Invasão do Mexilhão Dourado, Limnoperna fortunei (Dunker, 1857): impactos, métodos de controle e estratégias de gestão adotadas

Abstract

The invasive mussel Limnoperna fortunei, popularly known as the golden mussel originates from China and arrived in South America along with the ballast water of cargo ships from Southeast Asia. This literature review aims to address the invasion of golden mussel species characteristics, ecological and economic impacts and management measures adopted for its control. It was found that characteristics such as early sexual maturity, high fecundity, high environmental tolerance, lack of predators and parasites, made this species an accomplished attacker. In industrial systems the economic losses caused by Limnoperna fortunei are from a scale in pipes, causing clogs basically, occlusion of pumps and filters, and the hydropower sector the most affected. To mitigate the damage caused by the golden mussel control methods that can be divided into three groups were presented: physical methods, chemical methods and biological methods. The major problem of existing methods and discussed in this review should not to be specific to the golden mussel, is also effective in other organisms in the aquatic ecosystem. In this context, it appears that strategies for the management and adoption of preventive and control measures would be preferable in environmental and economic terms.