Thermal constraints for range expansion of the invasive green mussel, Perna viridis, in the southeastern United States

Abstract

Cold temperatures are thought to be among the most important determining factors of geographic distribution for tropical and sub-tropical marine invertebrates. The Asian green mussel, Perna viridis, has been introduced into coastal waters of Florida where its current distribution is hypothesized to be limited by low temperatures during winter. Lethal and sub-lethal effects (heat shock protein/Hsp70 expression) of cold water and air temperatures were analyzed in two size classes of P. viridis from Florida in an effort to determine the effects of current and forecasted temperatures on the potential for range expansion. Mussels were exposed to water temperatures of 14, 10, 7 and 3°C for up to 30 days, or to air temperatures of 14, 7, 0 and –10°C for periods of 2 hr. Mortality was significantly increased at all water and air temperatures ≤ 14°C. No differences in mortality rates were observed between small (15–45 mm) and large (75–105 mm) size classes except after exposure to 7°C air, in which small mussels had higher mortality. Significant increases in Hsp70 expression were observed after a 2-hour exposure to 10°C water, but Hsp70 expression was not significantly increased at any temperatures in which mortality was not also significant. The temperature threshold for survival in this population appears to be between 10 and 14°C, suggesting that under current conditions P. viridis may already be at the northern edge of its potential range in the United States. If water temperatures increase with global climate change, northerly flowing currents may permit range expansion as temperatures allow.

Functional and metabolic characterization of hemocytes of the green mussel, Perna viridis: in vitro impacts of temperature

“…Such knowledge was crucial to determining the impact of temperature variation on the metabolism and immune-related functions of hemocytes. In accordance with the very recent work of Urian et al [22], our results showed that relatively low temperature (10 C) represents a stressful condition for the Floridian green mussels, as depicted by the low phagocytic capacity and the increase of oxidative metabolism. Then, as suggested by Urian et al [22], in the current environmental conditions, green mussels might have already reached the Northern edge of their distribution in the USA.…”

“…The populations of green mussels from Florida were, until now, almost exclusively studied for their geographic distribution patterns, in order to understand their origin and to predict the population dynamics [1e4]. Very recently, Urian et al [22] investigated on the effects of seawater temperature on the survival of Floridian P. viridis, and concluded that due to a weak low temperature resistance, green mussels might have already reached the Northern edge of their distribution in USA. Indeed, temperature is a predominant factor determining the geographic distribution of marine invertebrates [23].…”

“…For instance, cold temperatures have been shown to increase mortality of the tropical species Perna perna [24]. But even non lethal temperatures can induce a stress that may reduce long-term survival, growth and/or reproductive success [22,23]. There is currently an obvious lack of data about the adaptation capacities of P. viridis in Floridian environmental conditions, at the physiological and cellular levels.…”

Mercury Bioaccumulation of Macrobenthos Based on Feeding Behavior and Nichesat Lampon Ceased Traditional Gold Mining, Banyuwangi District, East Java

“…But for each site of niches we were got the speciments as sample only that representative in lifestyle and feeding behavior. (Urian, 2009). The colony of Mytilus sp is a very solid and tight.…”

Latitudinal comparison of thermotolerance and HSP70 production in F2 larvae of the Greenshell mussel (Perna canaliculus)

“…Furthermore, during 2005, wild adult populations of P. canaliculus at Banks Peninsula suffered high rates of mortality during a 3day heat wave event where air temperatures reached 36°C (Petes et al, 2007). Such thermally induced mortality is not restricted to elevated temperatures, with sudden drops in water and air temperature producing significant mortality in adults and juveniles of the green mussel, P.viridis (Firth et al, 2011;Urian et al, 2011). Temperature variations are predicted to increase in magnitude and frequency with the progression of climate change (Rahmstorf and Coumou, 2011) and further highlight the complex interplay between biotic (e.g.…”