First record of the freshwater snail Pseudosuccinea columella (Gastropoda: Lymnaeidae) in Southern Pampas (Argentina) and assessment of future spread

MARTÍN, PABLO RAFAEL; OVANDO, XIMENA MARÍA CONSTANZA; SEUFFERT, MARÍA EMILIA

MOLLUSCAN RESEARCH

MAGNOLIA PRESS

Lugar: Auckland; Año: 2016 vol. 36 p. 213 - 221

1323-5818

The freshwater snail Pseudosuccinea columella was recorded for the first time in Argentina more than 60 years ago. Since then its distribution in the wild has been restricted to the Northeastern provinces. Here we record the presence of P. columella in Southern Pampas for the first time, thus extending its distribution more than 500 km southwards. The climatic suitability of this and other areas of South America for its establishment and spread was analyzed using habitat modelling software. Hitherto its spread within and between watercourses in Southern Pampas has been very limited, probably due to a combination of low climatic suitability, recent introduction and low connectivity of the drainage basins. The suitability of other areas where it has been recently recorded indicates a moderate risk of further spread in Central and Northwestern Argentina and in coastal areas of the Pacific rim of South America (Southern Perú and Northern Chile). The recent spread of P. columella in the wild in Argentina may be due to an increase in aquarium-plants trade or to the evolution of a new lineage with different ecological capabilities.