Konstantina Drainas, Sebastian Beggel, Juergen Geist
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background
Freshwater mussels are important keystone and indicator species of aquatic ecosystems. Recent advances in sensor technology facilitate applications to individually track mussels and to record and monitor their behavior and physiology. These approaches require the attachment of sensor devices as “backpacks” to the outer shell surface. The interpretation of such data makes it necessary to understand the influence of these attachments on the horizontal and vertical movement behaviors of freshwater mussels. Over a series of mesocosm experiments, this study systematically investigated the effects of three size- and wiring-specific variants of artificially attached backpacks on the horizontal and vertical movement behavior of Anodonta anatina.
Results
Across all experiments, equipping mussels with backpacks did not result in a significant influence on horizontal movement for any of the backpack variants. In contrast to this finding, the big backpacks with a high ratio between backpack volume and mussel length resulted in a significantly negative effect on vertical movement, indicating a potential for adverse effects of such devices on mussels, especially in natural settings.
Conclusions
The findings of this study show that assessing the effects of attached devices on mussels requires a species-specific evaluation of potential impacts on the endpoints of interest. Especially for vertical movement patterns, selection of the smallest available devices appears mandatory.
期刊介绍:
ESEU is an international journal, focusing primarily on Europe, with a broad scope covering all aspects of environmental sciences, including the main topic regulation.
ESEU will discuss the entanglement between environmental sciences and regulation because, in recent years, there have been misunderstandings and even disagreement between stakeholders in these two areas. ESEU will help to improve the comprehension of issues between environmental sciences and regulation.
ESEU will be an outlet from the German-speaking (DACH) countries to Europe and an inlet from Europe to the DACH countries regarding environmental sciences and regulation.
Moreover, ESEU will facilitate the exchange of ideas and interaction between Europe and the DACH countries regarding environmental regulatory issues.
Although Europe is at the center of ESEU, the journal will not exclude the rest of the world, because regulatory issues pertaining to environmental sciences can be fully seen only from a global perspective.