Article
Microbiology
Marlene Chiarello, Jamie R. Bucholz, Mark McCauley, Stephanie N. Vaughn, Garrett W. Hopper, IreneSanchez Gonzalez, Carla L. Atkinson, Jeffrey D. Lozier, Colin R. Jackson
Summary: This study investigated the gut bacterial microbiome of the invasive Asian clam Corbicula fluminea and its co-occurring native freshwater mussels. The results showed that the gut microbiome of C. fluminea was influenced by environmental conditions and showed high functional diversity. In addition, co-occurring native mussels were found to potentially influence the gut microbiome of C. fluminea.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Marden S. Linares, Pedro H. M. Amaral, Marcos Callisto
Summary: The objective of this study is to understand the response of taxonomic and functional structures of benthic macro-invertebrate assemblages to variations in the densities of the invasive species Corbicula fluminea. The results show that increased density of C. fluminea leads to changes in the taxonomic structure and increased functional diversity.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Garrett W. Hopper, Jonathan K. Buchanan, Irene Sanchez Gonzalez, Megan E. Kubala, Jamie R. Bucholz, Matthew B. Lodato, Jeffrey D. Lozier, Carla L. Atkinson
Summary: Research on animal-mediated nutrient cycling often focuses on either native or invasive fauna, but it is common to have communities comprising both groups; in North American rivers, native mussels and invasive clams have strong effects on nutrient cycling through filter-feeding and bioturbation; when these two groups co-occur, it is unclear how their nutrient cycling effects differ.
BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS
(2022)
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
Environmental Sciences
Marco Tamburini, Erica Keppel, Agnese Marchini, Michele F. Repetto, Gregory M. Ruiz, Jasmine Ferrario, Anna Occhipinti-Ambrogi
Summary: Baseline port monitoring is crucial for assessing the introduction and spread of non-indigenous species in the Mediterranean Sea. A standardized protocol developed by SERC was tested for the first time in this region, revealing new NIS arrivals and variations in NIS distribution across monitoring sites. The study highlights the stability of NIS richness across locations, the influence of native and cryptogenic species on fouling structure, and the lack of correlation between artificial structure density and local NIS abundance. Evaluating the effectiveness of the SERC method and promoting broader application of standard monitoring protocols are recommended for assessing changes in fouling communities in the Mediterranean basin.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Wendell R. Haag, Jacob Culp, Andrea N. Drayer, Monte A. McGregor, Drew E. J. White, Steven J. Price
Summary: A study conducted in the Rockcastle River system in Kentucky, USA, found that the survival rate of four native mussel species was high but growth varied significantly among different sites, with an increase in Corbicula abundance leading to a significant decrease in mussel growth. The study also revealed that water pollution from coal mining or other sources did not explain the variation in mussel growth.
FRESHWATER BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Martina I. Ilarri, Rosana G. Monteiro, Rodrigo Ozorio, Ronaldo Sousa
Summary: Corbicula fluminea, an aquatic invasive species in Portugal, shows spatio-temporal differences in condition indices and biochemical composition between Lima River (low invasion) and Minho River (high invasion). Intraspecific competition experiment indicates that the optimum density for C. fluminea is 500 individuals/m(2). This study enhances the understanding of ecophysiological conditions of C. fluminea populations, a topic often neglected in previous research.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yuqin Rong, Yali Tang, Lijuan Ren, William D. Taylor, Vladimir Razlutskij, Luigi Naselli-Flores, Zhengwen Liu, Xiufeng Zhang
Summary: The study found that the filter-feeding behavior of Corbicula fluminea can alter plankton community structure, increase water transparency, and have a positive impact on the water quality of eutrophic shallow lakes.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Vanessa Modesto, Martina Ilarri, Paulo Castro, Francisco Carvalho, Thais Cavalheri, Manuel Lopes-Lima, Amilcar Teixeira, Rodrigo O. A. Ozorio, Carlos Antunes, Ronaldo Sousa
Summary: The introduction of the Asian clam Corbicula fluminea into aquatic ecosystems can affect the physiological condition and survival of native freshwater mussels. This study used manipulative field experiments to assess the impact of interspecific interactions and C. fluminea die-offs on native mussels. The results suggest that C. fluminea can impact the physiological condition of native freshwater mussels, with varying effects on different species.
Article
Limnology
Gretchen Rollwagen-Bollens, Benjamin A. Bolam, Stephen M. Bollens, Summer Henricksen, Carol Sandison, Julie Zimmerman
Summary: The study found that the invasive suspension-feeding Asian clam's consumption of phytoplankton prey is directly proportional to prey density and significantly influenced by temperature, showing high ingestion rates.
Review
Ecology
Lindsey K. Albertson, Michael J. MacDonald, Benjamin B. Tumolo, Michelle A. Briggs, Zachary Maguire, Sierra Quinn, Jose A. Sanchez-Ruiz, Jaris Veneros, Laura A. Burkle
Summary: The study found that positive interactions in freshwater habitats can significantly increase the number of beneficiaries, especially mollusks and amphibians. Invasive facilitators have stronger positive effects on beneficiaries compared to non-invasive facilitators.
Article
Zoology
E. Cvetanovska, R. A. Castaneda, A. P. Hendry, D. B. Conn, A. Ricciardi
Summary: The research found that the subtropical Asian clam may have stronger cold tolerance in low-temperature environments, with some southern populations even showing higher survival rates than the most cold-tolerant northern populations. This suggests that clams may adapt to different environments, leading to different responses in terms of evolution or developmental plasticity.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Neil E. Coughlan, Ross N. Cuthbert, Eoghan M. Cunningham, Stephen Potts, Diarmuid McSweeney, Gina Y. W. Vong, Emma Healey, Kate Crane, Joe M. Caffrey, Frances E. Lucy, Eithne Davis, Jaimie T. A. Dick
Summary: The study explored a new method for controlling the Asian clam by evaluating combined applications of hot and cold thermal shock treatments. Results demonstrated that the combined applications substantially increased the mortality rate of the Asian clam, especially when a cold shock followed a hot thermal treatment.
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Vanessa Modesto, Ester Dias, Martina Ilarri, Manuel Lopes-Lima, Amilcar Teixeira, Simone Varandas, Paulo Castro, Carlos Antunes, Ronaldo Sousa
Summary: The study found that the invasive species Corbicula fluminea and the native species Anodonta anatina have the widest trophic niches, while Potomida littoralis may face higher competition risk with Corbicula fluminea for food sources in the Tua basin.
AQUATIC CONSERVATION-MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Daniel Szarmach, Kamil Wisniewski, Jaroslaw Kobak, Tomasz Kakareko, Anna Maria Labecka, Ronaldo Sousa, Malgorzata Poznanska-Kakareko
Summary: Clams of the Corbicula species complex from Asia have become invasive worldwide and are now spreading to Central European waters. This study examined the substrate preferences and behavior of three Corbicula morphospecies from Poland to understand their potential impacts and ecological adaptations. The results showed that different Corbicula species have distinct substrate preferences and behaviors, which may affect their invasive potential. Understanding the overlap of preferred habitats between non-native Corbicula clams and native bivalves is crucial for determining their potential competition strength, impact, and displacement.
FRESHWATER BIOLOGY
(2023)
Editorial Material
Ecology
Yulia Bespalaya, Ronaldo Sousa, Mikhail Yu Gofarov, Alexander Kondakov, Alexander Kropotin, Dmitry M. Palatov, Ilya V. Vikhrev, Ivan N. Bolotov
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Ronaldo Sousa, Tadeusz Zajac, Dariusz Halabowski, Olga Aksenova, Yulia Bespalaya, Francisco Carvalho, Paulo Castro, Karel Douda, Janine P. da Silva, Noe Ferreira-Rodriguez, Juergen Geist, Clemens Gumpinger, Anna M. Labecka, Jasna Lajtner, Iga Lewin, Manuel Lopes-Lima, Alexandra Meira, Keiko Nakamura, Joana Garrido Nogueira, Paz Ondina, Malgorzata Ozgo, Joaquim Reis, Nicoletta Riccardi, Spase Shumka, Mikhail O. Son, Amilcar Teixeira, Frankie Thielen, Maria Urbanska, Simone Varandas, Niklas Wengstrom, Katarzyna Zajac, Alexandra Zieritz, David C. Aldridge
Summary: Europe's freshwater ecosystems have been under human pressure for a long time. With increasing pressure and emerging threats, there is an urgent need to conserve freshwater biodiversity and its ecosystem services. However, while some taxonomic groups, mainly vertebrates, have received disproportionate attention and funding, other groups, like freshwater mussels, remain largely overlooked. This article points out six conceptual areas that require immediate and long-term attention to address this conservation bias, including knowledge, threats, socioeconomics, conservation, governance, and education. The proposed roadmap aims to prioritize research, policy, and education for the conservation of freshwater mussels in Europe.
CONSERVATION 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
Fisheries
Yorgos Stratoudakis, Carlos Antunes, Claudia Correia, Ana Filipa Belo, Pedro R. Almeida
Summary: A questionnaire survey of small-scale estuarine and inland fisheries in the NW Iberian Peninsula reveals differences in governance and fisheries management, but similar patterns of exploitation. The importance of fishing revenue, professional exclusivity, and geographic mobility declines upstream. Intangible contact with nature is valued across rivers. Although there is a long tradition and generational continuity in the fishing profession, signs of diminishing hand-over to younger generations are detected. Fishers perceive environmental degradation and overexploitation.
REVIEWS IN FISH BIOLOGY AND FISHERIES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alexandra Martins, Diana Dias da Silva, Renata Silva, Felix Carvalho, Lucia Guilhermino
Summary: This study investigated the long-term toxicity of lithium (Li) and lithium microplastics (Li-MPs mixtures) under high light intensity and warmer water temperature. The results showed that both high light intensity and warmer temperature increased the toxicity of Li and Li-MPs mixtures, with higher concentrations leading to population extinction.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Keiko Nakamura, Ronaldo Sousa, Francesc Mesquita-Joanes
Summary: Freshwater biodiversity is at risk, and the decline of invertebrate species is not well-documented. This long-term study in Spain examined four native freshwater mussel species and found significant declines in mussel densities, with three species locally extinct. The critically endangered species, Pseudunio auricularius, showed a decline in survival probability, highlighting the urgent need for conservation measures.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2023)
Editorial Material
Environmental Sciences
Eduardo Alves de Almeida, Afonso Celso Dias Bainy, Lucia Guilhermino
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Vanessa Modesto, Martina Ilarri, Paulo Castro, Francisco Carvalho, Thais Cavalheri, Manuel Lopes-Lima, Amilcar Teixeira, Rodrigo O. A. Ozorio, Carlos Antunes, Ronaldo Sousa
Summary: The introduction of the Asian clam Corbicula fluminea into aquatic ecosystems can affect the physiological condition and survival of native freshwater mussels. This study used manipulative field experiments to assess the impact of interspecific interactions and C. fluminea die-offs on native mussels. The results suggest that C. fluminea can impact the physiological condition of native freshwater mussels, with varying effects on different species.
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)
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
Biodiversity Conservation
Dimitri de Araujo Costa, Carlos Antunes, Sonia Rocha, Nuno Gomes
Summary: In environmental impact studies conducted in coastal regions, the survey of biodiversity is crucial, especially for aquatic invertebrates. The present study aimed to perform the first descriptive survey of hydrozoan species found in the estuary of the International Minho River, which is classified as an Important Bird Area and a site of the Natura 2000 network.
JOURNAL OF COASTAL CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Nuno Gomes, Dimitri de Araujo Costa, Duarte Martins, Sonia Rocha, Isabel Sousa-Pinto, Carlos Antunes
Summary: This study is the first descriptive and taxonomical assessment of the associated fauna with the exotic macrophyte E. densa in the international Minho River, using both morphological and molecular approaches, three decades after its establishment. The results reveal the presence of a faunal assemblage, consisting of 20 identified species including platyhelminths, hydrozoans, bryozoans, molluscs, annelids, crustaceans, aquatic mites, and insects. Four species, Paludicella aff. articulata, Girardia sinensis, Lebertia insignis, and Ceriodaphnia rigaudi, are recorded for the first time in Portugal.
JOURNAL OF COASTAL CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Allan T. Souza, Ester Dias, Carlos Antunes, Martina Ilarri
Summary: The increasing prevalence of non-native species in estuarine ecosystems due to climate change has led to a decrease in both taxonomic and functional diversity of fish communities.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Luis Gabriel A. Barboza, Xose L. Otero, Ezequiel Fernandez, Luis R. Vieira, Jose O. Fernandes, Sara C. Cunha, Lucia Guilhermino
Summary: This pilot study examined the potential link between the presence of microplastics (MPs) in the brain of 180 wild fish and the activity of the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme. MPs were found in 5% of the samples, all from one species collected in the summer. Seventeen MPs were found in brain samples, with sizes ranging from 8 to 96 μm. Fish with MPs showed significantly lower AChE activity compared to those without MPs. These findings highlight the contribution of MPs to pollution-induced neurotoxicity and emphasize the need for further research in this area for better "One Health" protection.