Experimental Study of Invasion and Biofouling of Freshwater Mussel &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Limnoperna fortunei&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;

Mengzhen Xu,Na Zhao,Baozhu Pan,Zhaoyin Wang,Cheng Chieh Lin

doi:10.4236/ijg.2013.45b001

Abstract

Golden mussel Limnoperna fortunei(Dunker 1857) is a filter-collector species of fresh water mussel originating from southern China. In the water transfer tunnels from the East River to Shenzhen and Hong Kong, golden mussels attach to the walls of pipelines and gates, causing serious biofouling, increased flow resistance, and resulted in corrosion of the tunnel wall. Golden mussel has very high environmental adaptability and may colonize habitats with low dissolved oxygen and a wide range of trophic levels. The colonization process of the species on solid surface was studied in the Xizhijiang River, a tributary of the East River and the main water resource of Shenzhen from March 2010 to April 2011. The results showed that the golden mussel completed three generations and reproduced six cohorts per year in the tropic zone. Water temperature was the controlling factor for the growth rate and maturity of each cohort. Based on the results, an ecological method for controlling the invasion of golden mussels in water transfer tunnels was proposed.

Highlights

IntroductionBiological invasion and biofouling caused by golden mussel (Limnoperna fortunei) has become a challenge to these projects
Inter-basin water transfer projects have been widely used to ease uneven distribution and shortage of water resource in China
In the water transfer tunnels from the East River to Shenzhen and Hong Kong, golden mussels attach to the walls of pipelines and gates, causing serious biofouling, increased flow resistance, and resulted in corrosion of the tunnel wall

Summary

Introduction

Biological invasion and biofouling caused by golden mussel (Limnoperna fortunei) has become a challenge to these projects. The golden mussel is a native freshwater species of southeast China. It shares invasive biological and ecological features such as size, growth speed, and colonization on hard substrata by strong byssuses with the North American invasive pest zebra mussel [1]. The golden mussel has been observed in waters in Beijing [2]. It has invaded in aquatic ecosystems and hydraulic structures in South America and other Asian countries ([3,4]). Golden mussel invasion in a new habitat causes ecological imbalance owing to changes in fishes’ feeding habits and macroinvertebrate composition [5]

Methods

Results

Conclusion