Habitat suitability of Unionidae host fish in the Rhine Delta

Abstract

Unionid populations are declining worldwide as they are threatened by anthropogenic habitat alterations, the introduction of invasive alien species and the effects of climate change. Several studies have focused on the habitat preferences of adult mussels but none to date have reported on the importance of the habitat preferences of host fish species. The aim of this study was to determine the habitat preferences of unionid host fish species in the Netherlands, to examine potential differences between native and alien host fish species, and to evaluate the effect of alien host fish species on unionid dispersal. Species sensitivity distributions (SSDs) were constructed for the range of occurrences and laboratory tolerance of host fish species in the Netherlands for water temperature, substrate type, flow velocity, and water depth. A case study was selected to assess the suitability to substrate type, flow velocity and water depth of a novel river habitat along longitudinal training dams in the river Waal. Unionid host fish species in the Netherlands preferred shallow littoral zones (0.1 m) with low flow velocity (0.05 m/s), an average water temperature of the Rhine delta (15°C), and most substrate types (ranging from silt to cobbles). Boulder substrate was the most limiting factor of the abiotic factors assessed for both native and alien host fish species. Management options for unionid populations should include host fish species in their assessments while focusing on creating and maintaining areas with limited boulders and implementing alien host fish species removal measures.