THE FIRST FIND OF TWO SPECIES OF ASIAN POND MUSSELS (SINANODONTA) IN THE REFTINSKY RESERVOIR (CENTRAL URAL)

Abstract

This study presents the data on the first record of Sinanodonta woodiana and S. lauta in artificially heated site of Reftinsky reservoir by warm water discharge of the Reftinsky thermal power plant (Sverdlovsk Region, the Reft River, Ob-Irtysh River Basin). This find is the northernmost habitat of these mussels of all known. The population of this species shares the invasive haplotypes: E3 ( S. woodiana ) and C3 ( S. lauta ). The population of the mussels includes individuals of various size and different age groups, and this fact could be an indirect evidence of successful naturalization of the species. The group of older specimens (over 10 years old) is more numerous in the population of S. woodiana (56%). The group of specimens of middle age (3-6 years) is more numerous in the population of S. lauta, their share is 48%. Specimens of Sinanodonta younger than 1-year-old (shell length less than 25 mm) are absent, and specimens of 2-3 years old are not numerous. Based on molecular data and archival records on fishery use, we assume that the invasion of S. woodiana and S. lauta in the Reftinsky reservoir is associated with introduction of food fish delivered from the Volga fish-farms at the end of the 20th - the beginning of the 21st century.