the extirpation of most mussels' populations from Italian rivers , including the only Italian species living in fast flowing rivers, Microcondylaea bonellii (Férussac, 1827;Riccardi, Aksenova, et al, 2022), hampers this comparison.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identification of hydrodynamic changes in rivers by means of freshwater mussels' behavioural response: An experimental investigation

et al. 2023

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The present work concerns the interaction between hydraulic processes and biological communities in rivers. In particular, the aim of this study is to investigate the interactions between flow dynamics and the freshwater mussels (FMs) to verify if the mussels' behavioural response to the hydrodynamic stress could be used to monitor natural extreme events in rivers. Although the influence of mussels on the kinematic characteristics of flow at the water–sediment interface was investigated by a certain number of studies, their behavioural response to flow, both in static and dynamic conditions, remains understudied. Laboratory experiments were performed in an artificial flume exposing Unio elongatulus to different values of flow discharge, both in steady and in unsteady conditions either with or without sediment transport. Mussels' behavioural responses were detected by using Hall sensor technology to measure gaping frequency, amplitude and duration, both in static conditions and under the effect of hydrodynamic stresses. Five categories of behavioural response were identified: Normal Activity (NA), Resting (Re), Transition (Tr), Adaptation (Ad) and Avoidance (Av). During NA (standard feeding and moving), FMs presented valve gaping, while during Re valves were kept constantly opened for water filtration. After a variation of flow discharge (ΔQ), FMs promptly reacted showing a transition from their normal behaviour, with constant gaping frequency (below 0.01 Hz), to higher valve gaping frequencies. The mean valves' gaping frequency increased as a function of ΔQ, and the highest values were reached in the presence of sediment transport. The mean valve opening amplitude was less sensitive to ΔQ. Its range of variation was very narrow with the highest values corresponding to the protrusion/retraction of the animals' foot to move or anchor to the substrate. The percentage of mussels responding to the discharge variation (Transition behaviour) increases with ΔQ confirming that mussels' behavioural response represents a promising tool for monitoring the occurrence of hydrodynamic stressors in fluvial systems.

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“…Conservation studies on freshwater mussels are specifically important for water bodies of Montenegro due to the active development of tourism and other infrastructure on lake and river shores (e.g., around Lake Skadar) [59]. For instance, riverbed changes in Northeastern Italy (e.g., Torrente Versa) led to the decreasing area of suitable habitats for stenobiont species of freshwater mussels such as Microcondylaea bonellii [60]. Therefore, future conservation efforts should be led for the maintenance of suitable habitats for endangered species.…”

Section: Taxonomic and Biogeographic Issuesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Distribution: Albania, Croatia, Italy, Montenegro, and Slovenia [7,9,10,60]. There is a doubtful historical record from Lake Trichonis, Greece [9].…”

Section: Anodonta Exulcerata Porro 1838mentioning

confidence: 99%

Taxonomic Reassessment of Freshwater Mussels from the Western Balkans Reveals an Overlooked but Critical Refugium and Defines Conservation Priorities

et al. 2022

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Freshwater mussels are an endangered group of animals, especially in the water bodies of Central and Western Europe. Conservation priorities were established for many endangered freshwater mussel species in the last decade. Here, we present new data on a cryptic refugium of freshwater mussels in the Western Balkans. Two species, Anodonta exulcerata Porro, 1838 and Unio elongatulus Pfeiffer, 1825, were discovered in Montenegro for the first time. The phylogenetic position and taxonomic status of freshwater mussel species from Montenegro were studied by means of an integrative approach, combining morphological data and COI gene sequences. Unio carneus Küster, 1854 stat. rev. represents a species with a restricted range, which is endemic to the Western Balkans. A viable population of Microcondylaea bonellii (Férussac, 1827) was discovered in the Zeta River. This species was not mentioned in Montenegro since the 1900s. A significant level of genetic diversity was revealed for the studied species. In the Skadar Lake basin, freshwater mussels from diverse ecological groups were discovered. Rheophilic species of freshwater mussels may represent ancient lineages, which need special conservation planning. Conservation priorities should be aimed at the protection of freshwater mussel habitats on the Balkan Peninsula.

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Microcondylaea bonellii, a Testimonial for Neglected Endangered Species

Cited by 4 publications

References 11 publications

Lower parasite pressure in invasive freshwater bivalves than in sympatric native Unionidae mussels in southern European lakes

Lower parasite pressure in invasive freshwater bivalves than in sympatric native Unionidae mussels in southern European lakes

Identification of hydrodynamic changes in rivers by means of freshwater mussels' behavioural response: An experimental investigation

Taxonomic Reassessment of Freshwater Mussels from the Western Balkans Reveals an Overlooked but Critical Refugium and Defines Conservation Priorities

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