Howells Freshwater Mussels App

MINIMAL AND NON-REASONS FOR TEXASMUSSEL DECLINES - II• Asian clams (Corbicula fluminea, Corbicula sp.)– Little or no evidence of harm to native mussels, but somecompetition must occur.– Disturbed environments favor Asian clam, but not nativemussels.– Native mussels decline in disturbed environments, Asianclams are advantaged, so Asian clams may appearresponsible.• South American armored catfishes(Loricariid catfishes) – Plecos– These catfishes scrape algae from surfaces; mussels feedon plankton.– Texas introductions occur primarily in headwater springs& power plant reservoirs; mussels never occur in springs & norare species occur in heated reservoirs.– These catfishes do compete with native snails and dodamage banks in SE Texas, but no rare mussels occur in thosewaters.