Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-p9bg8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T07:21:28.660Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Rapid decline of the greater European peaclam at the periphery of its distribution

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 August 2011

Ronaldo Sousa ,
Martina Ilarri ,
Allan T. Souza ,
Carlos Antunes  and
Lúcia Guilhermino
Ronaldo Sousa*
Affiliation:
CBMA – Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal CIMAR-LA/CIIMAR – Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, Rua dos Bragas 289, 4050-123 Porto, Portugal
Martina Ilarri
Affiliation:
CIMAR-LA/CIIMAR – Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, Rua dos Bragas 289, 4050-123 Porto, Portugal ICBAS – Institute of Biomedical Sciences of Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Department of Populations Studies, Laboratory of Ecotoxicology, Lg. Prof. Abel Salazar, 2, 4099-003 Porto, Portugal
Allan T. Souza
Affiliation:
CIMAR-LA/CIIMAR – Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, Rua dos Bragas 289, 4050-123 Porto, Portugal ICBAS – Institute of Biomedical Sciences of Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Department of Populations Studies, Laboratory of Ecotoxicology, Lg. Prof. Abel Salazar, 2, 4099-003 Porto, Portugal
Carlos Antunes
Affiliation:
CIMAR-LA/CIIMAR – Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, Rua dos Bragas 289, 4050-123 Porto, Portugal Aquamuseum of the Minho River, Parque do Castelinho, 4920-290 Vila Nova de Cerveira, Portugal
Lúcia Guilhermino
Affiliation:
CIMAR-LA/CIIMAR – Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, Rua dos Bragas 289, 4050-123 Porto, Portugal ICBAS – Institute of Biomedical Sciences of Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Department of Populations Studies, Laboratory of Ecotoxicology, Lg. Prof. Abel Salazar, 2, 4099-003 Porto, Portugal
*
*Corresponding author: ronaldo.sousa@ciimar.up.pt
Get access

Abstract

Extirpation or even extinction of freshwater invertebrate species is a neglected conservation issue; declines in abundance and spatial distribution for freshwater invertebrates are far less documented than for vertebrate species. In the Minho River tidal freshwater wetlands (northwest of Iberian Peninsula), a rapid decline in density and biomass of the bivalve Pisidium amnicum was recorded at 16 different sites over seven years, from 2004 to 2010, without any sign of a potential recovery. Mean density values reached more than 80 ind.m−2 in 2004, but declined to less than 1 ind.m−2 in 2009 and 2010. An identical declining trend was observed for biomass. A significant reduction in the spatial distribution also occurred. The abiotic changes resulting from the 2005 heat wave and possibly the negative interactions imposed by the non-indigenous invasive bivalve Corbicula fluminea were the main factors responsible for the declining trends. Given the very low density, P. amnicum is facing a serious risk of extirpation in this ecosystem and conservational measures are urgently needed.

Keywords

Conservationextirpationheat waveMinho RiverPisidium amnicum
Type
Research Article
Information
Annales de Limnologie - International Journal of Limnology , Volume 47 , Issue 3 , 2011 , pp. 211 - 219
Copyright
© EDP Sciences, 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Araujo, R., Ramos, M.A. and Molinet, R., 1999. Growth pattern and dynamics of a southern peripheral population of Pisidium amnicum (Müller, 1774) (Bivalvia: Sphaeriidae) in Spain. Malacologia, 41, 119–137.Google Scholar
Clarke, K.R. and Warwick, R.M., 2001. Change in Marine Communities an Approach to Statistical Analysis and Interpretation, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Plymouth.Google Scholar
Costa-Dias, S., Freitas, V., Sousa, R. and Antunes, C., 2010. Factors influencing epibenthic assemblages in the Minho estuary (NW Iberian Peninsula). Mar. Pollut. Bull., 61, 240–246.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Daufresne, M., Roger, M.C., Capra, H. and Lamouroux, N., 2004. Long-term changes with in the invertebrate and fish communities of the Upper Rhône River: effects of climatic factors. Glob. Change Biol., 10, 124–140.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Daufresne, M., Bady, P. and Fruget, J.F., 2007. Impacts of global changes and extreme hydro-climatic events on macroinvertebrate community structures in the French Rhône River. Oecologia, 151, 544–559.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dillon, R.T. Jr., 2000. The Ecology of Freshwater Mollusks, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 509 p.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dudgeon, D., Arthington, A.H., Gessner, M.O., Kawabata, Z., Knowler, D.J., Lévêque, C., Naiman, R.J., Prieur-Richard, A., Soto, D., Stiassny, M.L.J. and Sullivan, C.A., 2006. Freshwater biodiversity: importance, threats, status and conservation challenges. Biol. Rev., 81, 163–182.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dyduch-Falniowska, A., 1983. Age structure of the populations of Pisidium species from two localities in southern Poland. Aquat. Ecol., 17, 111–117.Google Scholar
France, R. and Rigg, C., 1998. Examination of the “founder effect” in biodiversity research: patterns and imbalances in the published literature. Divers. Distrib., 4, 77–86.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Griswold, M.W., Berzinis, R.W., Crisman, T.L. and Golladay, S.W., 2008. Impacts of climatic stability on the structural and functional aspects of macroinvertebrate communities after severe drought. Freshw. Biol., 53, 2465–2483.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Higgins, J.V., Bryer, M.T., Khoury, M.L. and Fitzhugh, T.W., 2005. A freshwater classification approach for biodiversity conservation plan. Conserv. Biol., 19, 432–445.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Holopainen, I.J., 1979. Population dynamics and production of Pisidium species (Bivalvia: Sphaeriidae) in the oligotrophic and mesohumic lake Paajarv, southern Finland. Arch. Hydrobiol., 54, 446–508.Google Scholar
Humphries, P. and Baldwin, D.S., 2003. Drought and aquatic ecosystems: an introduction. Freshw. Biol., 48, 1141–1146.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ilarri, M., Antunes, C., Guilhermino, L. and Sousa, R., 2011. Massive mortality of the Asian clam Corbicula fluminea in a highly invaded area. Biol. Invasions, 13, 277–280.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lake, P.S., 2000. Disturbance, patchiness, and diversity in streams. J. N. Am. Benthol. Soc., 19, 573–592.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lake, P.S., 2003. Ecological effects of perturbation by drought in flowing waters. Freshw. Biol., 48, 1161–1172.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lawler, J.J., Aukema, J.E., Grant, J.B., Halpern, B.S., Kareiva, P., Nelson, C.R., Ohleth, K., Olden, J.D., Schlaepfer, M.A., Silliman, B.R. and Zaradic, P., 2006. Conservation science: a 20-year report card. Front. Ecol. Environ., 4, 473–480.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lydeard, C., Cowie, R.H., Ponder, W.F., Bogan, A.E., Bouchet, P., Clark, S.A., Cummings, K.S., Frest, T.J., Gargominy, O., Herbert, D.G., Hershler, R., Perez, K.E., Roth, B., Seddon, M., Strong, E.E. and Thompson, F.G., 2004. The global decline of non-marine mollusks. BioScience, 54, 321–330.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Malmqvist, B. and Rundle, S., 2002. Threats to the running water ecosystems of the world. Environ. Conserv., 29, 134–153.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mouthon, J. and Daufresne, M., 2006. Effects of the 2003 heatwave and climatic warming on mollusc communities of the Saône: a large lowland river and of its two main tributaries (France). Glob. Change Biol., 12, 441–449.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mouthon, J. and Daufresne, M., 2008. Population dynamics and life cycle of Pisidium amnicum (Muller) (Bivalvia: Sphaeriidae) and Valvata piscinalis (Muller) (Gastropoda: Prosobranchia) in the Saône river, a nine-year study. Ann. Limnol. - Int. J. Lim., 44, 241–251.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Régnier, C., Fontaine, B. and Bouchet, P., 2009. Not knowing, not recording, not listing: numerous unnoticed mollusk extinctions. Conserv. Biol., 23, 1214–1221.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ricciardi, A. and Rasmussen, J.B., 1999. Extinction rates of North American freshwater fauna. Conserv. Biol., 13, 1220–1222.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sala, O.E., Chapin, F.S., Armesto, J.J., Berlow, E., Bloomfield, J., Dirzo, R., Huber-Sanwald, E., Huenneke, L.F., Jackson, R.B., Kinzig, A., Leemans, R., Lodge, D.M., Mooney, H.A., Oesterheld, M., Poff, N.L., Sykes, M.T., Walker, B.H., Walker, M. and Wall, D.H., 2000. Global biodiversity scenarios for the year 2100. Science, 287, 1770–1774.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sousa, R., Guilhermino, L. and Antunes, C., 2005. Molluscan fauna in the freshwater tidal area of the River Minho estuary, NW of Iberian Peninsula. Ann. Limnol. - Int. J. Lim., 41, 141–147.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sousa, R., Dias, S. and Antunes, C., 2006. Spatial subtidal macrobenthic distribution in relation to abiotic conditions in the Lima estuary, NW of Portugal. Hydrobiologia, 559, 135–148.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sousa, R., Antunes, C. and Guilhermino, L., 2007. Species composition and monthly variation of the Molluscan fauna in the freshwater subtidal area of the River Minho estuary. Estuar. Coast Shelf Sci., 75, 90–100.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sousa, R., Rufino, M., Gaspar, M., Antunes, C. and Guilhermino, L., 2008a. Abiotic impacts on spatial and temporal distribution of Corbicula fluminea (Müller, 1774) in the River Minho Estuary, Portugal. Aquat. Conserv., 18, 98–110.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sousa, R., Nogueira, A.J.A., Antunes, C. and Guilhermino, L., 2008b. Growth and production of Pisidium amnicum (Müller, 1774) in the freshwater tidal area of the River Minho estuary. Estuar. Coast Shelf Sci., 79, 467–474.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sousa, R., Dias, S., Guilhermino, L. and Antunes, C., 2008c. River Minho tidal freshwater wetlands: threats to faunal biodiversity. Aquat. Biol., 3, 237–250.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sousa, R., Nogueira, A.J.A., Gaspar, M., Antunes, C. and Guilhermino, L., 2008d. Growth and extremely high production of the non-indigenous invasive species Corbicula fluminea (Müller, 1774): possible implications for ecosystem functioning. Estuar. Coast Shelf Sci., 80, 289–295.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sousa, R., Dias, S., Freitas, V. and Antunes, C., 2008e. Subtidal macrozoobenthic assemblages along the River Minho estuarine gradient (north-west Iberian Peninsula). Aquat. Conserv., 18, 1063–1077.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sousa, R., Morais, P., Antunes, C. and Guilhermino, L., 2008f. Factors affecting Pisidium amnicum (Müller, 1774; Bivalvia: Sphaeriidae) distribution in the River Minho estuary: consequences for its conservation. Estuaries Coasts, 31, 1198–1207.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Spooner, D.E. and Vaughn, C.C., 2006. Context-dependent effects of freshwater mussels on stream benthic communities. Freshw. Biol., 51, 1016–1024.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
StatSoft Inc., 2004. Statistica Version 7 for Windows. http://www.statsoft.com/textbook/stathome.html [Accessed January 3, 2011].
Stenseth, N.C., Mysterud, A., Ottersen, G., Hurrell, J.W., Chan, K.-S. and Lima, M., 2002. Ecological effects of climate fluctuations. Science, 297, 1292–1296.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Strayer, D.L. and Dudgeon, D., 2010. Freshwater biodiversity conservation: recent progress and future challenges. J. N. Am. Benthol. Soc., 29, 344–358.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Strayer, D.L., Downing, J.A., Haag, W.R., King, T.L., Layzer, J.B., Newton, T.J. and Nichols, S.J., 2004. Changing perspectives on pearly mussels, North America's most imperiled animals. BioScience, 54, 429–439.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vaughn, C.C. and Spooner, D.E., 2006. Unionid mussels influence macroinvertebrate assemblage structure in streams. J. N. Am. Benthol. Soc., 25, 691–700.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vörösmarty, C.J., McIntyre, P.B., Gessner, M.O., Dudgeon, D., Prusevich, A., Green, P., Glidden, S., Bunn, S.E., Sullivan, C.A., Liemann, C.R. and Davies, P.M., 2010. Global threats to human water security and river biodiversity. Nature, 467, 555–561.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Watson, A.M. and Ormerod, S.J., 2005. The distribution and conservation of threatened Sphaeriidae on British grazing marshland. Biodivers. Conserv., 14, 2207–2220.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wood, P.J. and Petts, G.E., 1999. The influence of drought on chalk stream macroinvertebrates. Hydrol. Process., 13, 387–399.3.0.CO;2-R>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zedler, J.B. and Kercher, S., 2005. Wetland resources: status, trends, ecosystem services and restorability. Annu. Rev. Env. Resour., 30, 39–74.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zettler, M., 1996. The aquatic malacofauna (Gastropoda et Bivalvia) in the catchment area of a North German Lowland river, the Warnow. Limnologica, 26, 327–337.Google Scholar
Zettler, M.L. and Daunys, D., 2007. Long-term macrozoobenthos changes in a shallow boreal lagoon: comparison of a recent biodiversity inventory with historical data. Limnologica, 37, 170–185.CrossRefGoogle Scholar