Abstract
Lithophaga aristata is a boring bivalve native to the Caribbean Sea, first recorded in 2005 as an introduced species on the Southeastern Brazilian coast. The geographic distribution and density of L. aristata and of its native congeneric L. bisulcata were assessed in four areas of Brazil (24 sites), additionally considering their relationship with types of substrate, depth and wave exposure. This study records the first occurrence of L. aristata in the Sepetiba Bay and also reports the species at five new localities in the Arraial do Cabo Bay. Lithophaga aristata is established in the four surveyed regions. At intertidal habitats, the exotic species only colonizes the infralittoral fringe but its density was not related to wave action. At subtidal habitats, the species colonizes natural and artificial substrates, from shallow (0.5m) to deep (5.0-7.0m) zones but no relationship between density and these evaluated factors was detected. Broad geographical and ecological distributions and higher densities of this introduced species in relation to its native congeneric are suggested as contrary to Darwin’s naturalization hypothesis and instead indicate a high invasiveness potential.
Highlights
Resources acquirement capability is the major factor affecting establishment, range expansion and invasiveness potential of introduced species, if they show no physiological restrictions to survive in the new environment (Shea and Chesson 2002)
Lithophaga aristata was more frequent than L. bisulcata in the samples of all areas, but mainly in ACB and in SB
This study records the first occurrence of L.aristata in Sepetiba Bay and it reports the species at five new localities in the Arraial do Cabo Bay
Summary
Resources acquirement capability is the major factor affecting establishment, range expansion and invasiveness potential of introduced species, if they show no physiological restrictions to survive in the new environment (Shea and Chesson 2002). Mariculture is related to non-intended biological introductions, especially for epibiotic and boring organisms as previously reported for Amphibalanus improvisus (Darwin, 1854) and Lithophaga aristata (Dillwyn, 1817) (Ruiz et al 2000; Simone and Gonçalves 2006, respectively) The latter is an introduced bivalve in Brazil, congeneric with the native Lithophaga bisulcata (d’Orbigny, 1853). Both species bore hard-shelled organisms, corals and soft rocks and Lithophaga aristata is primarily identified by the pointed, crossed tips at the posterior part of valves (Simone and Gonçalves 2006). This species, cited as Myoforceps aristatus and Leiosolenus aristatus, is native to the Caribbean and its first record in Brazil dates from 2005 in both the states of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro (Simone and Gonçalves 2006)
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