Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Meghan E. Martinski, Daelyn A. Woolnough
Summary: This study analyzed the movement, community, and habitat use of the endangered unionid Ligumia recta in four rivers in central Michigan. L. recta exhibited variable daily movement patterns and coexisted with other unionid species, with the tribe Lampsilini occurring most frequently near L. recta. This study provides insights into the basic movement and occurrence patterns of L. recta and enhances our understanding of its status in Michigan.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Arthur E. Bogan, Van Tu Do, Elsa Froufe, Manuel Lopes-Lima
Summary: This study aims to define the species of Anodontini in Vietnam and describe their evolutionary relationships and distributions. It identified five species divided among three genera, including a new species. The study emphasizes the importance of surveys, molecular work, and taxonomic expertise in describing the biodiversity of understudied regions.
Article
Fisheries
Drew E. J. White, Wendell R. Haag, Monte A. McGregor, Steven J. Price
Summary: Captive propagation is an important tool for the conservation of endangered freshwater mussels. However, the effects of food abundance on the survival and growth of juvenile mussels in aquaculture are still debated. This study examined the effects of algal-based diet abundance on Cumberland Bean mussels in a recirculating aquaculture system and compared the results with natural food sources. The findings showed that increasing food abundance had a positive effect on growth without negative impacts on survival. However, the growth rate in the hatchery was lower than in the wild, suggesting that other factors besides food quality may play a role in mussel growth.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Alan D. Christian, Sean T. McCanty, Sujata Poudel, Steve W. A. Chordas, John L. Harris
Summary: Spatial hierarchical approaches were used to classify freshwater mussel assemblages in the Strawberry River, revealing two distinct groups organized roughly by upstream and downstream gradients. The study demonstrated the use of NMS and indicator species analysis in classifying mussel assemblages, providing valuable insight for conservation planning.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Beat Pfarrer, Anna Carlevaro, Pascal Stucki, Arno Schwarzer, Heinrich Vicentini, Eike Neubert
Summary: Switzerland's drainage systems are divided into three major European river basins. The identity and number of freshwater mussel species in Switzerland remain uncertain. This study used molecular methods to assess Swiss populations of freshwater mussels and provided new records and knowledge about these species.
Article
Plant Sciences
Elena Porotikova, Uliana Terehova, Vitalii Volodin, Eugeniya Yurchenko, Svetlana Vinogradova
Summary: A large-scale phytosanitary monitoring in Russian vineyards revealed that over half of the samples in the commercial vineyards in the Krasnodar region, Stavropol region, and Republic of Crimea were positive for multiple grapevine viruses. Phylogenetic analysis identified the presence of different groups of viruses, highlighting the urgent need to develop and implement long-term strategies for controlling viral diseases in grape cultivation.
Article
Immunology
Ekaterina Blinova, Andrei Deviatkin, Marat Makenov, Yulia Popova, Tamara Dzagurova
Summary: We analyzed Puumala virus (PUUV) sequences from bank voles in Russia and found reassortments in areas with high incidence of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, suggesting their contribution to PUUV pathogenicity. Continued surveillance is necessary to assess PUUV pathogenicity in Russia.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Geography, Physical
Valery Astakhov, Ludmila Pestova, Valentina Shkatova
Summary: This study provides an explanatory note for the sketch map of loessoids, which includes loess and various loess-like deposits. The map is a byproduct of the ongoing Quaternary Map project of the Russian Federation and is based on national geological maps and literary data. The distribution and classification of loessoids reveal their stratigraphic and geographical variations. Regardless of their origin and geographical diversity, all loessoids share the fundamental feature of paleosols.
QUATERNARY INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Zoology
Maria Isabel P. F. Macedo, Ximena M. C. Ovando, Sthefane D'avila
Summary: This study describes the internal anatomy of the land snail species Leiostracus obliquus and updates its distribution based on well-preserved specimens. Comparisons with another species, L. carnavalescus, reveal significant similarities in morphology and color pattern.
Article
Environmental Sciences
W. Gregory Cope, Christine M. Bergeron, Jennifer M. Archambault, Jess W. Jones, Braven Beaty, Peter R. Lazaro, Damian Shea, Jody L. Callihan, Jennifer J. Rogers
Summary: This study evaluated the exposure of mussels to various contaminant stressors in different sections of the Clinch River, finding that organic contaminants, especially PAHs, were related to mussel decline, while metals were largely unrelated. Results indicated that PAHs and Mn were key pollutant stressors in the Clinch River, mainly coming from the Guest River tributary watershed.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Piet A. J. Bakker, Paolo G. Albano
Summary: The family Triphoridae is one of the five most diverse marine molluscan families, possibly consisting of thousands of species. Due to its high diversity and the need for subtle morphological characters for species delimitation, taxonomy of this family has been considered challenging. This study compiled a list of all published names attributed to Triphoridae, providing information on type locality, type material, synonymy, and homonymy. Additionally, a preliminary overview of the geographic and stratigraphic distribution was provided.
Article
Microbiology
Nikolay Pimenov, Dmitry Kostyushev, Svetlana Komarova, Anastasia Fomicheva, Alexander Urtikov, Olga Belaia, Karina Umbetova, Olga Darvina, Natalia Tsapkova, Vladimir Chulanov
Summary: This is the first and most complete evaluation of HCV epidemiology and genotype/subgenotype distribution in Russia. The results of the study show a decreasing trend in acute and chronic HCV infection in Russia, with genotype 1 being dominant and genotype 3 being more common in males.
Article
Virology
Tony L. Goldberg, Emilie Blevins, Eric M. Leis, Isaac F. Standish, Jordan C. Richard, Matthew R. Lueder, Regina Z. Cer, Kimberly A. Bishop-Lilly
Summary: This study describes two newly discovered viruses of freshwater mussels from the United States. The viruses in the Rhabdoviridae family infect a variety of hosts and have important implications for health and agriculture. The genome features of these viruses provide new evidence for the evolution of rhabdoviruses, and the reproductive strategy of freshwater mussels may explain how these viruses originally jumped between mussels and fish. The significance of this research lies in advancing our understanding of rhabdovirus ecology and evolution, shedding light on these important viruses and the diseases they cause.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Wendell R. Haag, James A. Stoeckel
Summary: The demographics of young-of-year Pondmussels and Giant Floaters in ponds showed variations in size, sex ratios, and gravidity among ponds due to differences in environmental conditions or demographic stochasticity. Size and fecundity were not related to male density, and acquired immunity did not affect YOY performance in both species. The rapid growth, early maturity, efficient fertilization, and high fecundity of YOY contradict traditional views of mussel life history, but may enable them to colonize disturbed, unstable habitats quickly.
Article
Ecology
Taylor E. Kelley, Garrett W. Hopper, Irene Sanchez Gonzalez, Jamie R. Bucholz, Carla L. Atkinson
Summary: This study aimed to assess the importance of ecological factors in the distribution patterns of an invasive clam relative to native mussels in seven rivers in the Southeast United States. The results showed that substrate particle size, water velocity, and water depth were associated with the presence and abundance of the invasive clam within mussel beds. Land cover variables did not influence the invasive clam populations or mussel communities. The findings suggest that the invasive clam may be benefiting from habitat degradation that has negatively impacted native mussels.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Editorial Material
Ecology
Yulia Bespalaya, Ronaldo Sousa, Mikhail Yu Gofarov, Alexander Kondakov, Alexander Kropotin, Dmitry M. Palatov, Ilya V. Vikhrev, Ivan N. Bolotov
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Giulia Secci-Petretto, Gernot K. Englmaier, Steven J. Weiss, Alexander Antonov, Henri Persat, Gael P. J. Denys, Tamara Schenekar, Vladimir I. Romanov, Eric B. Taylor, Elsa Froufe
Summary: Hybridization and introgression are common among freshwater fishes, leading to discordant paths of evolution for mitochondrial and nuclear genomes. Using ddRADseq, a genome-wide SNP dataset was obtained for Thymallus species, revealing phylogenetic relationships and gene flow among species. The analysis showed discordances between mitochondrial and nuclear genomes, as well as signs of mitochondrial capture and limited nuclear introgression in contact zones.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
David C. Aldridge, Isobel S. Ollard, Yulia Bespalaya, Ivan N. Bolotov, Karel Douda, Juergen Geist, Wendell R. Haag, Michael W. Klunzinger, Manuel Lopes-Lima, Musa C. Mlambo, Nicoletta Riccardi, Ronaldo Sousa, David L. Strayer, Santiago H. Torres, Caryn C. Vaughn, Tadeusz Zajac, Alexandra Zieritz
Summary: The article identifies 14 emerging and poorly understood threats and opportunities for the global conservation of freshwater mussels over the next decade. These 14 priority topics fall into five broad themes and cover various aspects ranging from autecology to ecosystem services. The prioritization of these topics can help guide proactive approaches to the conservation of this important group.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Janine P. da Silva, Duarte Vasconcelos Goncalves, Aina Garcia-Raventos, Manuel Lopes-Lima, Simone Varandas, Elsa Froufe, Amilcar Teixeira, Francis K. C. Hui, Ana Filipa Filipe, Ronaldo Sousa
Summary: This study aimed to assess the role of environmental and biotic drivers in determining the distribution of freshwater mussels and their fish hosts. The results showed that the distribution of mussels was mainly influenced by environmental factors such as climate, topography, and land use. Co-occurrence patterns between mussels and fish hosts were mainly influenced by residual factors, indicating the potential role of biotic interactions. By identifying important fish hosts based on distributional data alone, conservation measures can be targeted towards multiple species, leading to a more holistic approach to biodiversity protection.
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiongjun Liu, Manuel Lopes-Lima, Xu Chen, Yu Zhou, Dongmei Qin, Chunhua Zhou, Shan Ouyang, Xiao-Chen Huang, Xiaoping Wu
Summary: Freshwater mussels are diverse and endangered, and it is crucial to protect their populations and genetic diversity. This study assessed the genetic diversity of freshwater mussels in the Yangtze River Basin and identified suitable habitats for conservation. The findings can guide conservation efforts and benefit freshwater ecosystems.
AQUATIC CONSERVATION-MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS
(2023)
Editorial Material
Ecology
David C. Aldridge, Joshua I. Brian, Adam Cmiel, Anna Lipinska, Manuel Lopes-Lima, Ronaldo Sousa, Amilcar Teixeira, Katarzyna Zajac, Tadeusz Zajac
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Andre Gomes-dos-Santos, Elsa Froufe, John M. Pfeiffer, Nathan A. Johnson, Chase H. Smith, Andre M. Machado, L. Filipe C. Castro, Van Tu Do, Akimasa Hattori, Nicole Garrison, Nathan V. Whelan, Ivan N. Bolotov, Ilya V. Vikhrev, Alexander V. Kondakov, Mohamed Ghamizi, Vincent Prie, Arthur E. Bogan, Manuel Lopes Lima
Summary: The proliferation of genomic sequencing approaches has greatly impacted the field of phylogenetics, and target capture approaches have become a cost-effective and fast strategy for non-model organism inference. However, existing pipelines for target capture processing are not capable of incorporating whole genome sequencing data. In this study, a new pipeline is developed to accurately capture and assemble targeted regions using whole genome re-sequencing reads, showing potential for users with limited resources and high-coverage sequencing requirements.
MOLECULAR ECOLOGY RESOURCES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Joana Garrido Nogueira, Manuel Lopes-Lima, Pedro Beja, Ana Filipa Filipe, Elsa Froufe, Duarte Goncalves, Janine P. da Silva, Ronaldo Sousa, Amilcar Teixeira, Simone Varandas, Virgilio Hermoso
Summary: Understanding biotic interactions is crucial for species distribution, ecosystem functioning, and conservation efforts. This study presents a new framework to incorporate biotic interactions into conservation planning using freshwater mussels and fish interaction as a case study. Results show that considering both freshwater mussels and fishes in spatial prioritisation is necessary to accurately represent biotic interactions.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Andre Gomes-dos-Santos, Manuel Lopes-Lima, M. Andre Machado, Amilcar Teixeira, L. Filipe C. Castro, Elsa Froufe
Summary: Mussels of order Unionida, a group of freshwater bivalves, are highly threatened and show the highest record of extinction events. The first genome assembly of the dolphin freshwater mussel Unio delphinus is presented, which will aid in understanding its biology, evolutionary history, and conservation strategies.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Arthur E. Bogan, Van Tu Do, Elsa Froufe, Manuel Lopes-Lima
Summary: This study aims to define the species of Anodontini in Vietnam and describe their evolutionary relationships and distributions. It identified five species divided among three genera, including a new species. The study emphasizes the importance of surveys, molecular work, and taxonomic expertise in describing the biodiversity of understudied regions.
Article
Ecology
Rita F. T. Pires, Elsa Froufe, Giulia Secci-Petretto, Antonina dos Santos
Summary: Gelatinous zooplankton play an essential role in healthy ecosystems and are considered indicators of climate change. The citizen science program GelAvista has enhanced the understanding of these organisms by collecting data on jellyfish occurrences in Portuguese waters, providing insights into their distribution and abundance. The first reported occurrence of the hydromedusa species Odessa maeotica in Lisbon Bay is discussed in detail.
Review
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Vanessa Modesto, Martina Ilarri, Anna M. Labecka, Noe Ferreira-Rodriguez, Neil E. Coughlan, Xiongjun Liu, Ronaldo Sousa
Summary: Corbicula fluminea is a widespread and problematic invasive bivalve species in freshwater ecosystems. Most studies have focused on toxicology and ecology, primarily in North America and Europe. However, there is still a lack of understanding about its basic biological and ecological features and the mechanisms underlying its impacts in invaded areas. Therefore, there is an urgent need for novel methodologies and techniques to improve early detection, spread prediction, and effective management for containment and eradication of this species.
Article
Fisheries
Elsa Froufe, Andre Gomes-dos-Santos, Ana Matos, Jonathan Wilson, Salman Malakpourkolbadinezhad, Daniel D. D. Pereira, Randal Singer, L. Filipe C. Castro
Summary: This study investigates the taxonomic status of the striped eel catfish, Plotosus lineatus, and identifies nine distinct lineages within the species. Of particular note, individuals from the Mediterranean region form a unique lineage with an unknown evolutionary origin. The findings highlight the need for a careful taxonomic reassessment of the species, due to its potential for biological invasion and its value as a physiology model.
ICHTHYOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2023)
