Abstract
The invasive bivalves Corbicula spp. and Limnoperna fortunei predominate in South American rivers. They can be sympatric in distribution, and because their larval stages are morphologically similar, monitoring them in zooplankton using microscopy protocols is often inefficient, producing ambiguous results. We designed a pair of primers to amplify a fragment of the mtDNA cytochrome c oxidase subunit I of Corbicula species. A multiplex reaction, containing the specific primer pair and a pair of universal primers (to control for the quality of the DNA in the sample) was tested with regards to specificity and ability to detect Corbicula spp. larvae in plankton samples that also contain other species in different proportions. Our molecular protocol allows for fast and accurate detection of Corbicula spp. even when concentrations of these species are low in samples, which is useful when examining large volumes of ballast/piped water. Further, the protocol is valuable for the monitoring/prospecting of early stages of the life cycle of Corbicula spp. in watersheds that have been invaded, or which are considered at risk of invasion by these species.
Highlights
Invasions of non-indigenous species (NIS) are acknowledged as one of the major threats to natural environments - terrestrial, freshwater and marine - having ecological, economic and social consequences
When dealing with the international agreements and measures to prevent introduction of marine Invasive Alien Species (IAS), the following documents are fundamental to the conservation and management of the marine environment: the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments (IMO 2004), ICES Code of Practice on the Introductions and Transfers of Marine Organisms (ICES 2005), Alien Species in Aquaculture - IUCN considerations for responsible use (Hewitt et al 2006), EC Regulation on concerning use of alien and locally absent species in aquaculture (European Commission 2007) and EC Marine Strategy Framework Directive (European Commission 2008)
A recent study of diatoms and dinoflagellates reported as NIS in European Seas found dubious identifications, and that synonyms were included as separate species (Gómez 2008)
Summary
Invasions of non-indigenous species (NIS) are acknowledged as one of the major threats to natural environments - terrestrial, freshwater and marine - having ecological, economic and social consequences. A recently published Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species (European Commission 2013) states that “...The impact of IAS on biodiversity is significant ... The EU Biodiversity Strategy (European Commission 2011) aims that "...by 2020, Invasive Alien Species (IAS) and their pathways are identified and prioritised, priority species are controlled or eradicated, and pathways are managed to prevent the introduction and establishment of new IAS...". Stemming from a recent freshwater invasives conference, Caffrey et al (2014) identified ’the top 20 issues that relate to IAS management in Europe“. We agree and support all the issues proposed, and would like to contribute to this important initiative by adding six important topics that relate to the marine environment
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