Invasion process of Limnoperna fortunei (Bivalvia, Mytilidae). Case: Uruguay River and emissaries of the Esteros del Iberá Wetland (Argentina)

DARRIGRAN, GUSTAVO; DAMBORENEA, CRISTINA; DRAGO, EDMUNDO C; EZCURRA DE DRAGO, INÉS; PAIRA, ALDO; ARCHUBY, FERNANDO M

ZOOLOGIA (CURITIBA)

SOC BRASILEIRA ZOOLOGIA

Año: 2012

1984-4670

Limnoperna fortunei (Bivalvia, Mytilidae), during its invasion process in South America, has caused severe impacts both on natural environments -altering native biodiversity, ecosystem structure and function-, and on man-made structures causing economic looses. A fieldwork along the right bank of the Uruguay River, Argentina, was done. Twenty one samples were taken from the river, from tributaries of the Uruguay and Paraná Rivers, the drainage of the Esteros del Ibera Wetland. Based on this fieldwork, the presence of larvae and adults of L. fortunei was determined. Also, through the comparison of environmental characteristic with the known tolerance limits for the species, the possibility of its establishment in environments not yet invades was determined. Most of the sampling stations have features that allow the development of stable populations L. fortunei, including the rivers that drain the Esteros del Ibera, allowing access of this invasive species to this important wetland.