RT journal article
T1 Response of Two Mytilids to a Heat Wave: the Complex Interplay of Physiology, Behaviour and Ecological Interactions
A1 Olabarria, Celia
A1 Gestoso García, Ignacio José
A1 Lima, Fernando
A1 Vázquez, Elsa
A1 Comeau, Luc
A1 Gomes, Filipa
A1 Seabra, Rui
A1 Babarro, Jose
A2 Biología
AB Different combinations of behavioural and physiological responses may play a crucial role in the ecological success of species, notably in the context of biological invasions. The invasive mussel Xenostrobus securis has successfully colonised the inner part of the Galician Rias Baixas (NW Spain), where it co-occurs with the commercially-important mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis. This study investigated the effect of a heatwave on the physiological and behavioural responses in monospecific or mixed aggregations of these species. In a mesocosm experiment, mussels were exposed to simulated tidal cycles and similar temperature conditions to those experienced in the field during a heat-wave that occurred in the summer of 2013, when field robo-mussels registered temperatures up to 44.5°C at low tide. The overall responses to stress differed markedly between the two species. In monospecific aggregations M. galloprovincialis was more vulnerable than X. securis to heat exposure during emersion. However, in mixed aggregations, the presence of the invader was associated with lower mortality in M. galloprovincialis. The greater sensitivity of M. galloprovincialis to heat exposure was reflected in a higher mortality level, greater induction of Hsp70 protein and higher rates of respiration and gaping activity, which were accompanied by a lower heart rate (bradycardia). The findings show that the invader enhanced the physiological performance of M. galloprovincialis, highlighting the importance of species interactions in regulating responses to environmental stress. Understanding the complex interactions between ecological factors and physiological and behavioural responses of closely-related species is essential for predicting the impacts of invasions in the context of future climate change.
PB Plos One
SN 1932-6203
YR 2016
FD 2016
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10498/34933
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10498/34933
LA eng
DS Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Cádiz
RD 15-nov-2026