The distribution and abundance of the chinese mussel Anodonta woodiana (Lea, 1834) in the heated Konin lakes

Abstract

The Chinese mussel Anodonta woodiana was accidentally introduced into the heated Konin lakes system in the mid 1980’s. It inhabits the littoral of the five lakes of the complex, a preliminary cooling reservoir, and most of the discharge and inflow channels. It prefers habitats of an increased flow velocity and of rather high temperature. It has been found to be the dominant benthic species in most of the habitats. At times, its biomass exceeded 10 kg m^-2, and it numbered more than 40 individuals per m².