COPEMOL

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10347/34332

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Fish and Bivalve Therapeutants in Freshwater Mussel Captive Breeding—A First Summary of Practical Experiences in European Facilities
(MDPI, 2024) Denic, Marco; Nakamura, Keiko; Varela Dopico, Catarina; Strachan, Ben; Daill, Daniel; Gaehrken, Jakob; Taylor, John; Grunicke, Felix; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Zooloxía, Xenética e Antropoloxía Física
A significant part of freshwater mussel populations has strongly declined and many species are severely threatened nowadays. Captive breeding programs often form a central part of conservation strategies. As the life cycles of many mussel species include an obligate parasitic phase, host fish health is a crucial component of successful mussel breeding efforts. However, information about the safe application of fish therapeutants in mussel captive breeding is scarce. This article summarizes information about practical experiences in Europe. In total, eight different therapeutants were used to treat infestations of eight pathogens. Treatment success varied depending on pathogen and prevalence when treatments were initiated. Mussels did not seem to be affected by treatments, especially as long as they remained encysted. In a second step, Virkon S was applied to treat a fungal infection in tanks with brown trout (Salmo trutta) carrying encysted freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) glochidia and to disinfect juvenile mussel rearing containers. In both cases, mussels were not harmed and treated fish fully recovered. Results indicate that certain therapeutants can be used safely and successfully at different stages of breeding cycles. Nevertheless, there is still a lack of standard protocols, which would improve efficiency and the safety of treatments.
Allometry in the freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera L.): mussels grow flatter at higher water speed
(Institute of Malacology (IM), 2022) Cordero Rivera, Adolfo; Ondina Navarret, María Paz; Amaro González, Rafaela María; Outeiro Rodríguez, Adolfo Manuel; San Miguel Salán, Eduardo; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Zooloxía, Xenética e Antropoloxía Física
The freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) is one of the longest-lived invertebrate species in the world and one of the most threatened freshwater animals in Europe. Its southernmost populations, located in northwestern Spain, are in a critical conservation situation and are still understudied. Here we calibrate a non-invasive method for calculating the volume of the shell and use it to study the ontogenetic scaling of shell volume on shell length. We characterized ontogenetic growth and determined allometric relationships in 16 M. margaritifera northwestern Spain populations by using ordinary least squares regression, major axis and reduced major axis methods. We estimated topographic slopes of the sampling points using a GIS system, as a proxy of water speed. We measured 803 shells and found that the volume of the shell can precisely be estimated using three linear measurements. We found evidence for negative allometry of shell volume in the global sample and in 11 populations. We hypothesized that water speed would affect allometric patterns of local populations. Results suggest a negative relationship between the allometric slope and the topographic slope of the river section inhabited by M. margaritifera. We propose that when water speed is higher, larger mussels become proportionally flatter than in locations where water current is slower, allowing them to burrow more easily in the sediment. Our method will allow estimation of M. margaritifera biomass and ontogenetic growth without killing any specimens, which will contribute to conservation programs for this species.
Research priorities for freshwater mussel conservation assessment
(Elsevier, 2019) Zając, Tadeusz; Vaughn, Caryn C.; Ferreira-Rodríguez, Noé; Akiyama, Yoshihiro B.; Aksenova, Olga V.; Araujo, Rafael; Barnhart, M. Christopher; Bespalaya, Yulia V.; Bogan, Arthur E.; Bolotov, Ivan N.; Budha, Prem B.; Clavijo, Cristhian; Clearwater, Susan J.; Darrigran, Gustavo; Do, Van Tu; Douda, Karel; Froufe, Elsa; Gumpinger, Clemens; Henrikson, Lennart; Humphrey, Chris L.; Johnson, Nathan A.; Klishko, Olga; Klunzinger, Michael W.; Kovitvadhi, Salit; Kovitvadhi, Uthaiwan; Lajtner, Jasna; Lopes-Lima, Manuel; Moorkens, Evelyn; Nagayama, Shigeya; Nagel, Karl-Otto; Nakano, Mitsunori; Negishi, Junjiro N.; Ondina Navarret, María Paz; Oulasvirta, Panu; Prié, Vincent; Riccardi, Nicoletta; Rudzite, Mudite; Sheldon, Fran; Sousa, Ronaldo; Strayer, David L.; Takeuchi, Motoi; Taskinen, Jouni; Teixeira, Amílcar; Tiemann, Jeremy S.; Urbańska, Maria; Varandas, Simone; Vinarski, Maxim; Wicklow, Barry J.; Zając, Tadeusz; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Zooloxía, Xenética e Antropoloxía Física
Freshwater mussels are declining globally, and effective conservation requires prioritizing research and actions to identify and mitigate threats impacting mussel species. Conservation priorities vary widely, ranging from preventing imminent extinction to maintaining abundant populations. Here, we develop a portfolio of priority research topics for freshwater mussel conservation assessment. To address these topics, we group research priorities into two categories: intrinsic or extrinsic factors. Intrinsic factors are indicators of organismal or population status, while extrinsic factors encompass environmental variables and threats. An understanding of intrinsic factors is useful in monitoring, and of extrinsic factors are important to understand ongoing and potential impacts on conservation status. This dual approach can guide conservation status assessments prior to the establishment of priority species and implementation of conservation management actions.
A roadmap for the conservation of freshwater mussels in Europe
(Wiley, 2022) Sousa, Ronaldo; Zając, Tadeusz; Halabowski, Dariusz; Aksenova, Olga V.; Bespalaya, Yulia V.; Carvalho, Francisco; Castro, Paulo; Douda, Karel; Da Silva, Janine P.; Ferreira-Rodríguez, Noé; Geist, Juergen; Gumpinger, Clemens; Labecka, Anna M.; Lajtner, Jasna; Lewin, Iga; Lopes-Lima, Manuel; Meira, Alexandra; Nakamura, Keiko; Garrido Nogueira, Joana; Ondina Navarret, María Paz; Ożgo, Małgorzata; Reis, Joaquim; Riccardi, Nicoletta; Shumka, Spase; Son, Mikhail O.; Teixeira, Amílcar; Thielen, Frankie; Urbańska, Maria; Varandas, Simone; Wengström, Niklas; Zając, Katarzyna; Zieritz, Alexandra; Aldridge, David C.; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Zooloxía, Xenética e Antropoloxía Física
Europe has a long history of human pressure on freshwater ecosystems. As pressure continues to grow and new threats emerge, there is an urgent need for conservation of freshwater biodiversity and its ecosystem services. However, whilst some taxonomic groups, mainly vertebrates, have received a disproportionate amount of attention and funds, other groups remain largely off the public and scientific radar. Freshwater mussels (Bivalvia, Unionida) are an alarming example of this conservation bias and here we point out six conceptual areas that need immediate and long-term attention: knowledge, threats, socioeconomics, conservation, governance and education. The proposed roadmap aims to advance research, policy and education by identifying the most pressing priorities for the short- and long-term conservation of freshwater mussels across Europe.
Captive breeding of European freshwater mussels as a conservation tool : A review
(John Wiley & Sons Ltd., 2023) Geist, Juergen; Thielen, Frankie; Lavictoire, Louise; Hoess, Rebecca; Altmueller, Reinhard; Baudrimont, Magalie; Blaize, Christine; Campos, Miquel; Caroll, Paul; Daill, Daniel; Degelmann, Wolfgang; Dettmer, Reiner; Denic, Marko; Duri, Pierrick; De Eyto, Elvira; Grunicke, Felix; Gumpinger, Clemens; Jakobsen, Per J.; Kaldma, Katrin; Klaas, Kunnar; Legeay, Alexia; Mageroy, Jon Hamner; Moorkens, Evelyn; Motte, Gregory; Nakamura, Keiko; Ondina Navarret, María Paz; Österling, Martin; Pichler-Scheder, Christian; Spisar, Ondrej; Reis, Joaquim; Schneider, Lea D.; Schwarzer, Arno; Selheim, Heidi; Soler, Joaquim; Taskinen, Jouni; Taylor, John; Wengström, Niklas; Zając, Tadeusz; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Zooloxía, Xenética e Antropoloxía Física
Freshwater mussels are declining throughout their range. Their important ecological functions along with insufficient levels of natural recruitment have prompted captive breeding for population augmentation and questions about the usefulness and applicability of such measures. This article reviews the current state of captive breeding and rearing programmes for freshwater mussels in Europe. It considers the various species, strategies, and techniques of propagation, as well as the different levels of effort required according to rearing method, highlighting the key factors of success. Within the last 30 years, 46 breeding activities in 16 European countries have been reported, mainly of Margaritifera margaritifera and Unio crassus. Some facilities propagate species that are in a very critical situation, such as Pseudunio auricularius, Unio mancus, and Unio ravoisieri, or multiple species concurrently. In some streams, the number of released captive-bred mussels already exceeds the size of the remaining natural population. Rearing efforts range from highly intensive laboratory incubation to lower intensity methods using in-river mussel cages or silos. Most breeding efforts are funded by national and EU LIFE(+) grants, are well documented, and consider the genetic integrity of the propagated mussels. Limited long-term funding perspectives, the availability of experienced staff, water quality, and feeding/survival during early life stages are seen as the most important challenges. Successful captive breeding programmes need to be combined with restoration of the habitats into which the mussels are released. This work will benefit from an evidence-based approach, knowledge exchange among facilities, and an overall breeding strategy comprising multiple countries and conservation units.
The male and female complete mitochondrial genomes of the threatened freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera (Linnaeus, 1758) (Bivalvia:Margaritiferidae)
(Taylor & Francis, 2019) Froufe, Elsa; Amaro González, Rafaela María; Ondina Navarret, María Paz; Breton, Sophie; Guerra, Davide; Bolotov, Ivan N.; Vikhrev, Ilya; Gan, Han Ming; Gomes dos Santos, André
The complete mitogenomes of one (M-)ale (North America), one Hermaphroditic (Europe), and two(F-)emale (North America and Europe) individuals of the freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera were sequenced. The M-type and F-type (Female and Hermaphroditic) mitogenomes have 17,421 and 16,122 nucleotides, respectively. All with the same content: 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA, two ribosomal RNA genes, and one sex-related ORF. The M-type is highly divergent (37.6% uncorrected p-distance) from the F-type mitogenomes. North American and European F-type mitogenomes exhibit low genetic divergence (68nt substitutions), and the Female and Hermaphroditic Europeanmitogenomes are almost identical, and matching sex-related ORFs.
Who wins in the weaning process? Juvenile feeding morphology of two freshwater mussel species
(Wiley, 2018) Araujo, Rafael; Campos, Miguel; Feo, Carles; Varela Dopico, Catuxa; Soler, Joaquín; Ondina Navarret, María Paz
The global decline of freshwater mussels can be partially attributed to their complex life cycle. Their survival from glochidium to adulthood is like a long obstacle race, with juvenile mortality as a key critical point. Mass mortality shortly after entering into a juvenile state has been reported in both wild and captive populations, thus weakening the effective bivalve population. A similar phenomenon occurs during metamorphosis in natural and hatchery populations of juvenile marine bivalves. Based on a morphological analysis using scanning electron microscopy of newly formed juveniles of the freshwater species Margaritifera margaritifera (L.)(Margaritiferidae) and Unio mancus Lamarck (Unionidae), we show that a second metamorphosis, consisting of drastic morphological changes, occurs that leads to suspension feeding in place of deposit feeding by the ciliated foot. We hypothesize that suspension feeding in these two species improves due to a gradual development of several morphological features including the contact between cilia of the inner gill posterior filaments, the inner gill reflection, the appearance of the ctenidial ventral groove and the formation of the pedal palps. Regardless of the presence of available food, a suspension feeding mode replaces deposit feeding, and juveniles unable to successfully transition morphologically or adapt to the feeding changes likely perish.
Morphopatology and gill recovery of Atlantic salmon during the parasitic detachment of Margaritifera margaritifera
(Wiley, 2021) Castrillo Arias, Pedro Antonio; Varela Dopico, Catuxa; Bermúdez, Roberto; Ondina Navarret, María Paz; Quiroga Berdeal, María Isabel; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Zooloxía, Xenética e Antropoloxía Física
During the conservation aquaculture of the freshwater mussel Margaritifera margaritifera, fish health has become a concern due to the need of mussel larvae (glochidia) to parasitize the salmonid gills and metamorphose into juveniles. However, there is a lack of information about the impact on fish during the juvenile detachment and the subsequent gill healing. To evaluate the morphopathological changes and gill recovery after the parasitism of M. margaritifera, 51 Atlantic salmon fry (Salmo salar), infested with around 22 larvae/fish g, were necropsied during the synchronized detachment of the mussel juveniles, and gills were assessed by stereomicroscopy and by light and scanning electron microscopy. Salmon showed no clinical signs during the trial and gills recovered their normal morphology almost completely in a short time, suggesting a minimal impact on fish health after glochidiosis. In this sense, the non-erosive droplet detachment and the goblet cell hyperplasia favoured an effective gill remodelling mediated by apoptosis, polarization and cell shedding of the gill epithelia, providing insights to the defence, clearing and healing mechanisms of the gill. These morphopathological techniques could also be implemented to preserve fish welfare and to optimize the artificial breeding programmes of endangered freshwater mussels.
Applying genomic approaches to delineate conservation strategies using the freshwater mussel Margaritifera margaritifera in the Iberian Peninsula as a model
(Nature, 2022) Perea, Silvia; Mendes, Sofía L.; Sousa-Santos, Carla; Ondina Navarret, María Paz; Amaro González, Rafaela María; Castro, Jaime; San Miguel, Eduardo; García, María; García-Roves, Pedro; Fernández, Diego; Araujo, Rafael; Sousa, Carla; Velasquez, Víctor; Lima, Cristina; Sousa, Víctor; Reis, Joaquim; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Zooloxía, Xenética e Antropoloxía Física
Effective conservation actions to counteract the current decline of populations and species require a deep knowledge on their genetic structure. We used Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) to infer the population structure of the highly threatened freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera in the Iberian Peninsula. A total of 130 individuals were collected from 26 locations belonging to 16 basins. We obtained 31,692 SNPs through Genotyping by Sequencing (GBS) and used this dataset to infer population structure. Genetic diversity given as observed heterozygosity was low. Pairwise FST comparisons revealed low levels of genetic differentiation among geographically close populations. Up to 3 major genetic lineages were determined: Atlantic, Cantabrian and Douro. This structure suggests a close co‑evolutionary process with brown trout (Salmo trutta), the primordial fish host of this mussel in the studied area. Some sub‑basins showed some genetic structuring, whereas in others no intrapopulation differentiation was found. Our results confirm that genetic conservation units do not match individual basins, and that knowledge about the genetic structure is necessary before planning recovery plans that may involve relocation or restocking. The same reasoning should be applied to strictly freshwater species that are sessile or have restricted dispersal abilities and are currently imperiled worldwide.
The parasitic travel of Margaritifera margaritifera in Atlantic salmon gills: from glochidium to post-larva
(Elsevier, 2022) Castrillo Arias, Pedro Antonio; Bermúdez Pose, Roberto; Varela Dopico, Catarina; Quiroga Verdeal, María Isabel; Ondina Navarret, María Paz; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Anatomía, Produción Animal e Ciencias Clínicas Veterinarias; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Zooloxía, Xenética e Antropoloxía Física
The larval development of the endangered freshwater mussel Margaritifera margaritifera (L.) represents one of the most unique parasitism among naiads, in which larva parasite the fish gills for several months. Despite the importance of this parasitic phase to successfully culture the freshwater mussel, the larval morphogenesis remains understudied. To describe the parasitic larval development and metamorphosis, Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) were exposed to glochidia, sampled periodically to visualize the gills by stereomicroscopy and light microscopy and results were summarized throughout three developmental stages. Once attached to the fish gills, glochidia changed their morphology within the first days and acquired an intermediate stage termed mushroom larva due to the presence of the mushroom body and the zip membrane, both structures are transitory and distinctive of this long-lasting parasitism. The zip membrane, located at the valve cleft, may play a unique role in the isolation and acquisition of non-particulate nutrients from the fish, while the mushroom body of the mantle accumulates abundant intracytoplasmic lipid droplets. After 200 days, a successful metamorphosis was evidenced by the formation of a complete set of post-larval organs, pointing to the acquisition of different functionality, which will be essential for the settlement and deposit-feeding into the riverbed. Among the post-larval organs, the byssal complex of the post-larval foot was described for the first time at the end of the parasitic stage of naiads. In conclusion, this study provides an overview of the larval morphogenesis of M. margaritifera, from glochidium to post-larva, essential for understanding the parasitic interaction between the freshwater mussel larva and the fish host. Moreover, the morphological techniques and the hallmarks described might be applicable to optimize and monitor the larval developmental status during one of the most critical stages of the captive breeding programmes of endangered freshwater mussels

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