Spatio-temporal co-occurrence of alien and native molluscs : a modelling approach using physical-chemical predictors

The invasion of alien species can have serious economic and ecological impacts. Ecologically, invasions often lead to an increased rate of native species replacement and decreased biodiversity. A critical step in the dominance of alien species is their successful co-occurrence with native species. In this study, we assessed the occurrence of alien molluscs and their co-occurrence with native molluscs and identified the determining physical-chemical variables. We expected that a combination of some key variables of water quality could provide suitable conditions promoting alien molluscs to occur and to co-occur with native molluscs. The analyses were based on 20-year data, collected from river systems across Flanders (Belgium). Classification Trees (CTs) were used to perform the analyses and to develop the predictive models. Based on CT models, the co-occurrence of alien and native molluscs could be reliably predicted based on physical-chemical variables. However, there was insufficient data to determine the environmental conditions in which alien taxa dominate. From the past to the present, spatial co-occurrence significantly increased. Sinuosity, ammonium and nitrate concentrations, chemical oxygen demand, pH and conductivity were the key determining variables. Our findings suggest that the co-occurrence of alien and native molluscs mainly occurs in straight rivers with good chemical water quality. These results provide insights into the ecology and behaviour of alien species which could support management practices and priority setting for conservation planning in surface waters of Flanders and Europe

Assessing the drivers behind the structure and diversity of fish assemblages associated with rocky shores in the Galapagos archipelago

Oceanic islands harbor unique yet fragile marine ecosystems that require evidence-based environmental management. Among these islands, the Galapagos archipelago is well known for its fish diversity, but the factors that structure communities within and between its islands remain poorly understood. In this study, water quality, physical habitats and geographical distance were assessed as potential predictors for the diversity and structure of fish assemblages. Differences in the structure of fish assemblages of the two studied islands (Santa Cruz and Floreana) were most likely driven by temperature and nutrient concentrations. In the relatively highly populated island Santa Cruz, the structure of fish assemblages was more affected by water conditions than physical habitats while the contrary was true for the more pristine area of Floreana. A wide variety of species with different geographical origins were distributed over the different islands, which indicates that most fish species are able to reach the islands of the archipelago. However, temperature gradients and elevated nutrient levels cause large differences in the structure of local fish assemblages. In addition, in Santa Cruz nutrient concentrations were negatively correlated with α diversity. Since pollution is a clear pressure on the fish assemblages of oceanic islands, environmental management of the coastal areas is of paramount importance

Modelling spatio-temporal changes of benthic macroinvertebrate communities in Asian and European rivers

Objectifs généraux: les systèmes fluviaux tropicaux et tempérés d'eau douce sont connus pour soutenir différentes communautés biotiques. Dans cette étude, menée dans une région d'Asie tropicale et dans une région d'Europe tempérée, j'ai étudié la composition et la diversité de la communauté des macro-invertébrés benthiques ainsi que leurs variations spatiales et temporelles. J'ai également examiné les influences des variables physico-chimiques de la qualité de l'eau sur les variations et la diversité de la composition de la communauté et j'ai modélisé l'occurrence d'espèces sélectionnées. Localisation géographique: Asie tropicale: le bassin aval du Mékong (LMB), couvrant une superficie de 609 000 km2; Europe tempérée: Europe occidentale, fleuves flamands (Belgique), couvrant une superficie de 13 787 km2. Matériel et méthodes: Pour le LMB, les données recueillies de 2004 à 2008 ont été utilisées et les valeurs médianes de cette période ont été analysées. Pour les rivières flamandes, les données collectées de 1991 à 2010 ont été utilisées. Les données ont été divisées en 4 périodes: D1: 1991-1995, D2: 1996-2000, D3: 2001-2005 et D4: 2006-2010. Les médianes de chaque période ont été utilisées pour des analyses spatiales détaillées. Des analyses multivariées ont été appliquées pour relier la composition et la diversité de la communauté aux variables physico-chimiques. Cinq techniques de modélisation, à savoir la régression logistique (LR), les Random Forest (RF), le Support Vector Machine (SVM), les réseaux de neurones artificiels (ANN) et les arbres de classification (CT) ont été utilisées pour modéliser l'occurrence desespèces sélectionnées. Principaux résultats: Variations de la composition des communautés, diversité et relation avec les variables environnementales Dans le cours aval du Mékong LMB, 299 taxons de macro-invertébrés distribués dans 196 genres et 90 familles ont été identifiées; dont 131 insectes, 98 mollusques, 38 crustacés et 32 annélides.Overall aims: Freshwater tropical and temperate river systems are known to support different biotic communities. In this study, I investigated benthic macroinvertebrate community composition and diversity and its spatial and temporal variation both in tropical Asian and temperate European regions. I also examined the influences of physical-chemical water quality variables on community composition, variations and diversity, and modelled the occurrence of selected species. Locations: Tropical Asia: the Lower Mekong Basin (LMB), covering an area of 609,000 km2; Temperate Europe: Western Europe, Flemish rivers (Belgium), covering an area of 13,787 km2. Materials and Methods: For the LMB, data collected from 2004 to 2008 were used, and median values of this period were analysed. For Flemish rivers, data collected from 1991 to 2010 were used. The data were divided into 4 periods: D1: 1991-1995, D2: 1996-2000, D3: 2001-2005 and D4: 2006-2010. The medians of each period were used for detailed spatial analyses. Multivariate analyses were applied to relate community composition and diversity to physical-chemical variables. Five modelling techniques namely Logistic Regression (LR), Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Classification Tree (CT) were used to model the occurrence of selected species. Main results: Community composition variations, diversity and relationship with environmental variables From the LMB, 299 macroinvertebrate taxa belonging to 196 genera and 90 families were identified: 131 insects, 98 molluscs, 38 crustaceans, and 32 annelids

Modelling spatio-temporal changes of benthic macroinvertebrate communities in Asian and European rivers

Objectifs généraux: les systèmes fluviaux tropicaux et tempérés d'eau douce sont connus pour soutenir différentes communautés biotiques. Dans cette étude, menée dans une région d'Asie tropicale et dans une région d'Europe tempérée, j'ai étudié la composition et la diversité de la communauté des macro-invertébrés benthiques ainsi que leurs variations spatiales et temporelles. J'ai également examiné les influences des variables physico-chimiques de la qualité de l'eau sur les variations et la diversité de la composition de la communauté et j'ai modélisé l'occurrence d'espèces sélectionnées. Localisation géographique: Asie tropicale: le bassin aval du Mékong (LMB), couvrant une superficie de 609 000 km2; Europe tempérée: Europe occidentale, fleuves flamands (Belgique), couvrant une superficie de 13 787 km2. Matériel et méthodes: Pour le LMB, les données recueillies de 2004 à 2008 ont été utilisées et les valeurs médianes de cette période ont été analysées. Pour les rivières flamandes, les données collectées de 1991 à 2010 ont été utilisées. Les données ont été divisées en 4 périodes: D1: 1991-1995, D2: 1996-2000, D3: 2001-2005 et D4: 2006-2010. Les médianes de chaque période ont été utilisées pour des analyses spatiales détaillées. Des analyses multivariées ont été appliquées pour relier la composition et la diversité de la communauté aux variables physico-chimiques. Cinq techniques de modélisation, à savoir la régression logistique (LR), les Random Forest (RF), le Support Vector Machine (SVM), les réseaux de neurones artificiels (ANN) et les arbres de classification (CT) ont été utilisées pour modéliser l'occurrence desespèces sélectionnées. Principaux résultats: Variations de la composition des communautés, diversité et relation avec les variables environnementales Dans le cours aval du Mékong LMB, 299 taxons de macro-invertébrés distribués dans 196 genres et 90 familles ont été identifiées; dont 131 insectes, 98 mollusques, 38 crustacés et 32 annélides.Overall aims: Freshwater tropical and temperate river systems are known to support different biotic communities. In this study, I investigated benthic macroinvertebrate community composition and diversity and its spatial and temporal variation both in tropical Asian and temperate European regions. I also examined the influences of physical-chemical water quality variables on community composition, variations and diversity, and modelled the occurrence of selected species. Locations: Tropical Asia: the Lower Mekong Basin (LMB), covering an area of 609,000 km2; Temperate Europe: Western Europe, Flemish rivers (Belgium), covering an area of 13,787 km2. Materials and Methods: For the LMB, data collected from 2004 to 2008 were used, and median values of this period were analysed. For Flemish rivers, data collected from 1991 to 2010 were used. The data were divided into 4 periods: D1: 1991-1995, D2: 1996-2000, D3: 2001-2005 and D4: 2006-2010. The medians of each period were used for detailed spatial analyses. Multivariate analyses were applied to relate community composition and diversity to physical-chemical variables. Five modelling techniques namely Logistic Regression (LR), Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Classification Tree (CT) were used to model the occurrence of selected species. Main results: Community composition variations, diversity and relationship with environmental variables From the LMB, 299 macroinvertebrate taxa belonging to 196 genera and 90 families were identified: 131 insects, 98 molluscs, 38 crustaceans, and 32 annelids

Modélisation des changements spatio-temporels des communautés de macroinvertébrés benthiques dans les rivières d'Asie et d'Europe

Overall aims: Freshwater tropical and temperate river systems are known to support different biotic communities. In this study, I investigated benthic macroinvertebrate community composition and diversity and its spatial and temporal variation both in tropical Asian and temperate European regions. I also examined the influences of physical-chemical water quality variables on community composition, variations and diversity, and modelled the occurrence of selected species. Locations: Tropical Asia: the Lower Mekong Basin (LMB), covering an area of 609,000 km2; Temperate Europe: Western Europe, Flemish rivers (Belgium), covering an area of 13,787 km2. Materials and Methods: For the LMB, data collected from 2004 to 2008 were used, and median values of this period were analysed. For Flemish rivers, data collected from 1991 to 2010 were used. The data were divided into 4 periods: D1: 1991-1995, D2: 1996-2000, D3: 2001-2005 and D4: 2006-2010. The medians of each period were used for detailed spatial analyses. Multivariate analyses were applied to relate community composition and diversity to physical-chemical variables. Five modelling techniques namely Logistic Regression (LR), Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Classification Tree (CT) were used to model the occurrence of selected species. Main results: Community composition variations, diversity and relationship with environmental variables From the LMB, 299 macroinvertebrate taxa belonging to 196 genera and 90 families were identified: 131 insects, 98 molluscs, 38 crustaceans, and 32 annelids.Objectifs généraux: les systèmes fluviaux tropicaux et tempérés d'eau douce sont connus pour soutenir différentes communautés biotiques. Dans cette étude, menée dans une région d'Asie tropicale et dans une région d'Europe tempérée, j'ai étudié la composition et la diversité de la communauté des macro-invertébrés benthiques ainsi que leurs variations spatiales et temporelles. J'ai également examiné les influences des variables physico-chimiques de la qualité de l'eau sur les variations et la diversité de la composition de la communauté et j'ai modélisé l'occurrence d'espèces sélectionnées. Localisation géographique: Asie tropicale: le bassin aval du Mékong (LMB), couvrant une superficie de 609 000 km2; Europe tempérée: Europe occidentale, fleuves flamands (Belgique), couvrant une superficie de 13 787 km2. Matériel et méthodes: Pour le LMB, les données recueillies de 2004 à 2008 ont été utilisées et les valeurs médianes de cette période ont été analysées. Pour les rivières flamandes, les données collectées de 1991 à 2010 ont été utilisées. Les données ont été divisées en 4 périodes: D1: 1991-1995, D2: 1996-2000, D3: 2001-2005 et D4: 2006-2010. Les médianes de chaque période ont été utilisées pour des analyses spatiales détaillées. Des analyses multivariées ont été appliquées pour relier la composition et la diversité de la communauté aux variables physico-chimiques. Cinq techniques de modélisation, à savoir la régression logistique (LR), les Random Forest (RF), le Support Vector Machine (SVM), les réseaux de neurones artificiels (ANN) et les arbres de classification (CT) ont été utilisées pour modéliser l'occurrence desespèces sélectionnées. Principaux résultats: Variations de la composition des communautés, diversité et relation avec les variables environnementales Dans le cours aval du Mékong LMB, 299 taxons de macro-invertébrés distribués dans 196 genres et 90 familles ont été identifiées; dont 131 insectes, 98 mollusques, 38 crustacés et 32 annélides

Spatial organization of macroinvertebrate assemblages in the Lower Mekong Basin

In this study, we investigated patterns of spatial variation in macroinvertebrate assemblages in the Lower Mekong Basin (LMB) and examined their relationship with environmental factors. Cluster analysis was used to group macroinvertebrate samples and Linear Discriminant Analysis was performed to discriminate the major factors associated with the macroinvertebrate assemblages. Four clusters could be distinguished based on the dissimilarity between macroinvertebrate assemblages. The assemblages related to the tributaries and the upstream parts (cluster II) were characterized by a lower richness, abundance, diversity and a lower number of indicator taxa compared to the assemblage found downstream in the Mekong delta (cluster I). Aquatic insects and their indicator taxa (e.g. Caenodes sp., Dipseudopsis sp. and Gomphidae sp.), preferring a high-altitude environment with a high dissolved oxygen concentration and a high density of wood/shrub and evergreen forests, were the most predominant group in the assemblages occupying the tributaries and the upstream parts (cluster IIa). The assemblage found in the delta, consisting largely of molluscs and a moderate richness and abundance of worms, crustaceans and dipteran insects, was mainly represented by Corbicula leviuscula and C. moreletiana (molluscs), Namalycastis longicirris and Chaetogaster langi (worms), Corophium minutum and Grandidierella lignorum (crustaceans), and Cricotopus sp. and Clinotanypus sp. (dipteran insects). This assemblage was associated with a large watershed surface area, deep and wide rivers and a high water temperature. The intermediate assemblage (cluster IIb1) in-between could be discriminated based on land cover types including inundated, wetland and agricultural land, and was represented most by molluscs. Strikingly, the assemblage occupying the upstream parts (cluster IIa), which is related to intensified agriculture and a moderate conductivity, was characterized by a higher macroinvertebrate diversity compared to the mountainous and less impacted tributaries. This could mean that the natural stress is high in these systems for some taxa, leading to a lower overall taxonomic richness and abundance. Nevertheless, the number of taxa and the diversity of macroinvertebrates remained relatively high across the basin, especially in the delta assemblage. Therefore, the LMB deserves a particular attention for conservation

Water Quality Degradation in the Lower Mekong Basin

The Mekong River is one of the world’s largest rivers, unparalleled in terms of its biodiversity and ecosystem services. As in other regions, sufficient water quality is required to support diverse organisms, habitats, and ecosystems, but in the Mekong region, water quality has not been well studied. Based on biological and physical-chemical data collected over the last two decades, we evaluated spatial-temporal water quality of the Lower Mekong Basin (LMB) using biotic and abiotic assessment metrics. We found that during the 2000s, water quality in the LMB was unpolluted, with “very good” metrics for tributary rivers and “good” status for mainstem rivers. However, during the last decade, water quality has been degraded in the LMB, particularly near Vientiane City; the Sekong, Sesan, and Srepok (3S) Rivers; the Tonle Sap Lake system; and the Mekong Delta. Water quality degradation likely corresponds to flow alteration, erosion, sediment trapping, and point and non-point wastewater, which have occurred from rapid hydropower development, deforestation, intensive agriculture, plastic pollution, and urbanization. Regular biomonitoring, physical-chemical water quality assessment, transparent data sharing, and basin-wide water quality standards or management are needed to sustain water quality to support biodiversity and ecosystem function in the LMB

Mollusc fisheries and length–weight relationship in Tonle Sap flood pulse system, Cambodia

International audienceMolluscs are important for ecological function, livelihoods and fisheries, but are often forgotten in research and management. Here, we investigated intra-annual variation in the landing and growth patterns of three mollusc species, i.e., Corbicula moreletiana, Pila virescens and Pila ampullacea, using one-year daily data on landing catches and values, recorded in Kampong Chhnang province of Tonle Sap (TS) Lake. Overall, 8330 tonnes with a first sale landing value of US$ 1.4 million for the three species were reported. Also, we found that C. moreletiana was abundant during the dry season with high temperature and less precipitation. By contrast, the two Pila species were abundant from the early rainy to early dry seasons when precipitation and water levels increase. The length–weight relationship analysis indicated that a faster growth in weight of Pila species occurred in the rainy season, and a general negative allometric growth was observed for the three species. This implies that their populations were intensively fished. Our preliminary results suggest that molluscs in the TS Lake (i) are important resources in support of people's livelihoods, (ii) respond differently to intra-annual variation in temperature, precipitation and hydrology and (iii) are being intensively exploited with significant reduction in growth rate. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct further comprehensive research describing status of mollusc stocks and their ecology to support long-term management and conservation of this important aquatic fauna. Our study contributes to establishing the first important baseline data and information on key mollusc species for the TS

Patterns of Mekong Mollusc Biodiversity: Identification of Emerging Threats and Importance to Management and Livelihoods in a Region of Globally Significant Biodiversity and Endemism

The Lower Mekong Basin (LMB) is a key biodiversity hotspot. To facilitate conservation and management, we examine mollusc biodiversity patterns and distribution along LMB’s longitudinal gradients, identify environmental drivers, and discuss the importance of these drivers to management. Cluster analysis, redundancy analysis (RDA), and variation partitioning were conducted using mollusc data collected from 63 sampling sites. Results indicated that species diversity is dominated by gastropods (61%) and bivalves (39%) and feeding trait diversity by scrapers (52%) and filter-collectors (37%). Only 48 species (49%) out of 98 taxa have been assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) including a growing number of invasive species. The lack of complete, up-to-date information highlights the need for more research on both native and alien species. Cluster analysis revealed a clear mollusc biodiversity structure along the LMB’s longitudinal segments. Diversity was lowest in upstream tributaries, increased in upstream main channels, and was highest in downstream channels and the Mekong delta, the exception being the observed high gastropod abundance in Chi-Mun river mouth and Luang Prabang areas. The RDA and variation partitioning demonstrated that combined physical–chemical and climatic conditions are the key drivers of biodiversity patterns. Given the potential spread of invasive alien species and increasing anthropogenic impacts, further ecological research, regular monitoring, and adaptive management are needed to sustain mollusc biodiversity and associated ecosystem services, which contribute to food security, nutrition, and livelihoods in the LMB