Established but not spreading: the tropical invasive snail Melanoides tuberculata in a geothermally warmed channel in temperate Southern Pampas (Argentina)

SEUFFERT, M E; TAMBURI N.; SAVEANU L.; MALDONADO, M; MANARA, E; GUROVICH F. M.; TIECHER M.J; BURELA S.; MARTIN P.R.

ANAIS DA ACADEMIA BRASILEIRA DE CIENCIAS.

ACAD BRASILEIRA DE CIENCIAS

Lugar: Rio de Janeiro; Año: 2021

0001-3765

For Review OnlyEstablished but not spreading: the tropical invasive snailMelanoides tuberculata in a geothermally warmed channelin temperate Southern PampasJournal: Anais da Academia Brasileira de CiênciasManuscript ID AABC-2021-0516.R1Manuscript Type: Original ArticleDate Submitted by theAuthor: 28-May-2021Complete List of Authors: Seuffert, María Emilia; GECEMAC (Grupo de Ecología Comportamiento yEvolución de Moluscos de Aguas Continentales); Universidad Nacional delSur, Departamento de Biología, BioquímicaTamburi, Nicolás ; GECEMAC (Grupo de Ecología Comportamiento yEvolución de Moluscos de Aguas Continentales); Universidad Nacional delSur, Departamento de MatemáticaSaveanu, Lucía; GECEMAC (Grupo de Ecología Comportamiento yEvolución de Moluscos de Aguas Continentales); Universidad Nacional delSur, Departamento de MatemáticaMaldonado, Mara Anahí; GECEMAC (Grupo de Ecología Comportamientoy Evolución de Moluscos de Aguas Continentales)Manara, Enzo; GECEMAC (Grupo de Ecología Comportamiento yEvolución de Moluscos de Aguas Continentales)Gurovich, Fernanda ; GECEMAC (Grupo de Ecología Comportamiento yEvolución de Moluscos de Aguas Continentales)Tiecher, María; CONICET Bahía Blanca, GECEMAC (Grupo de EcologíaComportamiento y Evolución de Moluscos de Aguas Continentales)Burela, Silvana; Universidad Nacional del Sur Departamento de BiologiaBioquimica y Farmacia, Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia; CONICET BahiaBlanca, GECEMAC (Grupo de Ecología Comportamiento y Evolución deMoluscos de Aguas Continentales)Martín, Pablo; Universidad Nacional del Sur Departamento de BiologiaBioquimica y Farmacia, Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia; CONICET BahiaBlanca,Keyword: Thiaridae, Distribution models, MaxEnt, Geometric morphometrics,AllometryClassifications: Biomedical Scienceshttps://mc04.manuscriptcentral.com/aabc-scieloAnais da Academia Brasileira de CiênciasEstablished but not spreading: the tropical invasive snail Melanoides tuberculatain a geothermally warmed channel in temperate Southern PampasSeuffert, María Emilia1,2, Tamburi, Nicolás Eduardo1,3, Saveanu, Lucía1,3, Maldonado,Mara Anahí1, Manara, Enzo1, Gurovich, Fernanda Mariel1, Tiecher, María José1,Burela, Silvana1,2, Martín, Pablo Rafael1,2*.1 GECEMAC (Grupo de Ecología, Comportamiento y Evolución de Moluscos deAguas Continentales), INBIOSUR (UNS-CONICET), San Juan 671, (8000) BahíaBlanca, Argentina.2 Laboratorio de Ecología, Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia,Universidad Nacional del Sur, San Juan 670, (8000) Bahía Blanca, Argentina.3 Departamento de Matemática, Universidad Nacional del Sur. Av. Alem 1253, (8000)Bahía Blanca, Argentina.MES: 0000-0002-7637-3626; NET: 0000-0002-5644-9478; LS: 0000-0001-6408-4571;MAM: 0000-0002-1066-4703; EM: 0000-0001-9939-6807; FGM: 0000-0003-3562-5978; MJT: 0000-0002-7354-520X; SB: 0000-0002-0695-8477; PRM: 0000-0002-2987-7901Key Words: Thiaridae, Distribution models, MaxEnt, Geometric morphometrics,allometry.Running title: A tropical snail in temperate Southern PampasBIOLOGICAL SCIENCES*Pablo R. Martín, Laboratorio de Ecología, Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica yFarmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur, San Juan 670, (8000) Bahía Blanca,Argentina, pablorafaelmartin@gmail.comABSTRACTMelanoides tuberculata is a freshwater snail native to Old World tropical areas but hasinvaded tropical and subtropical regions around the world. In Argentina, populationsestablished in natural environments were reported from northeastern tropical provinces.Here we report for the first time the presence of M. tuberculata in a geothermally warmedchannel in temperate Southern Pampas. We mapped its distribution in the channel, searchedfor its presence in five nearby basins, estimated the risk of establishment and expansion inArgentina with distribution models and analyzed shape variation through geometricmorphometrics. Melanoides tuberculata was recorded exclusively in the channel in siteswith temperatures between 20 and 40ºC, with almost no overlap with other snails. Noevidence of M. tuberculata was found in nearby basins. The distribution model predictedthat only northernmost areas from Argentina are suitable for this species, where it couldimpact snail communities and food webs if introduction through the aquarium trade is notprevented. The absence of males indicates parthenogenetic reproduction and probably arecent invasion. Shell shape variation in this population, 15 % of which is attributable toallometry, encompasses the shapes of specimens from other South American populations,suggesting that all belong to the same lineage.