Relationships of Limnoperna fortunei with benthic animals

Abstract

Similar to other invasive bivalves, Limnoperna fortunei has a variety of effects on other benthic animals. These effects have been studied in the Paraná-Paraguay- Uruguay river system, Río de la Plata estuary, and in the reservoir Embalse Río Tercero since the invasion of South America by the bivalve. The bulk of information accumulated indicates that L. fortunei has predominantly positive effects on meiofaunal groups. Increases in the abundance, biomass, and richness of many groups are attributed to substrate enrichment from the bivalve’s feces and pseudofeces as well as refugia provision amid the valves. Nonetheless, negative impacts on some groups (gastropods) and the homogenization of benthic fauna following colonization by the mussel have also been reported. Large-sized invertebrates can also be detrimentally affected by this mussel’s biofouling, as severe cases of epifaunal growth have been reported for native crabs and mussels, including the invasive clam Corbicula fluminea. However, consequences to affected individuals and impacts at the population level have not yet been assessed. A variety of animals, including fish, crabs, turtles, waterfowl, and some mammals, may benefit from predation on this new abundant prey item, although the consequences to predator populations remain unstudied. Despite marked similarities with Dreissena polymorpha, there are a number of differences regarding the effects of the two bivalves arising from differences in their biology and ambient dissimilarities between their respective environments. The extrapolation of results obtained for Dreissena species, abundant in the L. fortunei literature, can be misleading due to these differences.