Population dynamics of Brachidontes darwinianus (Mytilidae) occurring in sympatry with the invasive Mytilopsis leucophaeata (Dreissenidae) in a coastal lagoon (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil).

The native bivalve Brachidontes darwinianus occurs in sympatry with the invasive bivalve Mytilopsis leucophaeata in Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, an urban coastal lagoon located in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Both species are found in hard substrates and form clusters around the lagoon. This study aimed to evaluate the population aspects, such as growth and mortality rates, of the native bivalve B.