CONTROL AND PREVENTION OF
           INVASIVE BIVALVES. 
            

Limnoperna fortunei, the "golden mussel"

     
 
Since 1991, South America faces a new environmental and economical problem.
 
     
 

What is the Golden Mussel?
  Limnoperna fortunei is a freshwater bivalve that invaded South America, through the Plata Basin, through the Rio de la Plata, Argentina, in 1991.

History and Distribution
  Limnoperna fortunei dispersed quickly upstream throughout the Plata Basin, at an estimated speed of 240 km per year.
(Darrigran, G. and C. Damborenea, 2011) Ecosystem engineering impacts of Limnoperna fortunei in South America, Zoological Science, 28: 1-7


Ecosystem engineers

Problems caused in the Natural Environment
It attaches to any kind of hard substrate, displacing native species and creating a favorable microenvironment for other species. It also modifies native fish's diets.


Problems caused in the human environment
  It invades industries' water systems, water-treatment plant, generating plants, etc. causing severe macrofouling problems.

Economical impact

  Industries are forced to face new expenses produced by the macrofouling problems in fresh water.

Preventing Spreading
  Preventing and slowing down the spreading of the golden mussel is essential to avoid macrofouling and damage to fishing industry, tourism and nautical sports.

Control and prevention

  A combination of strategies must be implemented to prevent the species from entering the Plant and setting there, and/or removing it.


Counseling done
  The Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo (La Plata National University, Argentina) has a Third Party Services Program to provide counseling in all the aspects of control and prevention of macrofouling to Mercosur member countries.


Macrofouling Services Consultant
  Dr. Gustavo Darrigran, at Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo (La Plata National University, Argentina) leads a research team that works on biology and control/prevention strategies to counter the negative effects of this invading species.


Distinctions and prizes

  Distinctions and prizes obtained for progress the research about Limnoperna fortunei's biology and it's control and prevention in the human environment.


Meetings
  Meetings where our scientists deal with the problems of this invasion.





Bibliography



¿Qué es el GIMI?

V CLAMA

Videos
Researchers

Dr. Gustavo Darrigran Dr. M. Cristina Damborenea Dr. Guido Pastorino Dr. Pablo Penchaszadeh Dr. Taeko Kimura Dr. Ines Ezcurra de Drago and Dr. María Cristina Dreher Dr. Juan José Parodiz
 
 



Dr. Gustavo Darrigran

Programa Servicios a Terceros



 
 

 



 

Main Page/ Golden Mussel?/ History and Distribution/ Ecosystem engineers/ Natural Environment/ Human Environment/ Economical Impact/ Preventing Spreading/ Control and prevention/ Counseling done/ Macrofouling Services Consultant / Distinctions and Prizes/ Meetings/ Researchers/ Bibliography / Conclusions of Workshops


Last Update:20/09/2011