Resilience of Juvenile Freshwater Pearl Mussels to Thermal Stress
Wacker, Sebastian; Sundt, Katrine Åmdal; Magerøy, Jon Hamner; Larsen, Bjørn Mejdell; Hagen, Chavindi Sophie; Horvli, Torill; Robertsen, Grethe
Peer reviewed, Journal article
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Date
2024Metadata
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Abstract
Climate change poses a significant threat to freshwater ecosystems by causing increases of average water temperatures, andmore frequent and extreme heating events. Freshwater mussels are declining globally, and the distribution of the freshwaterpearl mussel (Margeritifera margeritifera) has decreased dramatically over the past century. Even though it is likely that climatechange is contributing to the decline of the species, little is known about the specific mechanisms involved. Here, we test howshort episodes of water temperatures above the known thermotolerance range affect the survival and growth of the early postparasitic juvenile phase of freshwater pearl mussels. We also test if previous experience with elevated water temperatures canmodify survival and growth responses to subsequent high-temperatures exposure. Mortality was very low in all treatments(< 5%) and not affected by the temperature treatments, while growth rate was positively affected by temperature. Our resultssuggest that juvenile mussels can survive short periods of heat stress when other environmental conditions are favourable.Future studies should therefore address how heat stress affects survival in combination with other stressors, such as reducedavailability of dissolved oxygen.