Ecological Dynamics of Invasive Marine Bivalves

Invasive marine bivalves, such as Mytilus galloprovincialis and Semimytilus algosus, have reshaped coastal ecosystems worldwide by altering community structure, nutrient cycles and habitat architecture. These species often establish extensive beds or biofouling assemblages that outcompete native fauna for space and resources, thereby reducing biodiversity and modifying trophic interactions. Successful colonisation depends on high propagule pressure, effective larval dispersal aided by ocean currents and, in many cases, tolerance of a broad range of environmental conditions including temperature, salinity and pollutant loads. Once established, dense bivalve populations act as ecosystem engineers, enhancing water clarity through filter feeding but also accumulating and transferring contaminants into food webs. Interactions with native species can be both facilitative and antagonistic: invasive beds may provide refuge for certain organisms while excluding others. Climate change, coastal development and shipping intensify introduction pathways and create novel habitats favourable to non-native bivalves. Management strategies now combine monitoring of early incursions, predictive ecological niche modelling and targeted removal or biocontrol measures. Understanding the balance between ecosystem services—such as water purification—and disservices—such as habitat displacement—is essential for informed conservation and sustainable aquaculture practices.

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Ecological Dynamics of Invasive Marine Bivalves publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in ecological dynamics of invasive marine bivalves across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Filter feeder: An organism that removes suspended particles and plankton from water by passing it over specialised feeding structures.

Bioaccumulation: The progressive concentration of substances, such as pollutants, in the tissues of an organism over time.

Propagule pressure: The quantity, frequency and diversity of non-native individuals introduced into a new environment.

Ecological niche modelling: A computational method for predicting a species’ potential distribution based on environmental variables and occurrence data.

Ecosystem engineer: A species that significantly modifies, creates or maintains habitat structure, thereby affecting other organisms.

References

1. Coastal ecosystem services in South Africa’s largest natural bay: The role of marine benthic filter feeders in mitigating pollution. Ecological Indicators (2022).
2. Historical and contemporary range expansion of an invasive mussel, Semimytlius algosus, in Angola and Namibia despite data scarcity in an infrequently surveyed region. PLOS ONE (2020).
3. Effects of harvesting and an invasive mussel on intertidal rocky shore communities based on historical and spatial comparisons. PLOS ONE (2024).