Acute physiological effects of zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) infestation on two unionid mussels, Actinonaias ligamentina and Amblema plicata

Physiological responses of unionid mussels to zebra mussel infestations were studied in the laboratory. Zebra mussel infestations provoked symptoms of stress and starvation in two unionid mussel species. The two species showed somewhat different responses, and both showed more pronounced symptoms wh...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Canadian journal of fisheries and aquatic sciences 1997-03, Vol.54 (3), p.512-519
Main Authors: BAKER, S. M, HORNBACH, D. J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Actinonaias ligamentina
Amblema plicata
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Biological and medical sciences
Dreissena polymorpha
Fresh water ecosystems
Freshwater
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Lampsilinae
Mollusks
Synecology
Unionidae
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Summary:Physiological responses of unionid mussels to zebra mussel infestations were studied in the laboratory. Zebra mussel infestations provoked symptoms of stress and starvation in two unionid mussel species. The two species showed somewhat different responses, and both showed more pronounced symptoms when their initial physiological condition was poor. Symptoms included shifts to lower metabolic rates, more protein-based metabolism, and compensatory increases in grazing rates. Starvation could be the result of local food depletion and/or increased metabolic cost. Stress and starvation effects were greater in Actinonaias ligamentina than in Amblema plicata. Unionid mussel diversity declines in lakes and rivers infested with zebra mussels probably is due to starvation effects.
ISSN:0706-652X
1205-7533
DOI:10.1139/f96-319