Fish Futures scientists Calum MacNeil and Finnbar Lee, together with Rose Somerville analysed where the gold clam is most likely to thrive.
The gold clam (Corbicula fluminea) is a highly invasive freshwater mollusk that was first found in New Zealand in 2023. So far, it has only been spotted in the Waikato region, but there are serious concerns about it spreading throughout the country. It’s important to identify other areas where this species could thrive beyond Waikato due to its high potential for spreading.
To predict where C. fluminea might be suitable to live in New Zealand, they used a statistical model which was based on over 9,500 observations of the species from its native and invaded areas, along with seven climate, environmental, and habitat factors linked to its distribution.
The areas at the greatest risk are mainly in the North Island (Te Ika-a-Māui), particularly in northern Waikato, Auckland, Northland, Bay of Plenty, and Hawke’s Bay. In the South Island (Te Waipounamu), the most suitable habitats are in Marlborough, North Canterbury, and Christchurch. Their findings indicate there are many areas beyond Waikato that could be invaded. Therefore, it’s crucial to focus on containing and controlling existing C. fluminea populations, as eradicating them becomes much harder once they spread and establish new populations.