Changes in global economy and trade, and potential spread of exotic freshwater bivalves

KARATAYEV ALEXANDER; BURLAKOVA LYUBOV; BOLTOVSKOY DEMETRIO; MINCHIN DAN; PADILLA DIANNA

Ennis, Irlanda

Conferencia; 13th International Conference on Aquatic Invasive Species; 2004

Institute of Technology, Sligo, Ballinode, Sligo, Ireland

Changes in Global Economy and Trade, and Potential Spread of Exotic Freshwater Bivalves Alexander Y. Karatayev and Lyubov E. Burlakova Stephen F. Austin State University, Department of Biology Box 13003 - SFA Station, Nacogdoches, TX 75962-3003 USA T: 936 468 5195 F: 936 468 2056 E: akaratayev@sfasu.edu Demetrio Boltovskoy Universidad de Buenos Aires, Departamento Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Buenos Aires C1428EHA Argentina Dan Minchin Marine Organism Investigations, 3 Marina Village, Ballina, Killaloe, Co Clare, Ireland Dianna K. Padilla SUNY, Dept. of Ecology and Evolution, Stony Brook, NY 11794-5245 USA Five freshwater bivalves, Dreissena polymorpha, D. bugensis, Corbicula fluminea, C. fluminalis and Limnoperna fortunei are known aggressive invaders, expanding their ranges and causing notable changes to habitats. It is likely these molluscs will continue to expand their ranges to include other world regions. All species have wide physiological tolerances and are prone to dispersal via specific pathways. Here we use the major modes of dispersal to predict possible means of future spread worldwide. Changing conditions in economies and trade can enable new pathways for spread, and, as distributions change, opportunities for transmission from an increasing number of sources. Once established in a new region, additional vectors are likely to be involved in local spread of these invaders.