STATE OF KNOWLEDGE OF MOLLUSCS BIOINVASIONS IN THE SOUTH OF SOUTHAMERICA

DARRIGRAN, G., ; CARRANZA ALVAR, ; BELZ CARLOS,; BOEGER WALTER, ; BORGES PATRICIA, ; DAMBORENEA CRISTINA,; DUCHINI DANIEL, ; GUTIERREZ GREGORIC DIEGO, ; LOMOVASKY BETINA J., ; LUDWIG SANDRA, ; MÄDER OTTO,; MONTRESOR LANGIA, ; VIDIGAL TEOFANIA

México D.F.

Congreso; Mollusca 2014; 2014

At the light of the current global environmental crisis, it is critícal to malacologists to be able to communicate scientific findings in an appropriate and accessible way to policy-makers, helping these stakeholders to make informed choíces and to design well suited policies aimíng at sustainable solutions. In particular, mollusk bio-invasions causes great ecological, economic and health ¡mpaets, and are thus a well suited group to reach the above outlíned end. In order to identify key invasive mollusk specíes, both exotic and native to South America, we looked at the 12 species listed in the Global Invasive Species Datábase (DAISIE). Based on results from the Third Latin American Symposium on Molluscs invasives (held during the lst. Malacological Argentinean Congress, in September 2013, La Plata), this work aims to synthesis the current knowledge of molluscan invasions (Both terrestrial and aquatic) in the southern portion of South America , we identified three levéis of analysis : (1) To determine the species of invasive molluscs or potential invaders in theregion and its current and potential distribution (eg Limnoperna fortunei, Corbicula fluminea, Crassostrea spp., Raparía venosa, Achatina fúlica). (2) The degree of progress in methods of control over aggressive invasive species (e. g. biocidal applications, detecting larvae). (3) The degree of development of research in the región, in relation to the generation of three knowledge levéis (description, prediction and rlsk of invasión ) through detection of vector Limnoperna fortunei in Brazil, such as use of ecological niche models using GARP and other algorithms for forecasts of potential distributions, e. g. in Achatina fúlica. Thus, directing research efforts to the species above mentioned, as well as a strong focus on knowledge dissemination, will maximize the likelihood of bridging the gap between scientist and policy makers.