FRESHCO: multiple implications of invasive species on freshwater mussel decline and coextinction processes
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Freshwater mussels (FM) are among the most threatened faunistic groups worldwide. FM depend
on fish to complete their life cycle, where mussel larvae (glochidia) use a specifíc range offish
hosts. This trait makes them particularly threatened by invasive alien species (IAS) since changes
on the host físh populations may eventually lead to the decline or co-extinction ofthe dependent
species. The Iberian Península holds a high levei ofthreatened freshwater species, including físh
and mussels. Furthermore, Iberian freshwater systems are among the most heavily invaded
ecosystems in the world. Under those considerations, FRESHCO project aims to estimate the
direct and indirect impacts of selected highly IAS belonging to distinct functional groups (from
plants to vertebrates) on the native Iberian FM and its fish host fauna. Five tasks (T) will be
executed: Tl will use fíeld and lab experiments to assess the possible competition between the
IAS C. fl.uminea and native FM; T2 will be composed ofa series oflab experiments to assess host
fish suitability of native FM; T3 will use molecular and classical detection tools to analyze the
diets ofselected IAS and assess their predation on FM larvae, juveniles and adults; T4 will use a
battery offíeld and lab experiments to assess the impact ofmassive annual die-offs ofthe invasive
aquatic plant E. crassipes on the native FM; and in T5, 150 sites ofthe Douro river basin will be
surveyed where mussel and fish assemblages and their habitats will be characterized, in arder to
evaluate and distinguish the impacts of IAS and habitat degradation on the native fauna. From an
ecological point of view, expected results from this project would help to elucidate the real
impacts ofthe most prominent IAS on the threatened native FM and fish species in Iberia. From
a management point ofview, this project will facilitate a more effective allocation ofresources
spent on both native species conservation and IAS management.
