Resistance of the invasive pest mussel Limnoperna fortunei to anoxia

PEREPELIZIN, PABLO; BOLTOVSKOY DEMETRIO

JOURNAL AMERICAN WATER WORKS ASSOCIATION

AMER WATER WORKS ASSOC

Lugar: USA (Denver); Año: 2011 vol. 103 p. 79 - 85

0003-150X

In a survey specifically aimed at the use of oxygen deprivation as a method for controlling biofouling by the invasive bivalve Limnoperna fortunei, we estimated survival rates of small (7 mm) and large (20 mm) mussels exposed to anoxia (below 0.16±0.02 mg L-1) at 20 and 27°C, in laboratory conditions. At 20ºC 100% sample mortality (SM100) of small mussels was attained in 20.7 d (LT50 = 9.5 d), and large animals in 29.3 d (LT50 = 18.0 d). At 27°C, small and large animals achieved 100% mortality much faster (11.6 and 10.22 d) and had correspondingly lower LT50s (4.67 and 4.74 d, respectively). Mortality rates differed significantly between size classes at 20°C, but not at 27ºC. Comparison with other invasive fouling mollusks indicates that L.fortunei is less resistant to anoxia than Corbicula fluminea, but more resistant than Dreissena polymorpha. It is concluded that oxygen deprivation may be a viable alternative for the control of mussel fouling in industrial installations.