Invading bivalves in South America: analysis of dispersion vectors in inland waters

ARCHUBY, FERNANDO M; BELZ, CARLOS; DARRIGRAN, GUSTAVO

Mar del Plata

Congreso; 2nd World Conference on Biological Invasions and Ecosystem Functioning; 2011

Grupo de Investigación y Educación en Temas Ambientales GrIETA

As a consequence of current commerce globalization, natural environments are subject to an unprecedented dynamic transport of organisms with global reach that favour settlement and dispersal of invading species. These produce a widespread impact such as decreased agricultural and utility production, increased health risks to humans, and wildlife, and significant decline of native biodiversity. On the basis that it is better to prevent than control bioinvasions, it is of paramount importance to identify and manage the potential dispersion vectors in order to implement preventive strategies. In this contribution, we identified three potential vectors in southern Brazil (sand transport, sport fishing vessels and transport by live fish for pisciculture purposes) for two freshwater invasive bivalves (Corbicula fluminea and Limnoperna fortunei). For each of these potential vectors we assessed the potential for dispersal by estimating the probability of finding larvae or adults, setting groundwork for further studies on the risks of invasion to which the region is subject.