Freshwater invasive bivalves in man-made environments: A case study of larvae biology of Limnoperna fortunei in a Hydroelectric Power Plant in South America.

DARRIGRAN, G.; C. DAMBORENEA; N. GRECO

AMBIO

Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences

Lugar: Stockholm, Sweden; Año: 2007

0044-7447

The effects of global change and globalization of trade on the biosphere spur an increase in bioinvasions and their subsequent impact on ecosystems. Continental invading bivalves are important because of their impact on man-made structures. Limnoperna fortunei was first found in the Neotropical region in 1991. Since then it has dispersed upstream in the Plata and Guaíba basins at a rate of 240 km yr-1. This leads the assumption that it will eventually invade North America and Europe. This species causes macrofouling in a manner similar to that caused by Dreissena polymorpha. This paper describes the biology of larvae of L. fortunei from a hydroelectric power plant in South America. We suggest the importance of knowing the biology of the invading species and the need to consider the settlement patterns and densities of larvae in each of the sectors of the facility in order to achieve a sustainable prevention/control of macrofouling.