Successful survival, growth, and reproductive potential of quagga mussels in low calcium lake water: is there uncertainty of establishment risk?

Abstract

The risk of quagga mussel (Dreissena rostriformis bugensis Andrusov 1897) establishment into water-bodies of the western US has expanded the geographic concern regarding the ecological and economic impacts this species will have in aquatic ecosystems. Thresholds based on calcium concentrations, an element critical for mussel growth and physiology, have been used as a primary predictor of quagga mussel establishment success to aid management decisions. We evaluated the invasion potential of quagga mussels in low calcium waters using laboratory experiments to compare the survival, growth and reproductive potential of adult mussels held for 90 days at low (9 and 12 ppm), moderate (15 to 32 ppm) and high (72 ppm) calcium water concentrations. In conjunction with adult experiments, veliger stage survival, growth and settlement were evaluated under similar low, moderate, and high calcium water treatments. Adult mussels survived, grew and showed reproductive potential in low calcium water (12 ppm). Veligers were also able to survive, grow and settle in low calcium water. Higher levels of natural seston biomass appeared to improve adult mussel life history performance in low calcium water. Survival curve analysis predicted that 99% adult mortality could occur in <170 days at 9 ppm and 12 ppm, however water with >15 ppm could have adults surviving more than a year. The results from these bioassays provide further evidence that quagga mussels have higher risk of establishment in low calcium lakes if habitats exist that have slightly elevated calcium. These results should help emphasize the vulnerability of water-body in the 12 to 15 ppm calcium range that could potentially be at risk of establishing sustainable quagga mussel populations. Furthermore, these results provide insights into the uncertainty of using a single parameter in assigning establishment risk given the complexity of variables in specific water-bodies that influence life history performance of introduced species.

Calcium concentrations in the lower Columbia River, USA, are generally sufficient to support invasive bivalve spread

“…Bivalve mollusks require calcium for the formation of their shells, and several studies have indicated that [Ca 2+ ] is often an important environmental predictor of the presence of freshwater bivalves (Davis et al, 2015;Lucy et al, 2012;McMahon, 1996). However, the minimum [Ca 2+ ] required for dreissenid growth and survival is poorly constrained and may vary between species and even between life stages within a species (Davis et al, 2015).…”

“…However, the minimum [Ca 2+ ] required for dreissenid growth and survival is poorly constrained and may vary between species and even between life stages within a species (Davis et al, 2015). Applying the reported [Ca 2+ ] needed for growth and survival of dreissenid mussels, Neary and Leach (1992) ] (e.g., <12 mg L À1 ) is likely to limit the establishment and thus the spread of invasive bivalves (Davis et al, 2015;Oliveira, Calheiros, Jacobi, & Hamilton, 2011;Strayer et al, 1996). Therefore, the results we report in this short communication indicate that there is usually sufficient [Ca 2+ ] in the lower CR to support the establishment of invasive dreissenid mussels, which could join the currently widespread and abundant Asian clam (C. fluminea) as the newest bivalves to invade an already heavily invaded CR ecosystem.…”

“…Bivalve mollusks require calcium for the formation of their shells, and several studies have indicated that [Ca 2+ ] is often an important environmental predictor of the presence of freshwater bivalves (Davis et al, 2015;Lucy et al, 2012;McMahon, 1996). However, the minimum [Ca 2+ ] required for dreissenid growth and survival is poorly constrained and may vary between species and even between life stages within a species (Davis et al, 2015). Applying the reported [Ca 2+ ] needed for growth and survival of dreissenid mussels, Neary and Leach (1992) ] (e.g., <12 mg L À1 ) is likely to limit the establishment and thus the spread of invasive bivalves (Davis et al, 2015;Oliveira, Calheiros, Jacobi, & Hamilton, 2011;Strayer et al, 1996).…”

“…Calcium plays an important role in freshwater biogeochemical cycling, both as a critical component of organismal physiology and biochemistry (e.g., neurotransmission) and as a resource necessary for shell formation in bivalve mollusks. The range expansion and establishment of several invasive bivalve species, including the Asian clam, Corbicula fluminea, the zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha, and the quagga mussel, Dreissena bugensis, have been linked to the availability of sufficient Ca 2+ (Davis, Ruhmann, Acharya, Chandra, & Jerde, 2015;Lucy, Karatayev, & Burlakova, 2012;McMahon, 1996).…”

Physical Circulation in the Coastal Zone of a Large Lake Controls the Benthic Biological Distribution

“…Based on laboratory studies, Davis et al. (2015) suggested that water bodies with 12–15 mg/L of calcium were at risk of invasion by quagga mussels. Whittier et al.…”