Non-indigenous invasive bivalves as ecosystem engineers |
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Authors: | Ronaldo Sousa Jorge L Gutiérrez David C Aldridge |
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Institution: | 1. CIMAR/CIIMAR – Centro Interdisciplinar de Investiga??o Marinha e Ambiental, Universidade do Porto, Rua dos Bragas 289, 4050-123, Porto, Portugal 2. Aquatic Ecology Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ, UK 3. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Mar del Plata, Argentina 4. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina 5. Grupo de Investigación y Educación en Temas Ambientales (GrIETA), Mar del Plata, Argentina 6. Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, NY, 12545, USA
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Abstract: | Several non-indigenous bivalve species have been colonising aquatic ecosystems worldwide, in some cases with great ecological
and economic impacts. In this paper, we focus on the ecosystem engineering attributes of non-indigenous invasive bivalves
(i.e., the capacities of these organisms to directly or indirectly affect the availability of resources to other species by
physically modifying the environment). By reviewing the ecology of several invasive bivalves we identify a variety of mechanisms
via which they modify, maintain and/or create habitats. Given the usually high densities and broad spatial distributions of
such bivalves, their engineering activities can significantly alter ecosystem structure and functioning (e.g., changes in
sediment chemistry, grain size, and organic matter content via bioturbation, increased light penetration into the water column
due to filter feeding, changes in near bed flows and shear stress due to the presence of shells, provision of colonisable
substrate and refuges by shells). In addition, changes in ecosystem structure and functioning due to engineering by invasive
bivalves often have very large economic impacts. Given the worldwide spread of non-indigenous bivalves and the varied ways
in which they physically modify habitats, their engineering effects should receive more serious consideration in restoration
and management initiatives. |
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