Trophic niche overlap between native freshwater mussels (Order: Unionida) and the invasive <scp> <i>Corbicula fluminea</i> </scp>

Freshwater mussels (Order Unionida) are highly threatened. Interspecific competition for food sources with invasive alien species is considered to be one of the factors responsible their decline because successful invaders expected have wider trophic niches and more flexible feeding strategies than native counterparts. In this study, carbon (?13C: 13C/12C) nitrogen (?15N: 15N/14N) stable isotopes were used investigate niche overlap between freshwater mussel species, Anodonta anatina, Potomida littoralis, Unio delphinus, bivalve Corbicula fluminea living in sympatry Tua basin (south-west Europe). The presenting widest C. A. which indicate that they broader diets U. delphinus P. littoralis. Nonetheless, all assimilated microphytobenthos, sediment organic matter, detritus derived from vascular plants, although interspecific variability proportions each source. overlapped extent varying sites according species. From three analysed, littoralis may at a higher risk basin, if become limited, presented narrowest across highest probability overlapping fluminea. Given global widespread distribution fluminea, implementation management measures devoted control or even eradication should conservation priority given its potential threatened mussels.