Mytella strigata

Invasion History

First Non-native North American Tidal Record: 1986
First Non-native West Coast Tidal Record:
First Non-native East/Gulf Coast Tidal Record: 1986

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General Invasion History:

Mytella charruana is native to the tropical Western Atlantic from Colon, Panama (Ruiz et al., unpublished data) to Argentina (Lee 2001; Boudreaux and Walter 2006; Gillis et al. 2009). This mussel is also reportedly present in the tropical East Pacific, from Sonora, California to Ecuador, and the Galapagos Islands. However, Ecuadoran specimens were genetically distinct from Colombian (Caribbean Sea) or southeast US specimens, and showed no genetic overlap at the examined DNA sites (Gillis et al. 2009). Pacific M. charruana could represent a distinct cryptic species from the Atlantic form.

North American Invasion History:

Invasion History on the East Coast:

In 1986, a heavy infestation of small mussels, later identified as Mytella charruana clogged the intakes of the Blount Island electrical generating plant in Jacksonville, Florida (FL). The mussels disappeared in the winter of 1987, but reappeared in the St. Johns estuary in 2006 (Lee 2008). In 2006 and 2007, they were found in small numbers, and in 2008, they again clogged the Blount Island Power plant (Lee 2008). It is not clear whether small, undetected populations persisted after the die-off, or whether the initial population was completely extirpated, and one or more subsequent invasions occurred. Genetic studies have found high genetic diversity, exceeding that in native Colombian populations (Gillis et al. 2009). In 2004, Mytella charruana was discovered in Mosquito Lagoon, FL part of the Indian River Lagoon system (Boudreau and Walters 2006). After 2006, they were found along the coast north to South Carolina, and appear to be established from central Florida to the central Georgia coast (Lee 2008; USGS Nonindigenous Species Program 2008; Gillis et al. 2009; Spinuzzi et al. 2012). Sporadic records have occurred north to Charleston, South Carolina (Pam Fuller, USGS, personal communication). However, severe winter weather in 2010 and 2011 has affected the abundance of other warm-water invaders in the region (Perna viridis, Green Mussel; Petrolisthes armatus, Green Porcelain Crab; Canning-Clode and Fowler, unpublished data), and has also reduced the range or abundance of M. charruana (Spinuzzi et al. 2012).

Invasion History Elsewhere in the World:

In 2014, Mytella charruana was genetically identified in the port of Manila, Philippines, and found to be established in Manila Bay (Vallejo et al. 2017).

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Description

Mytella strigata is small, thin-shelled, and lacks exterior ribs on its shell surface. On the interior of the shell the byssal retractor scar is nearly circular, and located further from the back than the more elongated, irregular scar in Mytilus edulis. The outside of the shell is light-green to black, and may be uniform or banded in a crisscross pattern. The internal surface of the shell is purple. The largest reported specimen of M. strigata is 48.7 mm, but a more typical size is 20-25 mm. (Description from: Lee 2001; Boudreaux and Walters 2006; Stenyakina et al. 2010)

Ecuadoran populations were genetically distinct, and did not overlap with Colombian (Caribbean) or introduced Florida and Georgia populations. Specimens of M. strigata were also genetically distinct from specimens of Mytella guyanensis from Brazil (Gillis et al. 2009).

This mussel was widely known under the name M. charruensis (d'Orbigny, 1846). Lim et al. (2018) and other recent authors (Sampanich and Wells 2019) and Tay et al. (2019) use the name Mytella strigata for this mussel, based on a detailed examination of 19th century publication dates (Lim et al. 2018). The World Registry of Marine Species now uses uses M. charruana (Appeltans et al. 2019).

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Taxonomy

Ecology

General:

Mytella strigata maintains separate sexes under conditions of steady food supply, but starvation results in a change of many individuals from female to male (Stenyakina et al. 2010). Eggs and sperm are released into the water. Development is planktotrophic with eggs developing into planktotrophic larvae and veligers, settling after about 14days at 29 C (Tan et al. 2018).

Mytella strigata is especially common in estuarine and lagoon environments. In Brazil, it is known from mangrove, mudflat, and rocky habitats (de Oliveira et al. 2005). In its introduced range, in the southeast US, it has been found on oyster beds, disarticulated shells, wood, roots, etc., but adult mussels were more common on artificial substrates, such as docks and power plants (Gilg et al. 2010; Lee 2001-2011). This mussel tolerates a wide range of salinities from 2 to 40 PSU (Yuan et al. 2010), but tolerance of low temperatures is limited. N the St. Johns River estuary, Florida, M. charruana was found at sites with average salinities ranging from 13 to 33 PSU, and highest densities at a mean salinity of 21 PSU). The upper temperature limit is at least 31?C, and likely to be higher (Brodsky et al. 2009- http://www.sicb.org/meetings/2009/schedule/abstractdetails.php3?id=413). I

Food:

Phytoplankton, detritus

Trophic Status:

Suspension Feeder

SusFed

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Habitats

General Habitat	Coarse Woody Debris	None
General Habitat	Mangroves	None
General Habitat	Marinas & Docks	None
General Habitat	Rocky	None
General Habitat	Unstructured Bottom	None
Salinity Range	Mesohaline	5-18 PSU
Salinity Range	Polyhaline	18-30 PSU
Salinity Range	Euhaline	30-40 PSU
Tidal Range	Subtidal	None
Tidal Range	Low Intertidal	None
Vertical Habitat	Epibenthic	None

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Life History

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Tolerances and Life History Parameters

None	4.9	Maximum size at maturity (12.5 mm, Stenyakina et al. 2010)
Minimum Temperature (ºC)	6	Experimental data, stepwise transfers (Brodsky et al. 2009) http://www.sicb.org/meetings/2009/schedule/abstractdetails.php3?id=413
Maximum Temperature (ºC)	31	Experimental data, stepwise transfers (Brodsky et al. 2009) http://www.sicb.org/meetings/2009/schedule/abstractdetails.php3?id=413
Minimum Salinity (‰)	2	Experimental data, Yuan et al. 2010
Maximum Salinity (‰)	40	Experimental data, Yuan et al. 2010
Maximum Duration	14	Larval duration, 29 C (Tay et al. 2018)
Minimum Length (mm)	4.9	Stenyakina et al. 2010
Maximum Length (mm)	12.5	Minimum size at maturity (12.5 mm, Stenyakina et al. 2010)
Broad Temperature Range	None	Warm temperate-Tropical
Broad Salinity Range	None	Mesohaline-Euhaline

General Impacts

In its introduced range in the southeastern US, Mytella charruana has shown a preference for settlement on natural substrates, such as disarticulated shells, wood, roots, etc., but survival was much greater on artificial substrates, such as docks and power plants (Gilg et al. 2010; Lee 2001-2011). Consequently, strong ecological impacts have not been reported in natural environments. This mussel is a local food resource in Brazil (de Oliveira et al. 2005), but is too small and rare to be utilized in the US.

In Thailand, extensive invasion by Mytilopsis sallei and Mytlella strigata (Charru Mussel) has coiverted soft-bottom lagoon communities to hard-bottom systems, resulting in the appearance and spread of some species requiring hard substrate, and the disappearance of others.  However, overall changes in species richness were not seen (Wangkulangkul et al. 2022).

Economic Impacts

Industry- Heavy settlements of M. charruana in 1986 clogged the intakes of the Blount Island electrical generating plant in Jacksonville, Florida. The mussels disappeared in the winter of 1987, but reappeared in the St. Johns estuary in 2006 (Lee 2008), and in 2008 they again clogged the Blount Island Power plant (Lee 2008).

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Regional Impacts

S180	St. Johns River		Economic Impact	Industry
In 1986, a heavy infestation of Mytella strigata clogged the intakes of the Blount Island electrical generating plant. The mussels disappeared in the winter of 1987, and did not reappear in the St. Johns estuary until 2006 (Lee 2008). In 2006 and 2007, they were found in small numbers, but in 2008, they again clogged the Blount Island Power plant (Lee 2008).
CAR-VII	Cape Hatteras to Mid-East Florida		Economic Impact	Industry
In 1986, a heavy infestation of Mytella strigata clogged the intakes of the Blount Island electrical generating plant, in Jacksonville, Florida. The mussels disappeared in the winter of 1987, and did not reappear in the St. Johns estuary until 2006 (Lee 2008). In 2006 and 2007, they were found in small numbers, but in 2008, they again clogged the Blount Island Power plant (Lee 2008).
S190	Indian River		Ecological Impact	Competition
In experiments in Mosquito Lagoon, Florida, Mytella charruana, on fouling plates, did not affect the settlement of larvae of Eastern Oyster (Crassostrea virginica), but did reduce growth of oyster spat (Yuan et al. 2016). Feeding experiments show an overlap between M. charruana and the native oysters, and also a higher clearance rate for the mussels (Galimany et al. 2016).
CAR-I	Northern Yucatan, Gulf of Mexico, Florida Straits, to Middle Eastern Florida		Ecological Impact	Competition
In experiments in Mosquito Lagoon, Florida, Mytella strigata, on fouling plates, did not affect the settlement of larvae of Eastern Oyster (Crassostrea virginica), but did reduce growth of oyster spat (Yuan et al. 2016). Feeding experiments show an overlap between M. strigataa and the native oysters, and also a higher clearance rate for the mussels (Galimany et al. 2016).
EAS-I	None		Economic Impact	Fisheries
Negative impacts on commerical mussel culture of Perna perna, but a resource for local, informal shellfish gathering and aquaculturie (Fuertes et al. 2021).
EAS-I	None		Ecological Impact	Habitat Change
In Thailand, extensive invasion by Mytilopsis sallei and Mytlella strigata (Charru Mussel) has coiverted soft-bottom lagoon communities to hard-bottom systems, resulting in the appearance and spread of some species requiring hard substrate, and the disappearance of others.  However, overall changes in species richness were not seen (Wangkulangkul et al. 2022)
FL	Florida		Ecological Impact	Competition
In experiments in Mosquito Lagoon, Florida, Mytella charruana, on fouling plates, did not affect the settlement of larvae of Eastern Oyster (Crassostrea virginica), but did reduce growth of oyster spat (Yuan et al. 2016). Feeding experiments show an overlap between M. charruana and the native oysters, and also a higher clearance rate for the mussels (Galimany et al. 2016).
FL	Florida		Economic Impact	Industry
In 1986, a heavy infestation of Mytella strigata clogged the intakes of the Blount Island electrical generating plant. The mussels disappeared in the winter of 1987, and did not reappear in the St. Johns estuary until 2006 (Lee 2008). In 2006 and 2007, they were found in small numbers, but in 2008, they again clogged the Blount Island Power plant (Lee 2008).

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