Asian clams: Change salinity of the water

Overall effectiveness category Beneficial
Number of studies: 1
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How is the evidence assessed?

Effectiveness

65%
Certainty

68%
Harms

not assessed

Calculating overall effectiveness category

Background information and definitions

Elevated levels of salt in the water can cause osmotic stress in Asian clams Corbicula spp., leading to mortality. Increasing the salinity of a waterbody to a very high level is likely to have significant effects on non-target species.

Study locations

Key messages

A controlled, replicated laboratory study conducted in the USA found that Asian clams were killed (100% mortality) when exposed to high salinities (18-34‰).

About key messages

Key messages provide a descriptive index to studies we have found that test this intervention.

Studies are not directly comparable or of equal value. When making decisions based on this evidence, you should consider factors such as study size, study design, reported metrics and relevance of the study to your situation, rather than simply counting the number of studies that support a particular interpretation.

Supporting evidence from individual studies

A controlled, replicated laboratory study conducted in 1978 on specimens from a stream in Florida, USA (Gainey, 1978) found that placing Asian clams Corbicula spp. in high salinity water resulted in 100% mortality. Clams survived in salinities of up to 10% for two months. Salinities between 18 and 34% led to 100% mortality within 10 days. Clams were transferred from a stream to 10 x 6 litre tanks containing stream water to acclimate. Ten clams were placed in each treatment tank. Following initial acclimation, the clams were placed in salinities from 0.5-40 parts per thousand. Valve movements were recorded and survival checked daily. Salinity levels were considered lethal if mortality was observed in at least 50% of the clams.
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Gainey L.F. (1978) The response of the Corbiculidae (Mollusca: Bivalvia) to osmotic stress: the organismal response. Physiological Zoology, 51, 68-78.

Please cite as:

Aldridge, D., Ockendon, N., Rocha, R., Smith, R.K. & Sutherland, W.J. (2020) Some Aspects of Control of Freshwater Invasive Species. Pages 555-87 in: W.J. Sutherland, L.V. Dicks, S.O. Petrovan & R.K. Smith (eds) What Works in Conservation 2020. Open Book Publishers, Cambridge, UK.

Where has this evidence come from?

List of journals searched by synopsis

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This Action forms part of the Action Synopsis:

Control of Freshwater Invasive Species

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Asian clams: Drain the invaded water body Action Link	No evidence found (no assessment)	0	Synopsis Link
Asian clams: Public awareness and education Action Link	No evidence found (no assessment)	0	Synopsis Link
Asian clams: Add chemicals to the water Action Link	Beneficial	3	Synopsis Link