Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Palatability of the Asian clam Corbicula fluminea (Müller 1774) in an invaded system

  • FRESHWATER BIVALVES
  • Published:
Hydrobiologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Biotic interactions such as predation may influence the success of invasive alien species (IAS). Although the Asian clam Corbicula fluminea is recognized as one of the most problematic aquatic IAS, few studies have investigated its use as a food resource. In this study, we aimed to investigate (i) the palatability of C. fluminea under natural (Minho River) and laboratory conditions and (ii) if C. fluminea submitted to different conditions (individuals from Lima and Minho Rivers) vary in palatability. Soft tissues from different Corbicula populations, plus soft tissues from a native clam, tuna and Corbicula shell powder were offered to consumers. Field assays were performed seasonally and laboratory assays only in summer; both assays also tested possible differences during distinct periods of the day. Overall, in natural conditions, the treatments containing C. fluminea had a low palatability. In laboratory assays, higher consumption (almost two times) was observed for Cyprinus carpio and Anguilla anguilla. Also, C. fluminea palatability was different between populations, with the treatment Corbicula Lima being more consumed than Corbicula Minho. Despite the low values of consumption in the field, laboratory results suggest that C. fluminea soft tissues can be a food resource to some species.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alofs, K. M. & D. A. Jackson, 2014. Meta-analysis suggests biotic resistance in freshwater environments is driven by consumption rather than competition. Ecology 95: 3259–3270.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, M. J., 2001. A new method for non-parametric multivariate analysis of variance. Austral Ecology 26: 32–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, M. J., R. N. Gorley & K. R. Clarke, 2008. PERMANOVA + for PRIMER: guide to software and statistical methods. Plymouth, PRIMER-E.

    Google Scholar 

  • Araujo, R., D. Moreno & M. A. Ramos, 1993. The Asiatic clam Corbicula fluminea (Müller, 1774) (Bivalvia: Corbiculidae) in Europe. American Malacological Bulletin 10: 39–49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bolser, R. C. & M. E. Hay, 1996. Are tropical plants better defended? Palatability and defenses of temperate versus tropical seaweeds. Ecology 77(8): 2269–2286.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bouchereau, J., C. Marques, P. Pereira, O. Guelorget, S. Lourié & Y. Vergne, 2009. Feeding behaviour of Anguilla anguilla and trophic resources in the Ingril Lagoon (Mediterranean, France). Cahiers de Biologie Marine 50: 319–322.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carlsson, N. O. L., O. Sarnelle & D. L. Strayer, 2009. Native predators and exotic prey – an acquired taste? Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 7(10): 525–532.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carlsson, N. O. L., H. Bustamante, D. L. Strayer & M. L. Pace, 2011. Biotic resistance on the increase: native predators structure invasive zebra mussel populations. Freshwater Biology 56: 1630–1637.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Colautti, R. I., A. Ricciardi, I. A. Grigorovich & H. J. Maclsaac, 2004. Is invasion success explained by the enemy release hypothesis? Ecology Letters 7: 721–733.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crespo, D., M. Dolbeth, S. Leston, R. Sousa & M. A. Pardal, 2015. Distribution of Corbicula fluminea in the invaded range: a geographic approach with notes on species traits variability. Biological Invasions 17: 2087–2101.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dorn, N. J. & M. Hafsadi, 2016. Native crayfish consume more non-native than native apple snails. Biological Invasions 18: 159–167.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ehrenfeld, J. G., 2010. Ecosystem consequences of biological invasions. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics 41: 59–80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Epifanio, R. A., D. L. Martins, R. Villaça & R. Gabriel, 1999. Chemical defenses against fish predation in three Brazilian octocorals: 11β, 12β epoxypukalide as a feeding deterrent in phyllogorgia dilatata. Journal of Chemical Ecology 25(10): 2255–2265.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ford, S. D., 1996. Range extension by the oyster parasite Perkinsus marinus into northeastern United States: response to climate change? Journal of Shellfish Research 15: 45–56.

    Google Scholar 

  • French, J. R. P. I. I. I., 1993. How well can fishes prey on zebra mussels in eastern North America? Fisheries 18: 13–19.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gutiérrez, J. L., C. G. Jones & R. Sousa, 2014. Toward an integrated ecosystem perspective of invasive species impacts. Acta Oecologica 54: 131–138.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huusko, A., L. Greeberg, M. Stickler, T. Linnansaari, M. Nykänen, T. Vehanen, S. Koljonen, P. Louhi & K. Alfredsen, 2007. Life in the ice lane: the winter ecology of streams Salmonids. River Research and Applications 23: 469–491.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ibrahim, A. M., M. T. Khalil & M. F. Mobarak, 1995. On the feeding behavior of the exotic crayfish Procambarus clarkii in Egypt and its prospects in the biocontrol of local vector snails. Journal of Union of Arab Biologists Cairo 4: 321–340.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ilarri, M. & R. Sousa, 2012. Corbicula fluminea Müller (Asian clam). In Francis, R. A. (ed.), A handbook of global freshwater invasive species. Earthscan, London: 173–183.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ilarri, M. I., C. Antunes, L. Guilhermino & R. Sousa, 2011. Massive mortality of the Asian clam Corbicula fluminea in a highly invaded area. Biological Invasions 13(2): 277–280.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ilarri, M. I., A. T. Souza, C. Antunes, L. Guilhermino & R. Sousa, 2014. Influence of the Asian clam Corbicula fluminea (Bivalvia: Corbiculidae) on estuarine epibenthic assemblages. Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science 143: 12–19.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ilarri, M. I., A. T. Souza & R. Sousa, 2015a. Contrasting decay rates of freshwater bivalves’ shells: aquatic versus terrestrial habitats. Limnologica 51: 8–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ilarri, M. I., A. T. Souza, V. Modesto & R. Sousa, 2015b. Differences in the macrozoobenthic fauna colonizing empty bivalve shells before and after invasion by Corbicula fluminea. Marine and Freshwater Research 66(6): 549–558.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ilhéu, M., J. M. Bernardo & S. Fernandes, 2007. Predation of invasive crayfish on aquatic vertebrates: the effect of Procambarus clarkii on fish assemblages in Mediterranean temporary streams. Biological Invaders in Inland 29: 543–558.

    Google Scholar 

  • Keane, R. M. & M. J. Crawley, 2002. Exotic plant invasions and the enemy release hypothesis. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 17: 164–170.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Long, J. D., L. Porturas, E. Jones, C. Kwan & G. C. Trussell, 2013. Seaweed traits linked to wave exposure determine predator avoidance. Marine Ecology Progress Series 62: 175–183.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lonsdale, W. M., 1999. Global patterns of plant invasions and the concept of invisibility. Ecology 80: 1522–1536.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Molloy, D., A. Karatayev, L. E. Burlakova, D. P. Kurandina & F. Laruelle, 1997. Natural enemies of zebra mussels: predators, parasites, and ecological competitors. Reviews in Fisheries Science 5: 27–97.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mota, M., R. Sousa, A. Bio, J. Araújo, C. Braga & C. Antunes, 2014. Seasonal changes in fish assemblages in the River Minho tidal freshwater wetlands, NW of the Iberian Peninsula. Annales de Limnologie-International Journal of Limnology 50: 185–198.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Novais, A., A. Souza, M. Ilarri, C. Pascoal & R. Sousa, 2015a. From water to land: how an invasive clam may function as a resource pulse to terrestrial invertebrates. Science of the Total Environment 538: 664–671.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Novais, A., A. T. Souza, M. Ilarri & R. Sousa, 2015b. Facilitation in the low intertidal: effects of an invasive species on the structure of an estuarine macrozoobenthic assemblage. Marine Ecology Progress Series 522: 157–167.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Novais, A., A. Souza, M. Ilarri, C. Pascoal & R. Sousa, 2016a. Effects of the invasive clam Corbicula fluminea (Müller, 1774) on an estuarine microbial community. Science of the Total Environment 566–567: 1168–1175.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Novais, A., E. Dias & R. Sousa, 2016b. Inter-and intraspecific variation of carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios in freshwater bivalves. Hydrobiologia 765(1): 149–158.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Oliva, A., C. A. Ubeda, I. E. Vignes & A. Uriondo, 1981. Contribucíon al conocimento de la ecología alimentaria del bagre amarillo (Pimelodus maculatus Lacépède, 1803) del Río de la Plata (Pisces, Pimelodidae). Revista del Museo de Ciencias Naturales 1: 30–50.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pawlik, J. R. & W. Fenical, 1992. Chemical defense of Pterogorgia anceps, a Caribbean gorgonian coral. Marine Ecology Progress Series 87: 183–188.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Peck, L. S., 1993. The tissues of articulate brachiopods and their value to predators. Philosophical transactions of the royal society B 339: 17–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peck, L. S., 2001. Ecology of articulated brachiopods. In Carlson, S. J. & M. R. Sandy (eds), Brachiopods ancient and modern: a tribute to G. Arthur Cooper, 7. The Paleontological Society, New Haven: 171–183.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pereira, L. J., S. Pinho, A. Ré, P. A. Costa, R. Costa, F. Gonçalves & B. B. Castro, 2016. Biological control of the invasive Asian clam, Corbicula fluminea: can predators tame the beast? Hydrobiologia 779: 209–226.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robinson, J. V. & G. A. Wellborn, 1988. Ecological resistance to the invasion of a freshwater clam, Corbicula fluminea: fish predation effects. Oecologia 77: 445–452.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Simberloff, D., J. L. Martin, P. Genovesi, V. Maris, D. Wardle, J. Aronson, F. Courchamp, B. Galil, E. Garcia-Berthou, M. Pascal, P. Pyšek, R. Sousa, E. Tabacchi & M. Vilà, 2013. Impacts of biological invasions: what’s what and the way forward. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 28: 58–66.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sousa, R., L. Guilhermino & C. Antunes, 2005. Molluscan fauna in the freshwater tidal area of the River Minho estuary, NW of Iberian Peninsula. Annales de Limnologi-International Journal of Limnology 41: 141–147.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sousa, R., C. Antunes & L. Guilhermino, 2006. Factors influencing the occurrence and distribution of Corbicula fluminea (Müller, 1774) in the River Lima estuary. Annales de Limnologie-International Journal of Limnology 42: 165–171.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sousa, R., A. J. A. Nogueira, M. B. Gaspar, C. Antunes & L. Guilhermino, 2008a. Growth and extremely high production of the non-indigenous invasive species Corbicula fluminea (Müller, 1774): possible implications for ecosystem functioning. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 80: 289–295.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sousa, R., S. Dias, V. Freitas & C. Antunes, 2008b. Subtidal macrozoobenthic assemblages along the River Minho estuarine gradient (north-west Iberian Peninsula). Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 18: 1063–1077.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sousa, R., M. Rufino, M. Gaspar, C. Antunes & L. Guilhermino, 2008c. Abiotic impacts on spatial and temporal distribution of Corbicula fluminea (Müller, 1774) in the River Minho estuary, Portugal. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 18: 98–110.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sousa, R., C. Antunes & L. Guilhermino, 2008d. Ecology of the invasive Asian clam Corbicula fluminea (Müller, 1774) in aquatic ecosystems: an overview. Annales Limnologia-International Journal of Limnology 44: 85–94.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sousa, R., P. Morais, E. Dias & C. Antunes, 2011a. Biological invasions and ecosystem functioning: time to merge. Biological Invasions 13: 1055–1058.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sousa, R., M. Ilarri, A. T. Souza, C. Antunes & L. Guilhermino, 2011b. Rapid decline of the greater European peaclam at the periphery of its distribution. Annales Limnologie-International Journal of Limnology 47: 211–219.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sousa, R., F. Freitas, A. J. A. Nogueira, M. Mota & C. Antunes, 2013. Invasive dynamics of the crayfish Procambarus clarkii (Girard, 1852) at the international section of the River Minho (NW of the Iberian Peninsula). Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 23: 656–666.

    Google Scholar 

  • Strayer, D. L., 2012. Eight questions about invasions and ecosystem functioning. Ecology Letters 15: 1199–1210.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tucker, J. K., F. A. Cronin, D. W. Soergel & C. H. Theiling, 1996. Predation on zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) by common carp (Cyprinus carpio). Journal of Freshwater Ecology 11: 363–372.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vilà, M., C. Basnou, P. Pyšek, M. Josefsson, P. Genovesi, S. Gollasch, W. Nentwig, S. Olenin, A. Roques, D. Roy, P. E. Hulme & DAISIE partners, 2010. How well do we understand the impacts of alien species on ecosystem services? A pan-European cross-taxa assessment. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 8: 135–144.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilhem, C. & M. Plummer, 2012. Diet of radiotracked musk turtles, Sternotherus odoratus, in a small urban stream. Herpetological Conservation and Biology 7: 258–264.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was conducted as part of the project FRESCHO: Multiple implications of invasive species on Freshwater Mussel coextinction processes, supported by FCT (contract: PTDC/AGRFOR/1627/2014). MI is supported by a Post-doc grant (SFRH/BPD/90088/2012) from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology—FCT through POPH/FSE funds. RS also acknowledge the support of the strategic programme UID/BIA/04050/2013 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007569) funded by national funds through the FCT I.P and by the ERDF through the COMPETE2020—Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalização (POCI). Special thanks to Allan Souza and two anonymous reviewers for valuable suggestions, and to Luís Amorim for helping in the field assays.

Author information

Author notes

    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Department of Biology, CBMA – Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal

      P. S. Castro, V. Modesto & R. Sousa

    2. CIIMAR/CIMAR - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos s/n, 4450-208, Matosinhos, Portugal

      M. I. Ilarri, V. Modesto, C. Antunes & R. Sousa

    3. ICBAS-UP – Abel Salazar Biomedical Science Institute, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal

      M. I. Ilarri

    4. Aquamuseu do Rio Minho, Parque do Castelinho s/n, Vila Nova de Cerveira, 4920-290, Porto, Portugal

      C. Antunes

    Authors
    1. P. S. Castro
      View author publications

      You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

    2. M. I. Ilarri
      View author publications

      You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

    3. V. Modesto
      View author publications

      You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

    4. C. Antunes
      View author publications

      You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

    5. R. Sousa
      View author publications

      You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

    Corresponding author

    Correspondence to M. I. Ilarri.

    Additional information

    Guest editors: Manuel P. M. Lopes-Lima, Ronaldo G. Sousa, Lyuba E. Burlakova, Alexander Y. Karatayev & Knut Mehler / Ecology and Conservation of Freshwater Bivalves

    P. S. Castro and M. I. Ilarri made equal contributions to this work.

    Rights and permissions

    Reprints and permissions

    About this article

    Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

    Cite this article

    Castro, P.S., Ilarri, M.I., Modesto, V. et al. Palatability of the Asian clam Corbicula fluminea (Müller 1774) in an invaded system. Hydrobiologia 810, 97–108 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-017-3136-0

    Download citation

    • Received:

    • Revised:

    • Accepted:

    • Published:

    • Issue Date:

    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-017-3136-0

    Keywords

    Search

    Navigation