Potential effect of introduction of exotic bivalve Limnoperna fortunei on coastal ecosystems

KARATAYEV, ALEXANDER; BURLAKOVA, LYUBOV; BOLTOVSKOY, DEMETRIO; PADILLA, DIANNA

Galveston Island Convention Center at the San Luis Resort, Galveston, Texas

Conferencia; Eighth Biennial State of the Bay Symposium; 2007

POTENTIAL EFFECT OF INTRODUCTION OF EXOTIC BIVALVE LIMNOPERNA FORTUNEI ON COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS. Karatayev A. Y. 1, L. E. Burlakova1, D. Boltovskoy2, & D. K. Padilla3   1Department of Biology, Stephen F. Austin State University, Box 13003 SFA Station, Nacogdoches, 75962-3003, Phone: (936)468-51952, Fax: (936)468-2056, e-mail: akaratayev@sfasu.edu; 2Departamento Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina, 3Department of Ecology and Evolution, Stony Brook University. Invasive bivalve Limnoperna fortunei (the golden mussel), native to mainland China, is extremely aggressive invader in Asia and South America, and is likely to invade North America in the near future.  The fresh and brackish waters of Gulf Coast region may be a perfect environment for the golden mussel, which has high upper temperature (35oC) and salinity (15 ppt.) limits, low pH (5.5), calcium (3 mg L-1), and oxygen (0.5 mg L-1) limits, and is very tolerant to organic pollution.  We predict that in the near future the golden mussel may spread across all southern states of US, form high densities, and, being a very powerful suspension feeder, will have large effects on the biodiversity, structure and functioning of all aquatic communities.  These changes will include (but not limited to) increase in water clarity, macrophyte overgrowth, abundance of benthivorous fish, and decreases in the densities of phytoplankton and zooplankton, total phosphorous, and suspended matter.  The most pronounced negative effect on the biodiversity is expected on native unionids that already are considered the most endangered freshwater group in Texas.