Predicting the distribution of the invasive charru mussel (Mytella strigata) in estuarine environments
Guirhem-Helican, G.L.; Moleño, J.R.N.; Palmos, I.M.M.; Monteclaro, H.M. (2026). Predicting the distribution of the invasive charru mussel (Mytella strigata) in estuarine environments. Est., Coast. and Shelf Sci. 330: 109706. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2026.109706
In: Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. Academic Press: London; New York. ISSN 0272-7714; e-ISSN 1096-0015, more
|  |
| Keyword |
Mytella strigata (Hanley, 1843) [WoRMS]
|
| Author keywords |
Species distribution modeling; Bioinvasion ecology; GAM; Habitat suitability; Invasive species management; Coastal management |
| Authors | | Top |
- Guirhem-Helican, G.L.
- Moleño, J.R.N.
- Palmos, I.M.M.
- Monteclaro, H.M.
|
|
|
| Abstract |
Invasive species such as the charru mussel Mytella strigata pose threats to tropical estuarine ecosystems and undermine the livelihood of shellfish farmers, yet predictive distribution models for this species remain scarce. Understanding the environmental factors that influence the occurrence of the charru mussel is imperative to understand its current and potential distribution. In this study, we used the generalized additive model (GAM) to analyze the spatio-temporal distributions of the charru mussel occurrence and the associated environmental conditions in Batan Bay Estuary in Aklan, Philippines from June 2023 to May 2024. The model shows higher probability of occurrence in areas with increasing temperature (peaking at 30–34 °C), brackishwater salinity (5–15 ppt), intermediate percent organic matter (15–20 %), and shallow depth (0.4–6 m). Overall, the model explains 59.1 % of the total deviance, with percent organic matter exerting the highest influence at 37.10 %, consistent with the species filter-feeding mechanism. Within the Batan Bay, areas such as the waters off New Washington town, inner waters of Batan town, and Tinagong Dagat were identified to have consistently highest probabilities of charru mussel occurrence year-round. These sites also have very low tidal actions resulting in more stable water conditions that facilitate feeding and substrate attachment. This study provides the first fine-scale, field-based GAM model of charru mussel habitat suitability in a tropical estuary. These findings provide a baseline for predictive monitoring towards the development of management strategies for the mitigation of the species’ invasions in tropical estuaries. |
|
