Reappearance of Eumarcia fumigata (G.B. Sowerby II, 1853) (Bivalvia: Veneridae) into the Swan River, Western Australia

ABSTRACT

The venerid bivalve Eumarcia fumigata was a common species in Western Australia (WA) during the Pleistocene, where it was distributed as far north as Shark Bay. It became extinct in WA as the climate changed several thousand years ago but remains common in eastern Australia from southern Queensland to South Australia and Tasmania. The species has recently reappeared in the Swan River, probably due to shipping movements. Of the > 60 marine and estuarine species introduced into WA it is only the third confirmed introduction from eastern Australia, and the first that is a reappearance in the Swan River of a species present in the geological past. The present reappearance of E. fumigata, and the introduction of other species, has been made possible by the removal of a rocky bar at the mouth of the estuary and the creation of more marine conditions in the lower Swan estuary.

KEYWORDS:

• Climate change
• estuary
• introduced marine species
• marine pest
• Pleistocene

Acknowledgements

We thank Dr Lisa Kirkendale and Corey Whisson of WAM for access to the Recent and Dr Mikael Siversson for access to the fossil mollusc collections. Dr Robin Wilson, Dr Gary Poore and Chris Rowley of MV arranged access to the MV and the photographs of the MV specimens. We thank Dr M. Kosnik and Professor A. Davis for reviewing the article.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Fred E. Wells http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0730-6614