| Abstract | An increasing threat to local, native freshwater mussels (Unionida)--an ecologically important but globally alarmingly declining group--is the invasion by exotic bivalves. The Enemy Release Hypothesis predicts that introduced species should benefit from enemy-mediated competition because they are less likely to be harmed by natural enemies, such as parasites, than their native competitors. We investigated within-site differences in parasitism between sympatric native (tot. five spp.) and invasive (tot. three spp.) bivalves in eight northern European waterbodies, which harboured totally 15 parasite taxa. In paired comparisons using within-site averages, the mean number of parasite species in the native bivalves was 2.3 times higher, and the sum of parasite prevalences 2.4 times higher, than in the invasive bivalves. This may lead to enemy-mediated competitive release of invaders and contribute to the success of invasive freshwater bivalves, in general. However, while the invasive clam Corbicula fluminea was completely free from parasites, parasite parameters of the other invader, Sinanodonta woodiana, were relatively high, indicating that the role of parasites can be invader-specific and urges further research. Understanding the factors affecting success of freshwater bivalve invasions, such as parasitism, can aid invasion control and conservation of local, native (endangered) bivalves. |
| Text | 439355 2020 10.1007/s10750 020 04284 0 Scopus 2 s2.0 85084746173 Enemy release Exotic species freshwater mussels Introduced alien species Non indigenous species Parasite benefit Parasites in sympatric populations of native and invasive freshwater bivalves Taskinen J.; Urbanska M.; Ercoli F.; Andrzejewski W.; Ozgo M.; Deng B.; Choo J.M.; Riccardi N. Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyvaskyla, P.O. Box 35, University of Jyvaskyla, 40014, Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyvaskyla, P.O. Box 35, 40014, University of Jyvaskyla, Finland, , Finland; Institute of Zoology, Pozna University of Life Sciences, ul. Wojska Polskiego 28, Pozna , 60 637, Institute of Zoology, Pozna University of Life Sciences, ul. Wojska Polskiego 28, 60 637, Pozna , Poland, , Poland; Department of Evolutionary Biology, Kazimierz Wielki University, Ossoli skich 12, Bydgoszcz, 85 093, Department of Evolutionary Biology, Kazimierz Wielki University, Ossoli skich 12, 85 093, Bydgoszcz, Poland, , Poland; Chair of Hydrobiology and Fishery, Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutswaldi 5, Tartu, 51006, Chair of Hydrobiology and Fishery, Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutswaldi 5, 51006, Tartu, Estonia, , Estonia; CNR Institute of Water Research, Largo Tonolli 50, Verbania, Pallanza, 28922, CNR Institute of Water Research, Largo Tonolli 50, 28922, Verbania, Pallanza, Italy, , Italy An increasing threat to local, native freshwater mussels Unionida an ecologically important but globally alarmingly declining group is the invasion by exotic bivalves. The Enemy Release Hypothesis predicts that introduced species should benefit from enemy mediated competition because they are less likely to be harmed by natural enemies, such as parasites, than their native competitors. We investigated within site differences in parasitism between sympatric native tot. five spp. and invasive tot. three spp. bivalves in eight northern European waterbodies, which harboured totally 15 parasite taxa. In paired comparisons using within site averages, the mean number of parasite species in the native bivalves was 2.3 times higher, and the sum of parasite prevalences 2.4 times higher, than in the invasive bivalves. This may lead to enemy mediated competitive release of invaders and contribute to the success of invasive freshwater bivalves, in general. However, while the invasive clam Corbicula fluminea was completely free from parasites, parasite parameters of the other invader, Sinanodonta woodiana, were relatively high, indicating that the role of parasites can be invader specific and urges further research. Understanding the factors affecting success of freshwater bivalve invasions, such as parasitism, can aid invasion control and conservation of local, native endangered bivalves. Postprint http //www.scopus.com/record/display.url eid=2 s2.0 85084746173 origin=inward Articolo in rivista Kluwer Academic Publishers 0018 8158 Hydrobiologia The Hague. Print Hydrobiologia The Hague. Print Hydrobiologia The Hague. Print Hydrobiologia. The Hague. Print Hydrobiologia Dordrecht The Hague. Print Hydrobiologia Boston The Hague. Print Hydrobiologia London The Hague. Print nicolettarita.riccardi RICCARDI NICOLETTA RITA |
