What explains the invading success of the aquatic mud snail Potamopyrgus antipodarum (Hydrobiidae, Mollusca)?

Abstract

The spread of non-native species is one of the most harmful and least reversible disturbances in ecosystems. Species have to overcome several filters to become a pest (transport, establishment, spread and impact). Few studies have checked the traits that confer ability to overcome these steps in the same species. The aim of the present study is to review the available information on the life-history and ecological traits of the mud snail, Potamopyrgus antipodarum Gray (Hydrobiidae, Mollusca), native from New Zealand, in order to explain its invasive success at different aquatic ecosystems around the world. A wide tolerance range to physico-chemical factors has been found to be a key trait for successful transport. A high competitive ability at early stages of succession can explains its establishment success in human-altered ecosystems. A high reproduction rate, high capacity for active and passive dispersal, and the escape from native predators and parasites explains its spread success. The high reproduction and the ability to monopolize invertebrate secondary production explain its high impact in the invaded ecosystems. However, further research is needed to understand how other factors, such as population density or the degree of human perturbation can modify the invasive success of this aquatic snail.

Short-Term Effects of the 2008 High-Flow Experiment on Macroinvertebrates in Colorado River Below Glen Canyon Dam, Arizona

“…The reduction in biomass of P. antipodarum persisted 15 months after the HFE when monitoring stopped; P. antipodarum density, biomass, and production were still well below pre-HFE values. To estimate recovery time and the length of time required for a snail to grow from hatching (about 0.5 mm) to reproductive adult size (3.5 mm) (Alonso and Castro-Diez, 2008), we used size-specific growth rates of P. antipodarum at RM 0 (growth rate=-0.006 * snail length + 0.029) (growth methods presented in Cross and others, in press). Applying the average growth rate of P. antipodarum in Glen Canyon, we estimate that it takes on average approximately 250 days to reach the size when snails begin to reproduce and contribute to the population.…”

Long-term population fluctuations of the exotic New Zealand mudsnail Potamopyrgus antipodarum and its introduced aporocotylid trematode in northwestern France

“…Indeed, competitive interactions both for space and nutrients probably occur between them, given their great ecological and physiological similarities. Occurring in a great variety of lotic and lentic waters, Sphaeriidae inhabit the bottom (mud, sand) or bury in the substratum, and often climb up plants (Boycott, 1936;Dussart, 1979;Holopainen & Jónasson, 1989;Dillon, 2004;Korniushin, 2007), as is also observed for P. antipodarum (Alonso & Castro-Díez, 2008, 2012 for reviews). To feed, Sphaeriidae filter phytoplankton, bacteria, and particulate organic matter from the water column (Vaughn & Hakenkamps, 2001;Dillon, 2004;Korniushin, 2007 for reviews).…”

“…The most widely distributed is haplotype t, which appears to be a generalist in fresh waters, whereas haplotype z is restricted to brackish waters (Städler et al, 2005). As for many invasive species, the successful spread of P. antipodarum is at least partly explained by inadvertent human introductions, but also by the snail's mode of reproduction (i.e., ovoviviparity and parthenogenesis), wide physiological tolerances (e.g., euryhalinity), efficient dispersal, and enemy release (predators, parasites) (Alonso & Castro-Díez, 2008, 2012. In its native range, P. antipodarum is first intermediate host for as many as 20 species of highly host-specific trematodes (Hechinger, 2012), which, as parasitic castrators, generally can substantially impact host populations (e.g., Lafferty, 1993;Gérard, 1997Gérard, , 2001Negovetich & Esch, 2008).…”

Dieta de Pomacea canaliculata (Gastropoda: Ampullariidae) en su hábitat natural basada en análisis de contenidos digestivos e isótopos estables

“…Biological invasions may alter the properties of the invaded habitat, decline biodiversity and induce biotic homogenization (Alonso and Castro-Diez, 2008). Once the invader population has settled, it will compete with indigenous species for food and space (Morrison and Hay, 2011).…”