Reduced Survival and Fitness in Native Bivalves in Response to Fouling by the Introduced Zebra Mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) in Western Lake Erie

Abstract

1993. Reduced survival and fitness in native bivalves in response to fouling by the introduced zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) in western bake Erie. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 50: 13-1 9.Fouling by the recently established zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) causes differential effects among bivalve communities. In 3-rno experiments and surveys conducted in western Lake Erie during 1998, two native bivalves, hampsilis radiata and Amblema plicata, showed consistent differences in mortality and biochemical indices of fitness in response to fouling by D. polymorpha. LampsiBis radiata was very sensitive to fouling, experiencing high mortality and reduced fitness in experiments and natural populations. In field experiments, female L. radiata suffered higher mortality and lower fitness than males. Amblema plicata was less sensitive to fouling; fitness was reduced in experimentally fouled A. plicata, but mortality and fitness in natural populations were not affected by B. polymorpha. Six species of native bivalves showed marked differences in mortality rates at three sites surveyed in western Lake Eriee. Mortality was higher in the subfamilies Anodontinae and Lampsilinae (including k. radiata) than in Amblerninae (including A. plicata) at all three sites, suggesting that differences in life history strategy and shell morphology among subfamilies may be responsible for differential responses to fouling. These data suggest that fouling by D. polymorpha will result in profound changes in native bivalve community structure.L'envahissement par des populations recemment etablies de la dreissena polymorphe (Drehsewa polymorpha) exerce differents effets sur les communaut$s indighes de bivalves. Lors de releves dans la partie ouest du lac h i e et d'exp6ience d'une duree de 3 mo, en 1990, on a montre que deux bivalves indigenes, harnpsilis radiata et Amblema plicata, manifestaient constamment des differences dans le taux de mortalit4 et dans les indicateurs biochimiques de sante par suite de I'envahissement par D. polymorpha. harnpsilis radiata etait tres sensible A cet envahissement : aer cours d'experiences et dans des populations naturelles, la mortalit6 etait Clevee et la sante moins bonne. Au cours des experiences sur le terrain, la mortalit6 etait plus 6levCe et la santC moins bonne chez les femelles que chez Bes msles de k. radiata. Amblema plicata s'est r6veIe &re moins sensible a l'envahissement : la santC Ctait moins bonne chez les sujets de A. plicata experimentalement sournis A un envahissement, mais la mortalit6 et la sante des populations naturelles n'ont pas et# affectees par D. polyrnorpha. On a observe des differences marquCes dans les taux de mortalit4 chez six espgces de bivalves indiggnes A trois stations de la partie ouest du (ac hie. La rnortalite Ctait supkrieure dans les sous-familles des Anodontinae et des Lampsilinae (y compris h. radiata) que chez les Amblerninae (y compris A. plicata) aux trois stations; cela pourrait signifier que des diffCrences, entre les sous-families, dans les cycle biologique...

Predicting impact of freshwater exotic species on native biodiversity: Challenges in spatial scaling

“…' Many examples exist of the role of exotic species in the global extinction of fishes (Miller et al 1989;Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force 1994;Cohen 1994;Pitcher & Hart 1995). Over the next few years, several species of native unionid mussels will probably go extinct as the North American range of exotic zebra mussels encompasses the ranges of highly endemic unionids in the southeastern US (Bogan 1993;Cummings et al 1993;Haag et al 1993;Gillis & Mackie 1994). Protecting native biodiversity in the face of exotic species (or any other anthropogenic threat) thus requires identifying areas of high endemism (US Congress 1993, p. 40;Cohen 1994).…”

Origin of Spanish invasion by the zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha (Pallas, 1771) revealed by amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) fingerprinting

“…In North America, industrial facilities using surface water for production processes and drinking water companies had to take costly and time-consuming measures to prevent clogging of their intake pipes, with cost estimates ranging up to several billions of dollars by the turn of the century (Roberts 1990;Ludyanskiy et al 1993; Van der Velde et al 1994;Hushak 1996;Pimentel et al 2000). The epizoic colonisation of snails, crayfish and unionid bivalves by this exotic species has led to a decline, and in many cases to a total eradication, of native species (Mackie 1991;Haag et al 1993;Schloesser et al 1996). Seston removal by filterfeeding of this organism has resulted in the transformation of turbid to clear waters (Reeders et al 1989;Bij de Vaate 1990, 1992;Reeders et al 1993), not only resulting in severe ecological impacts due to complete changeovers of local communities, but also in negative socio-economic impacts on commercial-and sport fisheries due to the decline of commercially important fish species such as the Walleye (Sander vitreus) (Mackie 1991;Griffiths 1993; Van der Velde et al 1994;Strayer et al 1999).…”

Benthic macroinvertebrates along the Czech part of the Labe and lower section of the Vltava rivers from 1996–2005, with a particular focus on rare and alien species

“…In more detailed research by Beran (2005), D. polymorpha was found at 25 of 27 sites in the Labe between Němčice and Hřensko. A negative effect of D. polymorpha on unionids has been reported in several studies (e.g., Haag et al 1993;Gillis & Mackie 1994;Nalepa 1994;Baker & Hornbach 2000;Martel et al 2001).…”