Toward invasive mussel genetic biocontrol: Approaches, challenges, and perspectives

Víctor H Hernández Elizárraga; Scott Ballantyne; Lindsey G O'Brien; Juliana A Americo; Steven T Suhr; Marie-Claude Senut; Ben Minerich; Christopher M Merkes; Thea M Edwards; Katy Klymus; Catherine A Richter; Diane L Waller; Yale J Passamaneck; Mauro F Rebelo; Daryl M Gohl

doi:10.1016/j.isci.2023.108027

Toward invasive mussel genetic biocontrol: Approaches, challenges, and perspectives

iScience. 2023 Sep 28;26(10):108027. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108027. eCollection 2023 Oct 20.

Authors

Víctor H Hernández Elizárraga¹, Scott Ballantyne², Lindsey G O'Brien¹, Juliana A Americo³, Steven T Suhr⁴, Marie-Claude Senut⁴, Ben Minerich⁵, Christopher M Merkes⁶, Thea M Edwards⁷, Katy Klymus⁷, Catherine A Richter⁷, Diane L Waller⁶, Yale J Passamaneck⁸, Mauro F Rebelo⁹, Daryl M Gohl^{1

10}

Affiliations

¹ University of Minnesota Genomics Center, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
² Department of Biology, University of Wisconsin River Falls, River Falls, WI, USA.
³ Bio Bureau Biotecnologia, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
⁴ Biomilab LLC, Lansing, MI, USA.
⁵ Minnesota Zoo, Apple Valley, MN, USA.
⁶ U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, La Crosse, WI, USA.
⁷ U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Columbia, MO, USA.
⁸ Bureau of Reclamation, Technical Service Center, Hydraulic Investigations and Laboratory Services, Ecological Research Laboratory, Denver, CO, USA.
⁹ Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
¹⁰ Department of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.

Abstract

Invasive freshwater mussels, such as the zebra (Dreissena polymorpha), quagga (Dreissena rostriformis bugensis), and golden (Limnoperna fortunei) mussel have spread outside their native ranges throughout many regions of the North American, South American, and European continents in recent decades, damaging infrastructure and the environment. This review describes ongoing efforts by multiple groups to develop genetic biocontrol methods for invasive mussels. First, we provide an overview of genetic biocontrol strategies that have been applied in other invasive or pest species. Next, we summarize physical and chemical methods that are currently in use for invasive mussel control. We then describe the multidisciplinary approaches our groups are employing to develop genetic biocontrol tools for invasive mussels. Finally, we discuss the challenges and limitations of applying genetic biocontrol tools to invasive mussels. Collectively, we aim to openly share information and combine expertise to develop practical tools to enable the management of invasive freshwater mussels.

Keywords: Biological sciences; Ecology; Evolutionary biology.

Publication types

Review