Abstract
Limnoperna fortunei Dunker, 1857 is an Asian invasive freshwater bivalve. Although there need to contain their spread, studies about the biology of the larvae are scarce. We correlated the larval stages of L. fortunei with biotic factors such as phytoplankton and main abiotic variables in lotic environments of the Upper Paraná River floodplain. The four samples were taken quarterly during the year 2012. The Principal component analysis (PCA) showed only spatial differences, as did a Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA). High densities of larvae were recorded in all samples the Paraná River and Baía River only in December, especially those in their initial stage. In the biovolume of Class of algae, Bacillarophyceae showed the highest value, but Chlorophycea who was strongly correlated with the density of D-stage larvae. The large variety of phytoplankton, especially microplankton Chlorophyceae, high values of PO4, NH4 and temperature were positively correlated with high densities of D-stage larvae. We conclude that high temperature, and food availability, indicated by phytoplankton community, favored the reproduction of L. fortunei and enhance the ability of specie dispersion due to the increase in the emission of propagules. Therefore, studies that address the biology of golden mussel larvae should be performed in order to prevent its spread.
Highlights
Floodplains like the Upper Paraná River, are characterized by high heterogeneity of habitats (Ward et al, 2002; Ribeiro et al, 2012) and high species diversity
According to Souza Filho (2009), when the level of the Paraná River is below 3.5 meters, it is considered a period of low water for all environments of the floodplain, our sampling were made in the dry seasons (Figure 3)
The first one included Baía River and Curutuba Channel, which was influenced by PT and PO4; the second one included Paraná River and Ipoitã Channel that correlated with dissolved oxygen (D.O); and an isolated group of samples from Ivinhema River which was correlated with turbidity and suspended inorganic materials (SIM) (Figure 4)
Summary
Floodplains like the Upper Paraná River, are characterized by high heterogeneity of habitats (Ward et al, 2002; Ribeiro et al, 2012) and high species diversity. Inspite of high levels of biodiversity, reservoir cascades located upstream of Upper Paraná River floodplain (Souza Filho and Stevaux, 1997) have caused several changes in the hydrological regime and the physical and chemical water parameters (Agostinho et al, 2013). Such changes have strongly affected the aquatic communities (Barletta et al, 2010). Concomitant to these changes, many invasive species have arrived emerged such as: Urochloa subquadripara (Trin.) R.D. Webster; Hydrilla verticillata (L.F.) Royle; Daphnia lumholtzii Sars, 1885; Corbicula fluminea Müller, 1774 and Limnoperna fortunei Dunker, 1857. Limnoperna fortunei commonly presents a high abundance and wide distribution in lotic environments of this floodplain (Agostinho et al, 2013)
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