Abstract
The introduction of exotic mollusk species has resulted in loss of biodiversity in semi-arid neotropical aquatic ecosystems. This study aims to relate the presence and density of Corbicula largillierti species to human disturbance, providing data for the conservation and management of aquatic ecosystems. Specimens were collected at Epitácio Pessoa reservoir in December 2011 and June 2012, presenting densities of 20.96 and 62.89 individuals per square meter, respectively. Anthropic disturbance metrics were calculated considering the presence, type and intensity of disturbance in littoral, riparian and flood zones. The occurrence of C. largillierti was mainly associated to the variables total phosphorus (261.05 ± 342.22 µg/L) and total nitrogen (440.79 ± 103.77 µg/L), near to tributaries. The occurrence of exotic mollusk species is evidence of the need for freshwater ecosystem conservation and management, particularly in reservoirs used for water supply.
Highlights
Biological invasions threaten native species, as they modify interspecific interactions, community structure and ecosystems’ natural processes (Emer & Fonseca 2011), and are considered the second main cause of biodiversity loss on a global scale (Darrigran et al 2011).Potentially invasive exotic species typically present high growth rates, ability to develop in a wide range of habitats and high ecological plasticity (Darrigran & Damborenea 2011)
The occurrence of exotic species has increased over time because of habitat degradation and changes caused by human action (Sargent et al 2011)
C. largillierti recordings have shown that this mollusk species has reached reservoirs through tributaries, as most of the specimens were observed near confluences
Summary
Biological invasions threaten native species, as they modify interspecific interactions, community structure and ecosystems’ natural processes (Emer & Fonseca 2011), and are considered the second main cause of biodiversity loss on a global scale (Darrigran et al 2011).Potentially invasive exotic species typically present high growth rates, ability to develop in a wide range of habitats and high ecological plasticity (Darrigran & Damborenea 2011). Freshwater bivalves are among the exotic species with high invasion potential They have been found in ecosystems worldwide (Darrigran et al 2011, Franco et al 2012, Wittmann et al 2012). Three species of such bivalves from south-eastern Asia reached the neotropic ecozone during the 1960s: Corbicula fluminea (Muller 1774), Limnoperna fortunei (Dunker 1857) and Corbicula largillierti (Philippi 1844) (Darrigran 2002). Since these species have invaded several aquatic ecosystems in South America. In Brazil, it was initially recorded on the Mato Grosso Pantanal (wetlands) (Callil & Mansur 2002), and on the Sinos River basin at Rio Grande do Sul (Mansur & Pereira 2006), followed by recordings in hydrographical basins at Minas Gerais, Espırito Santo, Santa Catarina and northeastern Brazil (Ceara ) (Silva & Barros 2011, Santos et al 2012) and Paraıba (Azevedo et al 2014)
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