effect of an invading filter-feeding bivalve on a phytoplankton assemblage from the Paraná system: a mesocosm experiment

The effect of different concentrations of the bivalve Limnoperna fortunei on the algal density and structure and its filtration rate was estimated in a mesocosm experiment. The experiment was carried out using containers of 200 L and three treatments: Control (without bivalves), C1 (with 128 individ...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Marine and freshwater behaviour and physiology 2013-09, Vol.45 (5), p.303-316
Main Authors: Frau, Diego, Molina, Florencia Rojas, Devercelli, Melina, de Paggi, Susana José
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Algae
Bivalvia
containers
filtration
filtration rate
Freshwater
invasive
Limnoperna fortunei
Marine
mesocosm
mussel
phytoplankton
species selectivity
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Summary:The effect of different concentrations of the bivalve Limnoperna fortunei on the algal density and structure and its filtration rate was estimated in a mesocosm experiment. The experiment was carried out using containers of 200 L and three treatments: Control (without bivalves), C1 (with 128 individual bivalves), and C2 (with 256 individual bivalves). Decrease in phytoplankton density was detected in bivalve treatments after 6 h. A decrease of 52% and 86% of the initial density was measured in C1 and C2, respectively, after 48 h. All algae groups showed substantial decrease in densities (>60%) and the composition of the algae assemblages changed in the presence of the bivalve. In particular, there was an increase in the density of Flagellates. The maximum estimated bivalve filtration rate was 357 mL ind⁻¹ h⁻¹ at 28°C. Our results suggest that the invading bivalves could significantly affect both the plankton density and assemblage structure in natural systems.
ISSN:1029-0362
1023-6244
1029-0362
DOI:10.1080/10236244.2012.735419