An investigation of salmonid host utilisation by the endangered freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) in north-west Scotland

Clements, E.A., Thomas, R. and Adams, C.E. (2018) An investigation of salmonid host utilisation by the endangered freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) in north-west Scotland. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 28(3), pp. 764-768. (doi: 10.1002/aqc.2900)

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Abstract

1. The complex life cycle of the globally threatened Margaritifera margaritifera includes a parasitic stage, where glochidia attach to the gills of fishes of the genus Salmo; however, the species of Salmo used appears to vary across its range. In previous literature the reported primary host in Scotland, home to a high proportion of the world's remaining M. margaritifera populations, is the Atlantic salmon Salmo salar, and in its absence the brown trout Salmo trutta. 2. In this study, the prevalence of infection in putative Salmo hosts in eight rivers in north‐west Scotland was determined. At a selected site on each river, where both S. trutta and S. salar were collected in abundance, S. trutta was the preferred host. 3. At sites where S. salar were abundant but S. trutta were at low density, however, S. salar showed a high prevalence of infection (with the exception of one river where neither S. salar nor S. trutta were infected). Thus, the primary host appears to be very site‐specific in the rivers sampled. 4. We speculate that this may be because M. margaritifera have population‐specific responses to cues for attachment to a host. Alternatively, it may be that host population‐specific immune responses mediate infections by glochidia. In addition, larger fish were less likely to be infected than smaller fish, and gills 1 and 5 were less heavily infected than gills 2–4. 5. One consequence of this finding, for both national and international conservation management of this globally endangered species, is that any current or future management activity must take into account local population host preferences, otherwise conservation efforts may be in vain.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Thomas, Dr Rhian and Clements, Ms Elizabeth and Adams, Professor Colin
Authors: Clements, E.A., Thomas, R., and Adams, C.E.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Geographical and Earth Sciences
Journal Name:Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems
Publisher:Wiley
ISSN:1052-7613
ISSN (Online):1099-0755
Published Online:16 April 2018
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2018 John Wiley and Sons Ltd
First Published:First published in Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 28(3):764-768
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy

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