Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t7fkt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-30T23:57:38.876Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Introduction, dispersal and naturalization of the Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum in British estuaries, 1980–2010

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 March 2015

John Humphreys*
Affiliation:
Institute of Marine Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Ferry Road, Southsea, Portsmouth PO4 9LY, UK
Matthew R. C. Harris
Affiliation:
Institute of Marine Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Ferry Road, Southsea, Portsmouth PO4 9LY, UK
Roger J. H. Herbert
Affiliation:
Faculty of Science & Technology, Bournemouth University, Talbot Campus, Fern Barrow, Poole BH12 5BB, UK
Paul Farrell
Affiliation:
Institute of Marine Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Ferry Road, Southsea, Portsmouth PO4 9LY, UK
Antony Jensen
Affiliation:
Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, National Oceanography Centre, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK
Simon M. Cragg
Affiliation:
Institute of Marine Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Ferry Road, Southsea, Portsmouth PO4 9LY, UK
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: J. Humphreys, Institute of Marine Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Ferry Road, Southsea, Portsmouth PO4 9LY, UK email: [email protected]

Abstract

The introduction of the Manila clam into British coastal waters in the 1980s was contested by conservation agencies. While recognizing the value of the clam for aquaculture, the government decided that it posed no invasive risk, as British sea temperatures would prevent naturalization. This proved incorrect. Here we establish the pattern of introduction and spread of the species over the first 30 years of its presence in Britain. We report archival research on the sequence of licensed introductions and examine their relationship in time and space to the appearance of wild populations as revealed in the literature and by field surveys. By 2010 the species had naturalized in at least 11 estuaries in southern England. These included estuaries with no history of licensed introduction. In these cases activities such as storage of catch before market or deliberate unlicensed introduction represent the probable mechanisms of dispersal. In any event naturalization is not an inevitable consequence of introduction and the chances of establishment over the period in question were finely balanced. Consequently in Britain the species is not currently aggressively invasive and appears not to present significant risk to indigenous diversity or ecosystem function. However it is likely to gradually continue its spread should sea surface temperatures rise as predicted.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2015 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Beukema, J.J. and Dekker, R. (2014) Variability in predator abundance links winter temperatures and bivalve recruitment: correlative evidence from long term data in a tidal flat. Marine Ecology Progress Series 513, 115.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bidegain, G. and Juanes, J.A. (2013) Does expansion of the introduced Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum cause competitive displacement of the European native clam Ruditapes decussatus? Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 445, 4452.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Boesch, D.F., Wass, M.L. and Virnstein, R.W. (1976) The dynamics of estuarine benthic communities. In Wiley, M. (ed.) Estuarine processes. Volume 1. London: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Breber, P. (2002) Introduction and acclimatisation of the Pacific carpet clam Tapes philippinarum, to Italian waters. In Leppakoski, E., Gollasch, S. and Olenin, S. (eds) Invasive aquatic species of Europe. Distribution, impacts and management. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic, pp. 120126.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bryan, A. (1919) A Hawaiian form of Tapes philippinarum. Nautilus 32, 124125.Google Scholar
Caldow, R.W.G., McGrorty, S., West, A.D., Durell, S.E.A.leV.dit, Stillman, R.A. and Anderson, S. (2005) Macro-invertebrate fauna in the intertidal mudflats. In Humphreys, J. and May, V. (eds) The ecology of Poole Harbour. Amsterdam: Elsevier, pp. 91108.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Caldow, W.G., Stillman, R.A., Durell, S.E.A.leV.dit, West, A.D., McGrorty, S., Goss-Custard, J.D., Wood, P.J. and Humphreys, J. (2007) Benefits to shorebirds from invasion of a non-native shellfish. Proceedings of the Royal Society Series B 274, 14491455.Google ScholarPubMed
Cefas (2010). Record of sites holding Manila clams. Weymouth: Cefas Fish Health Inspectorate.Google Scholar
Clout, M.N. and Williams, P.A. (eds) (2009) Invasive species management: a handbook of principles and techniques. Oxford: Oxford University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Colautti, R.I., Grigorovich, I.A. and MacIssac, H.J. (2006) Propagule pressure: a null model for invasions. Biological Invasions 8, 10231037.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Davidson, N.C., d'A Laffoley, D., Doody, J.P., Way, L.S., Gordon, J., Key, R., Pienkowski, M.W., Mitchell, R. and Duff, K.L. (1991) Nature conservation and estuaries in Great Britain. Peterborough: Nature Conservancy Council.Google Scholar
Dit Durell, S.E.A.leV., Stillman, R.A., Caldow, R.W.G., McGrorty, S., West, A.D. and Humphreys, J. (2006) Modelling the effect of environmental change on shorebirds: a case study on Poole Harbour, UK. Biological Conservation 131, 459473.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Emu (2007) Chichester Harbour survey of invertebrate fauna for the assessment of bird prey value. Report 06/j/1/03/0995/0652 for Chichester Harbour Conservancy, West Sussex.Google Scholar
Flassch, J. P. and Leborgne, Y. (1992) Introduction in Europe from 1972 to 1980 of the Japanese Manila clam (Tapes philippinarum) and the effects on aquaculture production and natural settlement. ICES Marine Symposium 194, 9296.Google Scholar
Gosling, E. (2003) Bivalve molluscs: biology, ecology and culture. Oxford: Blackwell Science.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Grice, T. (2009) Principles of containment and control of invasive species. In Clout, M.N. and Williams, P.A. (eds) Invasive species management: a handbook of principles and techniques. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 6176.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hansard (1985) Fish farming: alien species. House of Lords. Hansard 466, 315318.Google Scholar
Herbert, R.J.H. (2009) Isle of Wight marine biological reports for 2007 and 2008. Proceedings of the Isle of Wight Natural History and Archaeological Society 24, 6775.Google Scholar
Herbert, R.J.H., Ross, K., Hübner, R. and Stillman, R. (2010) Intertidal invertebrates and biotopes of Poole Harbour SSSI. Report to Natural England. Bournemouth: Bournemouth University.Google Scholar
Herbert, R.J.H., Willis, J., Jones, E., Ross, K., Huebner, R., Humphreys, J., Jensen, A. and Baugh, J. (2012) Invasion in tidal zones on complex coastlines: modeling larvae of the non-native Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum in the UK. Journal of Biogeography 39, 585599.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hiscock, K. (ed.) (1996) Marine nature conservation review: rationale and methods. (Coasts and Seas of the United Kingdom, MNCR series). Peterborough: Joint Nature Conservation Committee.Google Scholar
Humphreys, J. (2005) Salinity and tides in Poole Harbour: estuary or lagoon? In Humphreys, J. and May, V. (eds) The ecology of Poole Harbour. Amsterdam: Elsevier, pp. 3548.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Humphreys, J. (2010) The introduction of the Manila clam to British coastal waters. Biologist 57, 134138.Google Scholar
Humphreys, J. and May, V. (eds) (2005) The ecology of Poole Harbour. Amsterdam: Elsevier.Google Scholar
Humphreys, J., Caldow, R.W.G., McGrorty, S., West, A.D. and Jenson, A.C. (2007). Population dynamics of naturalised Manila clams in British coastal waters. Marine Biology 151, 22552270.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Humphreys, J., Herbert, R.J.H., Roberts, C. and Fletcher, S. (2014) A reappraisal of the history and economics of the Pacific oyster in Britain. Aquaculture 428, 117124.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Humphreys, J., Ningsheg, Y., Quyang, H. and Yan, C. (2011) Ruditapes philippinarum (Japanese carpet shell). Invasive Species Compendium. Wallingford: CAB International (http://www.cabi.org/isc).Google Scholar
IFREMER (1988) La Palourde: Dossier d’élevage. France: IFREMER.Google Scholar
Jensen, A., Humphreys, J., Caldow, R. and Cesar, C. (2005a) The Manila clam in Poole Harbour. In Humphreys, J. and May, V. (eds) The ecology of Poole Harbour. Amsterdam: Elsevier, pp. 163173.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jensen, A., Carrier, I. and Richardson, N. (2005b) Marine fisheries of Poole Harbour. In Humphreys, J. and May, V. (eds) The ecology of Poole Harbour. Amsterdam: Elsevier, pp. 195204.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jensen, A.C., Humphreys, J., Caldow, R.W.G., Grisley, C. and Dyrynda, P.E.J. (2004) Naturalisation of the Manila clam (Tapes philippinarum), an alien species, and establishment of a clam fishery within Poole Harbour, Dorset. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 84, 10691073.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
JNCC Archive. Wildlife Introductions- Mercenaria (Manila clam). File C10 16 08 (part 3). Joint Nature Conservation Committee.Google Scholar
Juanes, J.A., Bidegain, G., Echavarri-Erasun, B., Puente, A., García, A., García, A., Bárcena, J.F., Álvarez, C. and García-Castillo, G. (2012) Differential distribution pattern of native Ruditapes decussatus and introduced Ruditapes phillippinarum clam populations in the Bay of Santander (Gulf of Biscay): Considerations for fisheries management. Ocean & Coastal Management 69, 316326.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kaiser, M.J., Attrill, M.J., Jennings, S., Thomas, D.N., Barnes, D.K.A., Brierley, A.S., Polunin, N.V.C., Raffaelli, D.G. and Williams, P.J.le, B. (2005) Marine ecology: processes, systems and impacts. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Lake, N.C.H. (1992) Assessment of the potential for Manila clam (Tapes philippinarum) cultivation on the Scottish west coast. Ardtoe: Sea Fish Industry Authority Report, 400 pp.Google Scholar
Lin, B.S., Wu, T.M. and Huang, B.Z. (1983) The effects of temperature and salinity on the growth and development of the spats of the clam R. philippinarum. Journal of Fisheries, China 7, 1523.Google Scholar
Lockwood, L.J., Cassey, P. and Blackburn, T. (2005) The role of propagule pressure in explaining species invasions. Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 20, 223228.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Magoon, C. and Vining, R. (1981) Introduction to shellfish aquaculture. Seattle, WA: Department of Natural Resources.Google Scholar
MAFF (1987) Letter from B.E. Spencer to M.A. Vincent. NCC, 2 February 1987.Google Scholar
Maynard, G. and Nowell, D. (2009) Biosecurity and quarantine for preventing invasive species. In Clout, M.N. and Williams, P.A. (eds) Invasive species management: a handbook of principles and techniques. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 118.Google Scholar
Mclusky, D.S. and Elliot, M. (2004) The estuarine ecosystem: ecology, threats and management. Oxford: Oxford University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McTaggart, K.A., Tipple, J.R., Sherlock, M., Cogan, S.M., Joyce, A.E. and Clyne, F.J. (2004) Radiological habits. Survey: Winfrith, 2003. Projects C1659, RB103 and C1666. RL02/04. Lowestoft: Cefas.Google Scholar
Miller, A.W., Ruiz, G.M., Minton, M.S., and Ambrose, R.F. (2007) Differentiating successful and failed molluscan invaders in estuarine ecosystems. Marine Ecology Progress Series 332, 4151.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Millican, P.F. and Williams, D.R. (1985) The seasonal variations in the level of meat content, lipid and carbohydrate in Mercenaria mercenaria L. and Tapes semidecussata Reeve grown in fertilised and unfertilised water. CM 1985 K5110. Copenhagen: International Council for the Exploration of the Sea.Google Scholar
Mitchell, R. (1974) Aspects of the ecology of the lamellibranch Mercenaria mercenaria (L.) in British waters. Hybrobiological Bulletin, 8, 124138.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
UKCPO9. United Kingdom Climate Projections. http://ukclimateprojections.metoffice.gov.uk/Google Scholar
Quayle, D.B. (1949) Movements in Venerupis (Paphia) pullastra (Montagu). Proceedings of the Malacological Society of London 28, 3137.Google Scholar
Short, H. (2010) Population characteristics of Tapes decussatus in The Fleet, Weymouth. B.Sc. Undergraduate dissertation, School of Applied Sciences, Bournemouth University.Google Scholar
Spencer, B.E. (2002) Molluscan shellfish farming. Oxford: Blackwell Science.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Spencer, B.E., Edwards, D.B. and Millican, P.F. (1991) Cultivation of Manila clams. Laboratory leaflet No 65. Lowestoft: MAFF Directorate of Fisheries Research.Google Scholar
Williamson, M. (1996) Biological invasions. London: Chapman and Hall.Google Scholar
Wimbledon, T. (2003) Manila clams in Britain. Mollusc World 2, 1216.Google Scholar
WoRMS (2014) World register of marine species. http://www.marinespecies.org.Google Scholar
Yap, W.G. (1977) Population biology of the Japanese little-neck clam, Tapes philippinarum in Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, Hawaiian Islands. Pacific Science 31, 223244.Google Scholar