The Asian clam Corbicula fluminea, an accidental host for the European bitterling Rhodeus amarus
European bitterling (Rhodeus amarus) embryonic development depends entirely on freshwater mussels of the family Unionidae as host. As almost all the six widespread European unionid mussel species are declining in Southwestern Germany, this could result in the loss of spawning habitats for R. amarus...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
EDP Sciences
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Knowledge and Management of Aquatic Ecosystems |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.kmae-journal.org/articles/kmae/full_html/2025/01/kmae240129/kmae240129.html |
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| Summary: | European bitterling (Rhodeus amarus) embryonic development depends entirely on freshwater mussels of the family Unionidae as host. As almost all the six widespread European unionid mussel species are declining in Southwestern Germany, this could result in the loss of spawning habitats for R. amarus in the future. However, there is evidence even for a further expansion of this fish species in the Upper Rhine valley. As this expansion takes place in conjunction with a considerable spread of the non-indigenous freshwater mussel Corbicula fluminea, it is hypothesized that C. fluminea might also serve as a suitable host for R. amarus. Our study for the first time reports successful oviposition of R. amarus into C. fluminea. However, there is a lack of any evidence of bitterling embryo development in C. fluminea. In the presence of both U. crassus and C. fluminea, R. amarus exhibits a preference for unionid mussels for oviposition, prior to C. fluminea. Consequently, C. fluminea seems to be an accidental host for R. amarus and there seem to be other causes for its range expansion. |
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| ISSN: | 1961-9502 |