Abstract
Global change is the origin of increased occurrence of disturbance events in natural communities, with biological invasions constituting a major threat to ecosystem integrity and functioning. The apple snail (Pomacea maculata) is a freshwater gastropod mollusk from South America. Considered one of the 100 most harmful invasive species in the world, due to its voracity, resistance, and high reproductive rate, it has become a global problem for wetland crops. In Catalonia, it has affected the rice fields of the Ebre Delta since 2010 with significant negative impact on the local economy. As a gastropod mollusc it possesses statocysts consisting of a pair of sacs, one located on each side of the foot, that contain multiple calcium carbonate statoconia. This study shows the first ultrastructural images of pathological changes in the sensory epithelium of the statocyst of apple snail adults with an increase in the severity of the lesions over time after exposure to low frequency sounds. Sound-induced damage to the statocyst could likely result in an inhibition of its vital functions resulting in a potential reduction in the survival ability of the apple snail and lead to an effective mitigation method for reducing damage to rice fields.
Highlights
The introduction of invasive biological species as a result of globalization represents a worldwide threat to the integrity of ecosystems
To understand the factors that determine the success of the invasion and its effects on native species most studies have focused on individual species or taxonomic groups
There are two vectors that increase the risk of introduction of P. maculata in new habitats, aquaculture
Summary
The introduction of invasive biological species as a result of globalization represents a worldwide threat to the integrity of ecosystems. Aspects to be considered in this global view are the local biodiversity, diet amplitude, number of predators, or bioenergetic thresholds below which invasive and native species become extinct [3,4]. A comprehensive approach identifies combinations of trophic factors that facilitate or prevent the introduction of new species and provides contrasting predictions about their effects on the structure and dynamics of ecosystems [4], enabling global problem management. Another aspect to consider is climate change.
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